Major Irish websites inaccessible to thousands with disabilities
Adrian Weckler
Three-quarters of the country’s top 100 websites are technically
inaccessible to 600,000 people with disabilities, according to new
research from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).
The new report, prepared by the NCBI’s IA Labs, also shows that the vast
majority of schools and universities have inaccessible websites, as do
17 of Ireland’s top 20 public and private hospitals.
“Inaccessible” means that the website cannot be used in a normal way by
some people with a disability such as restricted eyesight or motor
functions.
The report also found that 80pc of real estate and housing association
websites are not accessible, while only three of eight political parties
audited by the NCBI – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin – have
accessible websites.
The NCBI says the results should act as a wake-up call for Irish
organisations. There are just 18 months to go until the European
Accessibility Act requires all websites, digital assets and applications
of private-sector bodies to be fully digitally accessible.
While this includes services such as banking and education, it also
includes electronic devices such as ATM, ticket check-in machines,
certain self-service terminals and smartphones.
Under the EU law, Ireland is given latitude to decide what fines or
penalties might be appropriate, which must be “effective, proportionate,
and dissuasive”.
“While people with disabilities are promised equal access to employment,
education, healthcare, e-commerce, and digital leisure and
entertainment, the individual websites who offer these services often
fail to fully facilitate this access,” said Chris White, CEO of the NCBI.
“Simple tasks like participating in online classes, staying connected
with loved ones through social media, and accessing vital information
about health or finances become challenging, or outright impossible.”
The report, ‘The Digital Accessibility Index 2023’, audited the
accessibility of websites using a standardised testing process across
healthcare, retail, technology, government, education and professional
services.
If a website passed, it means any user living with a disability can
access every part of the website section being tested.
The report stated: “While accessibility adoption has been sluggish
across a number of sectors, notably education, healthcare and housing,
there has been some positive movement, with 27pc of the top 100 Irish
companies having taken steps to improve website accessibility.”
Currently, 73pc of the websites of Ireland’s top 100 companies are
inaccessible, the report found.
“Even minor modifications to websites, apps, and digital experiences can
make a monumental impact for users with disabilities,” it stated.
“As a leading figure in the global technology arena, Ireland has both
the responsibility and opportunity to set a precedent in ensuring
digital equality.
“By raising awareness of the status of digital accessibility in the
public sector, we make further progress in our endeavour to guarantee
that every individual with disabilities has equal access and
opportunities, mirroring the advantages that technology offers to
society as a whole.”
Irish Independent Technology
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