Website access for users with disabilities

With access for users with disabilities being an important issue for all websites, not only medical and healthcare websites, parts of Disability Discrimination Act have been replaced by the Equalities Act 2010.

If planning a new web site (or updating an existing one) making sure that it is accessible is a positive step forward.

According to the RNIB:

It may be unlawful for a website to:

• have links on that are not accessible to a screen reader
• have application forms (for instance, for bank accounts or job application forms) in a PDF format that cannot be read by a screen reader
• have core service information (for instance, timetables on a public transport website) that is not in a format accessible to screen readers.
• use text, colour contrasting and formatting that make the website inaccessible to a partially sighted service user
• change security procedures (for instance, on an e-commerce website) without considering the impact of blind and partially sighted customers that use screen readers.