TW Blog :: Archives for August 2004

Accessibility Assessment Report

Relates to Accessibility

In light of the DRC Report back in April, further alarming reading comes from Comparative Assessment of Web Accessibility and Technical Standards Conformance in Four EU States:

It is not just that Web technology is not being applied positively to improve opportunities and capabilities for users with disabilities. On the contrary, as Web services become more pervasive and essential, it means that those with disabilities in our society will increasingly suffer further disadvantages in accessing information and online services. Carmen Marincu and Barry McMullin

A sample of 4877 websites from Ireland, United Kingdom, France and Germany, selected from the Open Directory, were tested with Bobby:

• 94.0 percent of the Irish sites, 94.5 percent of the U.K. sites, 95.6 percent of the German sites and 98.6 percent of the French sites failed Bobby at the minimal accessibility level (WCAG-A)
• 99 percent of U.K. sites and 100 percent of the Irish, French and German sites failed Bobby at the professional accessibility level (WCAG-AA)
• All (100 percent) of the sites failed Bobby at the maximum accessibility level (WCAG-AAA)

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 20:17:35.