TheSociety for IT Management (Socitm)has
launched a DVD to alert top decision-makers in public and private
sectors of the need to have fullyaccessible websitesfor the
disabled.
"A World Denied - web accessibility the movie" says that
although there are clear benefits from widening the audience for an
organisation's website by making sure it is accessible to all, some
80% to 90% of all websites are not currently designed to be so.
The movie says that designing an accessible website need not be
expensive or difficult, but that organisations that are not taking
any steps in this direction are increasingly likely to fall foul of
the
Disability
Discrimination Act and face court action, fines and reputation
damage.
Available now, "A World Denied - web accessibility the movie"
has been produced in association with AbilityNet, the charity that
helps people with disabilities make use of computers and the
internet.
The DVD's messages are aimed at senior managers, as the
producers believe poor corporate commitment to website
accessibility is due to low awareness of the issue among
decision-makers and budget-holders.
Included in the DVD are some demonstrations of how an accessible
website functions, and some short case studies showing how
organisations such as Legal & General have benefited from
making their website accessible.
"Around 8,000,000 people in the UK are thought to suffer some
form of disability causing difficulties in using a standard screen,
keyboard and mouse set-up," said Martin Greenwood of Socitm
Insight.
The 12-minute DVD is available for free to subscribers of Socitm
Insight and costs £50 for others.
Orders can be made via insight@socitm.gov.uk