Press Releases

The Usability Company and RNIB launch fast track to "See It Right" accessible website award

10 April 2003 - RNIB and The Usability Company have launched a scheme to offer organisations a fast track towards achieving the RNIB "See It Right" website accessibility logo. The new scheme will provide an alternative channel for organisations seeking to make their sites accessible.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 organisations are legally obliged to make ‘reasonable adjustments' to ensure services are accessible to everyone, and in 2002 the Disability Rights Commission's Code of Practice confirmed that this applied to online services. The Disability Rights Commission has recently launched an investigation assessing compliance. An accessible website also makes sound business sense in allowing businesses to communicate with the 2 million people in the UK with sight problems.

RNIB has made great strides in raising awareness of the legal obligation to make websites accessible to partially sighted and blind people, and developed its ‘See It Right' logo as the only independent evaluation of website accessibility.

The nature of the British legal system means that until the first case is prosecuted it is impossible to say with certainty exactly which steps should be taken and which guidelines adhered to in order to ensure compliance. RNIB and leading figures in the internet industry are pushing the Government to resolve the legal ambiguity. In the meantime RNIB's ‘See It Right' logo remains the industry-recognised standard for website accessibility.

Within four weeks of their clients applying for the fast-track scheme, The Usability Company will deliver a report on their website and provide recommendations on any amendments necessary to be eligible for the “See It Right” award. Once the recommendations have been implemented, The Usability Company will submit the site to RNIB for a final audit and award of the “See It Right” logo.

The Usability Company has invested considerably in training and development so that its staff can provide organisations with the advice and guidance they need in order to achieve the “See It Right” logo.

The Usability Company also offers the added advantage of being able to carry out research either in the home or in their purpose-built, state-of-the-art usability laboratories. Blind and partially sighted users can be recruited to participate in usability research, which will ensure the site is not only accessible, but also usable.

Paul Blunden, CEO of The Usability Company said: “All organisations are understandably keen on ensuring that everyone can benefit from online services. We're delighted that our work with RNIB will give further impetus to the push to ensure that all websites are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.”

Donna Smillie, Best Practice Officer (Web Accessibility) at RNIB said: “The web can provide a vital source of information and services to blind and partially sighted people using access technology such as speech synthesisers on their computers. RNIB is at the forefront in setting standards for website accessibility and remains committed to making the web more accessible to people with sight problems. Working with The Usability Company will enable us to take this message to a wider audience.”

About The Usability Company

The Usability Company is the UK's foremost provider of independent usability consultancy, and is now at the forefront of design technology aimed at improving ease of use for websites, wireless services, intranets, mobile devices and interactive digital TV.

Numerous clients have benefited from The Usability Company's expertise in delivering websites, applications and devices that provide a satisfying experience for the end user. Current clients include Barclays Bank, Camelot, BskyB, LG Electronics, RNIB and Charcolonline.

Time and again The Usability Company has demonstrated that with its focus on the requirements of the end user, usability testing has a significant impact on the bottom line.

For further information please contact Will Brown or Marc Sparrow on or e-mail

RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind)

There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB's pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem – not just with braille, Talking Books and computer training but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.

Through its “See It Right” Accessible Website Consultancy, RNIB offers a range of services to help ensure that websites are accessible to people with sight problems.

For further information contact Joe Korner in the RNIB Press Office on .or email

 
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