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Broadband to improve for disabled

Broadband internet access is to be improved for disabled people.

The move comes after the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced a new standard to make broadband internet sites more accessible to older and disabled people.

Version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) will include guidance procedures on text, images, audio and video.

WCAG 2.0 explains how to make broadband content:

Perceivable - including descriptive text for images, audio captions, flexibility of layout and colour contrast

Operable - making broadband internet sites usable with keyboards and improving navigation

Understandable - making broadband internet content easier to read and input more logical

Robust - ensuring that broadband internet content and applications are compatible with assistive technology such as screen readers and magnifiers

The guidance is designed to break down broadband internet barriers encountered by people with visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and neurological disabilities and older people with access needs.

The BBC performed their own investigations by asking three disabled broadband surfers to rate price comparison websites for ease of access. One of the most successful broadband comparison sites in the study was PriceByPrice, which is reportedly partly funded by disabled charities. Since the research, broadband comparison site Confused.com claims to have improved its site for disabled people.

As reported by the BBC News website, Gregg Vanderheiden, co-chair of the WCAG working group, said: “WCAG 2.0...can help ensure the web stays open to people with disabilities even as we continually introduce new technologies.”

23/12/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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