ACCAN calls for all business web sites to be more accessible

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 25 February 2010 15:59

Business IT - Networking

Consumer communications body, ACCAN has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to make all government web sites compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 to its second highest AA level by 2015, and has called on the private sector to follow suit.

“Accessible government web sites will have a significant impact on the experience of consumers with disabilities by opening up avenues for them to connect to government online, access information and fully participate in civic life,” Allan Asher, CEO of ACCAN said.

Asher called on the private sector to follow the Government's lead, saying:  “With four million people or 20 percent of the population having a disability in Australia, the private sector must recognise that they are potentially excluding a large part of their customer base. As information, communication and Web 2.0 generation technologies become part of daily life for more Australians the risk is that people with disabilities will get left on the sidelines of society.”

ACCAN has been active in calling for measures to improve accessibility of technology for people with disabilities. Last month it released a research report "Broadband Solutions for Consumers with Disabilities," http://www.accan.org.au/research_full.php?id=21 outlining 16 broadband applications for consumers with disabilities.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 i http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/i s an internationally recognised standard in the accessibility of web sites for people with disabilities. It contains 12 guidelines in the functionality and design of web site content.