- From: Julie Howell <JHOWELL@rnib.org.uk>
- Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 18:11:46 +0000
- To: w3c-wai-eo@w3.org
Today (in the UK) RNIB launched a new report entitled: "Get the online message: making Internet shopping accessible to blind and partially sighted people". A detailed press realease and the excutive summary may be read online at http://www.rnib.org.uk/whatsnew/pressrel/aug2000/webshop.htm The purpose of the report is to: - raise awareness of the importance of 'good' Web design for the benefit of people who use the Web with assistive technology - flag up the Disability Discrimination Act and the possibility that companies who fail to produce accessible sites may be breaking the law - make e-business aware of the value of the 'disabled pound', ie ignoring blind and disabled customers is not only unlawful, but companies are missing a large customer group RNIB assessed the accessibility of 17 major UK shopping and banking sites using 5 fundamental accessibility criteria (see URL above). No company passed all 5 tests, some passed none at all. RNIB's message is that accessible design is straight-forward and of massive benefit to blind and partially sighted people who wish to shop online from home. If you would like a copy of the report, please send me an email, listing your address, the number of copies you require and the format you would like to receive the report in (print, email, tape, braille). Please circulate this information wherever you feel the message needs to be heard. The report will be sent to 1000 UK Web design agencies tomorrow. Best wishes Julie Howell Campaigns Officer (Internet) Royal National Institute for the Blind 224 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5AA, UK Jhowell@rnib.org.uk Tel. +44 (0)20 7391 2191 Fax. +44 (0)20 7391 2104
Received on Thursday, 7 September 2000 13:13:36 UTC