Government websites address disability access law

A "severe lack of funding" could hit government targets to make public sector websites more usable and compliant with disability access laws.

The government this week issued Quality Framework for UK Government Website Design guidelines to help web managers maximise usability after consultation with the private and voluntary sectors.

As well as making it easier for citizens to use government services online, the framework is aimed at ensuring all public sector websites – of which there are currently around 800 – comply with the Disability Discrimination Act by the end of the year.

But Catriona Campbell, chairwoman of consultancy the Usability Company, told silicon.com that while the framework is a positive step the changes will cost money to implement.

She said: "There is a severe lack of funding. To change a whole site, an existing site, and make it accessible it does cost money."

Campbell said the government should even make accessibility compliance a higher priority than putting services online by 2005.

"If it is not online at the moment then they are not breaching any laws. If it is online at the moment and not accessible then they are in breach of the law," she said.

Website accessibility compliance was made a legal obligation under the DDA and means the public and private sector have to ensure people with disabilities such as being blind or deaf are able to get the same level of access as everyone else.

Campbell said: "Some of the most common problems are that a lot of the sites are device dependent, meaning that when they're filling in a form a mouse has to be used. Some of the sites haven't been coded so you can tab through fields."

The Disability Rights Commission is currently investigating 100 unnamed UK Plc websites and is auditing them for accessibility. It claims it will name and shame those that fail and may take legal action against them.

Commenting on the guidelines e-Envoy Andrew Pinder said in a statement: "It is vital that government websites are as accessible and easy to use as possible. Quality Framework for UK Government Website Design draws on advice from a range of experts and sets out clear guidance for government web managers to ensure they incorporate users' needs in their web design process."