Web Standards, Accessibility and browsing for visually impared users
An investigation by the Disability Rights Commission shows that more than 80 percent of websites are unusable by disabled people.
This means that many everyday activities carried out on the internet - booking a holiday, managing a bank account, buying theatre tickets or finding a cheaper credit card - are difficult or impossible for many disabled people.
Bert Massie, DRC Chairman described the situation as "unacceptable", and said the organisation was determined not to allow disabled people to be left behind by technology.
A thousand websites were tested for the survey using automated software, and detailed user testing was carried out on 100 sites, including government, business, e-commerce, leisure and web services such as search engines.
The results showed that the worst affected group were those with visual impairments.
Blind people involved in testing websites were unable to perform nearly all of the tasks required of them despite using devices such as screen readers.
"The web has been around for 10 years, yet within this short space of time it has managed to throw up the same hurdles to access and participation by disabled people as the physical world," said Mr Massie.
"It is an environment that could be made more accommodating to disabled people at a relatively modest expense."
Mr Massie warned website owners to improve accessibility or be prepared to face legal action.
The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act requires information providers to make their services accessible.
Original source : Websites 'failing' disabled users
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