Founded in 1994 by Tim Berners Lee (inventor of the Internet) and others, the W3C develops standards and guidelines for the web and it’s future growth. Among these are standards for how web pages should be coded (HTML & CSS). Mr Kirkland advises all clients of the importance of adhering to these guidelines, and specialises in creating or converting websites to these standards.
UK Government DDA Legislation
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force in 1999. In section III it specifically states requirements for website accessibility, referring to the W3C standards. So it is now a legal requirement in the UK for websites to maintain a certain level of accessibility as defined by the W3C standards
Could I Be Sued For Not Complying?
Almost certainly. The RNIB has approached several large companies with regard to the accessibility of their websites. Both companies made the necessary changes to conform to the DDA, rather than facing the prospect of legal action.
A DRC investigation surveying 1000 websites found over 80% were next to impossible for disabled people to use. They issued a stern warning that organizations will face legal action under the DDA and the threat of unlimited compensation payments if they fail to make websites accessible for people with disabilities.
What Can I Do?
You can test your website for W3C WAI standards compliance here. If you’d like to enquire about our services or recieve a quote for converting your site to W3C standards, please contact us
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