Is your website fully accessible and standards compliant?

Smart Monkey Marketing's web accessibility reporting service involves a review of your website so that we can provide a report highlighting the areas of concern and how to make your site more accessible.

But why is accessibility and compliance so important?

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), you are responsible for ensuring that the content you are displaying on your website can be easily accessed by anyone, including people with disabilities and the elderly. You are at risk of legal action if your website does not comply to the DDA.

So do you know if your website is fully accessible or are you at risk from being penalised?

So can you be sued?

Whilst no one has yet been prosecuted for an inaccessible website in the UK, it is only a matter of time.

Already, The RNIB has raised the issue with two large companies who then made the necessary changes to make their websites accessible rather than facing legal action.

From an investigation into 1000 websites in April 2004 by the Disability Rights Commission, over 80% were issued with warnings for their websites not complying with the DDA.

In Australia (where the Australian DDA is extremely similar to that of the UK's), a blind man successfully sued the Sydney Olympics organising committee over their inaccessible website in 2000. Similar cases have been won in the USA as well.

So how do you ensure your website is accessible?

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has been developed to provide guidelines and standards for websites to adhere to, in order not to discriminate against users with disabilities or the elderly.

Due to the complexity of web accessibility, the work will need to be carried out by qualified and experienced web developers.

To get you started, we have included an article on the main web accessibility do's and don'ts.

However, to ensure your website is fully accessible and standards compliant, get in touch to book your studio time for a Smart Monkey website accessibility report.

Our web accessibility reporting package involves us carrying out a review of your website and providing you with a report highlighting areas of concern and action points on how to make your site more accessible. We will quote for carrying out the necessary work, and if you decide to go ahead, we will deduct the cost of the initial report. Get in touch to find out more on 0845 688 4497 or email info@smartmonkeymarketing.co.uk.