14 January 2005
Some of you will have heard my rants about web accessibility, some of you won't.
For several obvious and not so obvious reasons, accessibility is very important to me. I don't talk about it much here, which might seem a bit surprising, but when its your job, you need to have some "off" time too.
So why am I breaking that particular personal rule and potentially "outing" myself now?
Because it's important.
Because not enough people know they legally have to do it, and because those that do, all too often can't be bothered doing it properly.
Because the state of the web just isn't good enough, and because when people do make an effort and do something that's particularly impressive it deserves to be brought to the attention of as wide an audience as possible.
I recently became aware of net-guide, a directory designed to include (and ranks) only sites that are accessible.
Paul Crichton, whose company Net Progress created the Net Guide site wrote to his Member of Parliament, Liberal Democrat Tom Brake MP, to seek his support for accessibility in general and RNIB's Campaign for Good Web Design. Tom Brake's response was to table a parliamentary 'Early Day Motion' (EDM) to canvass support for web accessibility across Parliament.
An Early Day Motion is a petition that MPs can sign. EDMs allow MPs to put on record their opinion on a subject and canvass support for it from fellow MPs.
A complete database of EDMs is available on the web at http://edm.ais.co.uk, where you can read the current list of EDMs and find out which MPs have signed them (and to deviate from the seriousness of this post - have a look at some of the EDMs. Pure comedy).
Every EDM has a unique title and number. The EDM on web accessibility tabled by Tom brake MP is entitled 'net-guide RNIB Accreditation'. It is EDM number 461.
The full text of the EDM reads as follows:
"That this House offers its congratulations to net-progress, an internet consultancy based in Carshalton, Surrey on the launch of net-guide.co.uk; commends net-guide for achieving "See it Right" accreditation from the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB); notes that the See it Right website logo is awarded to websites which have demonstrated a commitment to best practice website accessibility; further notes net-guide is an internet search engine and website directory designed to be easy to use, regardless of whether or not users are blind or partially sighted; recognises the diligent work done by net-guide in conducting independent audits on the accessibility of the websites in its database, which gives users an idea of the ease of use of the websites returned in a search or from browsing the directories; believes that two million people
in the UK with a sight problem deserve fair access to electronic information and calls on web designers to take on the board the practical advice offered by RNIB for producing websites which meet the information needs of the blind and partially sighted, a requirement enshrined in Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1999."
The last point in the EDM is the crucial one: "That this House... calls on web designers to take on the board the practical advice offered by RNIB for producing websites which meet the information needs of the blind and partially sighted, a requirement enshrined in Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1999."
For this to become a reality the Government must be encouraged to back initiatives that alert businesses, large and small, to the vital importance of accessible web design.
For the EDM to have maximum effect it needs support from as many MPs as possible, and this is where you come in.
RNIB and Net Progress are asking you to send a letter to your MP asking him or her to lend their support by signing the EDM and by writing to the appropriate Department of Trade and Industry Minister.
If you don't know the name of your MP you can search the database on the Parliament UK web site at www.locata.co.uk/commons or call RNIB's Public Policy Team on 020-7391 2123.
Here is an example letter for you to send to your MP. You may simply fill in the blanks or adapt the letter to make it more personal to you.
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[Your MP's name], House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
Dear [your MP's name] MP,
Disabled people and web sites
There are more than nine million disabled people in the UK. At least two million people experience serious sight problems. Increasing numbers of disabled people use the Internet for information, shopping, study, work and entertainment. However, disabled people find that many web sites are extremely difficult to use because of the way they have been designed.
In April 2004, the Disability Rights Commission published a report that revealed the extent of the problem: 81% of UK web sites fail to meet even the most basic requirements for accessibility.
This form of disability discrimination is unacceptable and unnecessary.
Tom Brake MP has tabled an EDM (461) calling on web designers to ensure that they design web sites that disabled people can use.
I would be grateful if you would demonstrate your support for this issue by signing the EDM.
I would also be grateful if you would write to DTI Minister for E-Commerce Mike O' Brien MP, expressing your support for the EDM and asking him to support initiatives that will encourage businesses to ensure the accessibility of their web sites to disabled people.
Tom Brake MP is one of a growing number of MPs to have made sure that his own web site is accessible to disabled constituents. I would be pleased to know what steps have been taken to make your own web site accessible to disabled people.
Yours sincerely,
[your name and address]
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It's not difficult. You can do it online. It takes a few minutes, and any support you can give will be very much appreciated.
When you receive a response from your MP, please email a copy of his or her letter to Julie.Howell@rnib.org.uk (postal address: Julie Howell, RNIB, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, Cambs PE2 6XU).
Linking to/reposting this on your own blog would be fantastic too.
Thank you.
Just the kick up the backside I needed, thank you. Will do the email tomorrow when I'm a bit more awake and less likely to get sidetracked by anti tory stuff ;-)
Yay, way to make that Tory bastard work for a living. Have sent an email and will encourage Pete to do the same.
Done - one allegedly labour MP hassled. Thanks for the reminder.
Typed and ready to post. Found you via Daisy. I have worsening sight problems so I'm especially interested!
So do you feel better for being 'out'? I do hope so . .
Letter written. Link done.
And even though I've heard your rants before, keep them up. You're good at it. Especially when they are on an important subject. For once.
Thought you might be interested in the response I had (almost immediately): I am already taking this matter up with
ministers, as I agree it is important. I will let you know what reply I
receive. I think it is better to take it up directly, as an EDM is never
debated.
Mmm... this is a good idea. Push forward with it!
Done.
Done. This especially strikes a chord with me as my late mother was visually disabled.
Have also received a near instantaneous reply,
'Yes I am inclined to support this EDM and will look again at my own website'.
Can you tell my MP is a politician? Though I think that this response may have been from her PA as it didn't have any spelling mistakes in it . . .
done, thanks for the heads up.
I've just joined the web development team of my company (a household name) and I raised this issue today. They (the team) don't know exactly what the guidelines are but do know that our sites aren't compliant and they won't be made compliant in the forseeable future. Because it would cost too much.
Hopefully, without sounding patronising, I'd like to thank everyone for writing to their MPs. If you haven't already, can you let Julie at the RNIB know the responses you've had and from which MPs..? Her email is in the posting. Ta..!!
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
... contactable via email.
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