Disability 50 Report:

This research survey indicates that the majority of United Kingdom's disability organisations do not address accessibility needs sufficiently in their own web and digital communications. Carried out by Ethical Media between January and March 2004, this research suggests that a gap seems to exist between the rhetoric and the reality of disability groups' communications activities. "This report is intended to raise awareness of the exciting challenges we all face in demonstratinghow accessibility can and should be an integrated part of website design and development."

Specifically, The Disability 50 Report reviews the standard of accessibility of 50 leading UK disability websites, benchmarking these against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by global and industry-led standards body the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). (Click here to access these guidelines). Here are some of Ethical Media's findings:

• 58% of websites surveyed failed to achieve a compliance level that the WCAG describes as compulsory. This reflects the fact that one or more groups would find it impossible to access information on these websites.
• 86% failed to achieve a compliance level that WCAG describes as important, since one or more groups would find it difficult to access information.
• 92% failed to achieve a compliance level that WCAG describes as advisable because one or more groups would find it somewhat difficult to access information.
• 84% failed to express and stick to defined web standards for their web pages. As W3C states "Sites developed along these lines will continue to function correctly as traditional desktop browsers evolve, and as new Internet devices come to market."

The research, however, revealed a few examples of good practice, notably AbilityNet and the British Council for Disabled People. The paper highlights some of the features that made these websites particularly accessible to disabled users, including:

• Clear navigation; easy to find out who the organisation is, what it does, and how to make contact for further information
• Customisable user preferences and a help section on how to use the website
• "Friendly" web addresses - easily bookmarked and memorised
• Information easy to find; important information highlighted
• Clear and good use of headings to structure the pages
• A wide range of content and opportunities presented clearly and consistently.

Head of Digital Communications at Ethical Media Keith Patton offers the following reflections on the findings: "...organisations in or supporting the disability sector do not yet adequately consider web accessibility and usability as a priority in their communications strategies. As a result, significant proportions of users are likely to find it difficult, even impossible, to access information, restricting the flow of communication between any given organisation and its customer base." Managing Director of Ethical Media Paul Sternberg agrees: "Ethical Media's survey...shows the number of conflicting communications pressures that these organisations face. With the right approach and strategy there is no reason why disability groups can't integrate accessibility within their own communications."

To request a copy of this report in either PDF or Word format, please contact:

Keith Patton

Technical Director, Ethical Media

Ethical Media Ltd

Studio D, 5 Torrens Street

London, EC1V 1NQ

Tel.: 0044 (0) 207 833 8825

keith@ethicalmedia.com

Source

Letters sent from Ethical Media to The Communication Initiative on April 10 and June 2 2004; and "Disability Organisations Failing to Meet Challenge on Accessibility" on the Ethical Media website.