DDA Overview - Website Accessibility.
In 1999, under Part III of the DDA , it became a legal requirement for Websites that provide a service to the public to be accessible to disabled users (small employer exemption removed in 2004).
In 2004 - The
DRC
publish results of a survey of Website compliance.
The results found in the survey - less than 20% having even basic compliance - prompted DRC commissioner, Michael Burton
to state,
"This is a compliance issue... we are serving notice that the Disability Rights Commission will use all its powers to secure compliance on this very important matter. "
On the Disability Rights Commission Website you can download a copy of the DRC report and see a Webcast of the press conference of the release of this study.
A brief Timeline.
- 1995 - The Disability Discrimination Act was passed.
- the Act makes it unlawful for service providers to discriminate. - 1999 - part III of the Disability Discrimination Act came into force.
- a service provider must take reasonable steps to change a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for the disabled to access those services. - 2002 - Website Accessibility Code of Practice is published.
- the Guidelines clarify the position regarding Websites. - 2004 - small employer exemption removed.
Compliance.
The Act doesn't ask Website owners for perfection, just REASONABLE steps to be taken.
SMEs
cannot be expected to afford the high cost of conducting disabled-user tests.
That is why we design Websites to the WAI guidelines and established Usability rules (taking
account of results of tests conducted by others).
So, by purchasing a BigEasy Website you can be confident that you have taken reasonable steps to comply with the Act.
