Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act is a UK parliamentary act of 1995, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people in respect of their disabilities in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, education and transport. It is a civil rights law. Other countries use constitutional, social rights or criminal law to make similar provisions. The Equality and Human Rights Commission provides support for the Act. Equivalent legislation exists in Northern Ireland, which is enforced by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission.
Part III of the DDA refers to the provision of goods, facilities and services. The Code of Practice 98, which specifically mentions websites, can be downloaded in its entirety from the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.
The quotes relevant to web sites from the 175-page Code of Practice are:
- "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."
Call 01782 631112 today, to discuss your requirements and recieve a no-obligation quotation.
Disability Discrimination Act Compliance
No web company is capable of producing a website that is "compliant with the DDA" within in the UK, as case law has not yet been established. However there are steps you can take to adhere to the DDA.
It's widely believed that if, or perhaps more appropriately when, a case makes it to court that the W3C accessibility guidelines will be used to assess a website's accessibility and ultimately decide the outcome of the case.
The W3C offers three different levels of compliance. Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3. With this in mind it is believed that Priority 1 and Priority 2 guidelines will have to be satisfied in order to successfully defend against legal problems.
Call 01782 631112 today, to discuss your requirements and recieve a no-obligation quotation.
Consequences Of Non-Compliance
A disabled person can make a claim against you if your website makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult to access information and services. If you have not made reasonable adjustments and cannot show that this failure is justified, then you may be liable under the Act, and may have to pay compensation and be ordered by a court to change your site.
Call 01782 631112 today, to discuss your requirements and recieve a no-obligation quotation.
