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RNIB to Sue Websites Inaccessable to Disabled Users

 - Thursday 12th June 2003

The Royal National Institute for the Blind is to help visually impaired web users take legal action against companies whose websites do not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.

Under the DDA, organisations providing goods, services and facilities directly to the general public are not allowed to refuse to serve a disabled person for a reason that relates to their disability.

This means that websites have to use technology to support features such as text for images, and some firms may have to consider implementing technologies for enhanced screen readers.

In some cases, if people with disabilities such as sight problems cannot access site facilities, the owner of the site may be in breach of the law.

Since 1995 it has been illegal for businesses to discriminate against people with disabilities and in 1999 it was confirmed that the DDA covers online services including websites.

The RNIB has confirmed that it is acting on behalf of a number of individuals but are not able to discuss the exact details at the moment.

Service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to their sites. But if an individual can demonstrate that something is unreasonable, then it is up to the court to decide what action to take explained Catherine Casserle, senior legal officer at the RNIB.

A similar law was tested in Australia in August 2000. The country's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission found that the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games had discriminated against a partially sighted man by not developing a site that he could access properly.

The man was awarded AUS 20,000 as compensation.

If you would like to know if your site is compliant with disabled access legislation please contact us to arrange an evaluation.





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