Informing organizations that post inaccessible technology on the web

I think we should put in a warning for people with 
disabilities when they send in complaints about 
inaccessible websites and contents.

A company that does not want to listen will often 
counter by telling the person that they are using 
the wrong assistive technology, or that they don't 
know how do use the one they have.

It is a very effective ploy.  Most end users will 
doubt themselves, because nobody can stay abreast 
of all new technology.  The users with a 
disability may be more vulnerable to this type of 
diversion.  The complaint that may be well founded 
will fizzle because the user with a disability 
will be overwhelmed by the challenge to try a new 
assistive technology just to prove their claim is 
valid.

The distilled message from the company with the 
inaccessible site will be, prove that you can't 
use our site.  The burden of proof shifts from 
offender to the person who is injured by the bad 
website.  It is a form of abuse.

Received on Monday, 18 January 2010 16:51:07 UTC