26 February 2007
Websites which do not comply with accessibility standards discriminate against certain social groups, one expert has warned.
Search engine specialist Andy Hagans, writing for WebProNews, claimed that excluding demographics such as the visually impaired could leave an organisation with legal and public relations issues to resolve.
US retailer Target is currently facing a charge brought by the National Federation of the Blind, relating to the accessibility of its e-commerce portal.
However, Mr Hagans also asserted that the matter goes beyond these issues and could have a direct impact upon an organisation's fiscal performance.
He remarked: "When you make a site usable and accessible, you usually increase profits. More customers can access your site; more customers can successfully use it to achieve a goal. Who doesn’t want increased sales?"
While the Americans with Disabilities Act governs web accessibility in the US, UK firms must provide accessibility to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, which demands that adequate provision is made for web users with special requirements.
© Adfero LtdKeep up to date with industry and Nomensa news by signing up to Nomensa newsletters.
