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State of the eNation Reports
Websites for top visitor attractions limit disabled to one destination
18 January 2008
“Disabled people planning excursions on-line can choose anywhere…as long as it’s Glasgow’s Science Centre,” is the disappointing conclusion of leading web accessibility expert, AbilityNet, in its latest e-Nation report.
Of the ten websites sampled, which were selected randomly from lists of the top ten visitor attractions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, only www.glasgowsciencecentre.org gained a minimum accessibility rating from the national computing and disability charity.
In fact, Scotland’s fourth most popular tourist site exceeded the basic three star criteria required, obtaining a rarely attained four star score to the delight of its management team who carried out a major overhaul of the website last year with accessibility at the top of the agenda.
The remaining nine sites only achieved one or two stars out of a potential five, meaning that they lack the fundamental features to enable disabled people to access and navigate them effectively. These comprised: the Eden Project (www.edenproject.com – two stars), the National Museum of Wales (www.museumwales.ac.uk – two stars), the Giant’s Causeway (www.giantscausewaycentre.com – two stars) and Portmeirion (www.portmeirion-village.com – two stars).
The single star majority included Edinburgh Castle (www.historic-scotland.gov.uk) the Burns Heritage Centre (www.burnsheritagepark.com) the London Eye (www.londoneye.com) Kew Gardens (www.kew.org) and Belfast Zoo (www.belfastzoo.co.uk).
AbilityNet’s assessment looked at both usability and accessibility with a focus on the real life challenges that disabled users experience when attempting to navigate their way around websites to plan their trip, discover what the UK’s top tourism experiences can offer and take advantage of on-line discounts and special promotions before they visit their chosen visitor attraction.
In addition to a series of manual checks, the assessment included a range of tests employing the types of adaptive technologies commonly used by disabled people such as screen readers and voice recognition software. Testers also examined the ease with which the types of changes necessary to improve access for those with visual impairments, dyslexia or physical problems which make mouse-use difficult, could be effected.
The survey’s author, Robin Christopherson, AbilityNet’s Head of Accessibility, himself blind, says: “Most people consult the Internet as a first port of call when arranging an excursion or holiday. With a wide range of adaptive and assistive technology available, those of us who find the standard keyboard, screen and mouse combination difficult or impossible to use, are no longer prevented from using a PC. However, the same cannot be said of the majority of internet sites, which are, inadvertently, imposing a ‘technological lock-out’ on those of us using non-standard solutions to access our computers.”
Despite legislation governing website accessibility being in place since 1999, a range of recent reports has mirrored AbilityNet’s findings – confirming that between 80 and 96% of sites consistently fail to reach a minimum accessibility threshold (see Disability Rights Commission investigation ¥ in 2004 which put this figure at 81%).
As well as the clear legal and ethical arguments for accessibility, it simply makes good business sense. The commercial rationale is compellingly obvious.
In the UK an estimated 2 million people have a vision impairment, some 1.5 million have cognitive difficulties, a further 3.4 million have a disability which prevents them using a conventional computer set-up with ease, around 6 million are dyslexic and many millions experience literacy difficulties, not to mention the increasing number of elderly ‘silver surfers’ with failing eyesight or arthritis in our ageing population! These potential internet users represent a spending power in excess of £120 billion. Suppliers of goods, services and information on the internet are ignoring a highly significant market sector at their peril.
In contrast, able-bodied visitors also benefit from accessible websites, finding them easier and quicker to use by a highly significant factor of 35%. When we visit a website we are seeking critical functionality - namely speed and efficiency - not a life-changing experience. Accessible sites are simply easier and more intuitive to use: they improve productivity for everyone.
Typical problems encountered by Christopherson and his team included:
Text size on some sites, particularly for headings and links is ‘hard-coded’ so that it cannot be easily enlarged – so vital for many visitors who have a vision impairment or dyslexia. With some sites offering small text and others carrying a watermark, effective access for this group is made very difficult.
The text labels attached to images upon which blind visitors and text browser users rely for an explanation are often uninformative or completely absent. Without these spoken labels on graphical links, navigation for a blind visitor is pure guesswork. “Imagine trying to drive to your destination where exits at each junction are left blank,” says Christopherson.
Pictures of text are often used instead of actual text. This not only means that the user cannot modify the text size or colour contrast – essential for those with a vision impairment or dyslexia – it also prevents screen reader users from reading the content when – as so frequently happens - these images are left unlabelled.
Some sites contain adverts and features made up of moving images that will be distracting for visitors with a cognitive impairment, or interactive presentations known as ‘Flash Movies’ which can present access problems for visitors who cannot use a mouse, are vision impaired or who use speech output or voice recognition software.
Other sites are reliant on mini programs embedded in the page called JavaScript. People using older browsers, those with vision impairments using some special browsers and users whose organisations disable JavaScript for security reasons, will not be able to access the sites fully - links to the main sections do not appear or the search and shopping cart facilities do not operate fully.
State of the eNation reports
AbilityNet is at the forefront of a number of initiatives both at home and abroad to improve website accessibility for disabled people and provide both private and public sector organisations with the expertise they need to ensure that their websites are meeting guideline levels of compliance (such as those recommended by the W3C/WAI).
AbilityNet’s ‘State of the eNation’ reports are designed to draw attention to the issue of accessibility and usability and to help disabled people find the best websites for their needs.
The next eNation report will focus on the top social networking sites.
For more information on website accessibility, usability and design, contact AbilityNet on 0800 269545.
Issued by the AbilityNet Press Office - 01926 429595 or at accessibility@AbilityNet.org.uk.
Editor’s notes
¥ The Web: Access and Inclusion for Disabled People – DRC Press Office or http://www.drc-gb.org/library/formal_investigation_report_w.aspx
W3C/WAI
These guidelines, first published in May 1999, provide a framework for accessibility. There are over 65 individual W3C checkpoints arranged in three levels of compliance to test for and only about a third can be assessed for conformity by an automated tool such as Watchfire’s Bobby. A comprehensive series of manual and automated tools, including Bobby is employed by AbilityNet in carrying out its surveys.
EuroAccessibility Consortium
On 28 April 2003 in Paris, 24 European organisations from 12 countries agreed to establish a certification authority for web accessibility leading to an Accessibility Quality Mark. AbilityNet joined other disability charities, universities and communications companies in cooperation with US-based W3C/WA1, to pursue this objective, which aims to harmonise standards Europe-wide.
About AbilityNet
AbilityNet is a charity that brings the benefits of computer technology to adults and children with all types of disabilities. Through its network of eleven centres, it offers a comprehensive range of services to disabled people, professionals, employers and statutory bodies. It provides free information and advice on any aspect of computer use by disabled people including individual assessment of technology needs, adapted computer equipment with full training and technical support, a programme of awareness education, and consultancy for employers on system and workstation adaptations, as well as website accessibility.
In 2006 AbilityNet supplied free advice and information to some 850,000 enquiries through its national freephone and web-based services. In addition, the charity's consultants saw nearly 2,000 disabled children and adults face-to-face for individual assessments, equipment, training sessions and home support visits.
In the same year, AbilityNet's professional education courses and seminars attracted around 6,000 staff from public, private and voluntary sector organisations, seeking to develop their awareness of adaptive technology for those with disabling conditions and learn practical solutions to apply in the workplace, at home or in education.
AbilityNet is dependent both nationally and locally on grants and donations from charitable trusts and companies, to carry out its work on behalf of disabled people and those who support them.
For further details check www.abilitynet.org.uk or call AbilityNet’s freephone helpline on: 0800 269545
Issued by: Caroline Saint Freedman, AbilityNet Press Office
Tel: 01926 429595
E: press.office@abilitynet.org.uk
For more information:
- Email accessibility@AbilityNet.org.uk
- Phone 0800 269545
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