Business 'needs to address disabled access to Internet'

Businesses may not be complying with existing equal access laws when it comes to people with disabilities being able to use the Internet.

Opening a bank account, booking a holiday or buying theatre tickets online can often prove impossible, a survey by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in the UK has found.

The DRC has warned that it is 'only a matter of time' before businesses face legal challenges from disabled consumers.

The study, "The Web: Access and Inclusion for Disabled People", also revealed high levels of ignorance among web developers over both the steps required and the costs of making their websites accessible for disabled people.

In the same study, the DRC found that levels of accessibility expertise amongst website developers were low with only 9% claiming any expertise in access.

Only 9% of developers had used disabled people to test their sites.

The DRC's report contains 15 key recommendations aimed at government, the web industry, business and disability organisations.

Speaking today Bert Massie, DRC Chairman, said: "The situation revealed by this investigation is unacceptable but not inevitable. The DRC is determined to ensure that this new powerful technology does not leave disabled people behind.

"Where the response is inadequate, the industry should be prepared for disabled people to use the law to make the web a less hostile place," Massie added.

Blind people were the most disenfranchised of web users, the survey found.

They were unable to perform nearly half the tasks set them despite using devices such as screen readers.