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The RNIB has confirmed that it is supporting a number of individuals in cases against companies failing to make their websites accessible for people with visual impairments.
The RNIB has openly stated for a long time that it would support any individuals wishing to bring such cases against organisations failing to comply with accessibility requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Although these are the first cases to be brought in the UK there have been a number of successful prosecutions abroad, the most famous of which was against the Sydney Olympic Committee in 2000.
Although the RNIB cannot release details of its actions, digital development officer Julie Howell confirmed its supporting several individuals in discrimination claims against a number of companies.
The RNIB’s procedures for tackling issues brought to its attention do not necessarily result in legal action but the DDA has harmed the RNIB with the power to support individuals in taking such action.
2003 is the European Year of Disability and this move by the RNIB is a watershed in the development of online services in the UK.
As mentioned in May’s newsletter, the Disability Rights Commission announced that it would be investigating 1,000 sites for their ability to be accessed by Britain's 8.5 million disabled people in their first Formal Investigation. The DRC last year published a code of practice that made explicit reference to online services, saying that site operators failing to take disabled users into account would be in breach of the DDA.
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