The RNIB has confirmed that it is supporting a number of
individuals in cases against companies failing to make their
websites accessible for people with visual impairments.
The RNIB has openly stated for a long time that it would
support any individuals wishing to bring such cases against
organisations failing to comply with accessibility requirements
under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Although these are
the first cases to be brought in the UK there have been a number
of successful prosecutions abroad, the most famous of which was
against the Sydney Olympic Committee in 2000.
Although the RNIB
cannot release details of its actions, digital development officer
Julie Howell confirmed its supporting several individuals in
discrimination claims against a number of companies.
The RNIB’s
procedures for tackling issues brought to its
attention do not necessarily result in legal action but the DDA
has harmed the RNIB with the power to support individuals in
taking such action.
2003 is the European Year of Disability and
this move by the RNIB is a watershed in the development of online
services in the UK.
As mentioned in May’s newsletter, the
Disability Rights Commission announced that it would be
investigating 1,000 sites for their ability to be accessed by
Britain's 8.5 million disabled people in their first Formal
Investigation. The DRC last year published a code of practice that
made explicit reference to online services, saying that site
operators failing to take disabled users into account would be in
breach of the DDA.
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