Access–Ability

New Delhi: Report on website inaccessibility

Most of the website on the Internet are not disabled–friendly, according to a study conducted by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Barrier Break Technologies. The website lack tools to help the visually handicapped.

The study recommended that these websites must improve their tools to met basic level accessibility standards for all classes of people, especially when India has recently ratified the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities. The accessibility survey report of the websites of top Indian companies, like ICICI, Infosys, Wipro, MTNL, VSNL and Tata Motors, found that none of these companies meet even the basic accessibility standards. The survey demonstrates that people with disabilities find it difficult to access the web pages tested.

The survey was conducted to evaluate the website of Indian companies listed on Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. A combination of both automated and manual tests were conducted by the people with different forms of disabilities, such as visual impairment, mobility impairment, learnt impairment, etc.

“The Ministry of social justice recently announced to release a postage stamp in Braille. Whereas, ministry officials, who supposedly lead all disability initiatives in the ministry, were not even aware that websites could be made accessible to visually impaired,” said Javed Abidi, director or NCPEDP.

The report criticized the various government agencies working for the welfare of the disabled. “The chef commissioner for persons with disabilities (CCPD), National Institute for Visual handicapped (NIVH), Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) have nothing to say on the issue,” added Mr. Abidi.

There are guidelines and standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which enables companies to make website accessible to all. Implementing these guidelines makes Web content more available to all users, irrespective of the technology, device and situation of use. Apart from the disabled population, other groups of society also face a problem using the Web.

“Implementing accessibility standards will enable these companies to make their websites accessible for disables as well as more usages for senior citizens, compatible with different devices, browsers and technologies and more for research engine friendly,” added Mr Abidi.

Source: Most websites are not disabled–friendly. Asian Age, New Delhi, 12 January 2008.