The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service which it provides to members of the public.

From 1st October 1999 a service provider has to take reasonable steps to change a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of its services.

What services are affected by the Disability Discrimination Act? An airline company provides a flight reservation and booking service to the public on its website. This is a provision of a service and is subject to the act.

For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include accessible websites.

For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include accessible websites.

The w3c (World Wide Web Consortium) have designed a system to rate the accessibilty of websites. There are 3 levels of conformance to these standards:

• A - A Web content developer must satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it impossible to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint is a basic requirement for some groups to be able to use Web documents.
• AA - A Web content developer should satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing Web documents.
• AAA - A Web content developer may address this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it somewhat difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will improve access to Web documents.
• Section 508 - This is the American standard, which is very close to W3c A level.

In practice, addressing the key points of AA should allow almost all users to be able to access the site. Satisfying AA should be the target of all website owners.

For further information please visit the Disability Rights Commission.

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