Accessibility Bulletin Week 46 – website accessibility is a global issue

14 Nov 2019 | Accessibility

Adam Turner
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This week we take a look at the progress UK Local Authorities are making towards web site compliance, how well-known companies are doing in Australia companies with compliance and more happenings in the US.

As usual 5 of the best articles we have seen are listed below with summaries and links to the full articles: 

  • UK | How are UK Local Government bodies progressing with website accessibility?

    Local Government may be interested to see how well their websites are complying with accessibility laws. 

    Sitemorse published it’s Q4 INDEX for UK Local Government earlier this week. Only 4 (of 404) local authorities passed WCAG 2.1 levels A and AA tests on every page. Nearly 86% of local authorities have not improved their accessibility since the last quarter’s INDEX. 73 local authorities scored 7 or above (out of 10) and 49% scored less that 5. UK Local Authorities have until 22 September 2020 to make their websites compliant with the law – new websites needed to be compliant from 22 September 2019.

    Recent clarification from the Digital Cabinet Office is that all new content should be compliant needs to be complaint from 22 September 2019. 

    https://sitemorse.com/blog-article/9587/q4-2019-uk-local-government-whats-happening-with-accessibility/

  • US | Agencies flout spirit of law

    Accessibility laws are about doing the right thing but unfortunately there are often unintended consequences.

    It’s extremely important to bring the state’s websites into further compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the process has been problematic. The high costs and time-intensive nature of converting all existing records into accessible ones has led many state agencies to simply remove millions of documents from their websites.

    https://www.ocregister.com/2019/11/07/agencies-flout-spirit-of-open-records-law/    

  • US | ADA compliance rules on websites flummox dealers

    Automotive dealerships are being sued over their websites failing ADA guidelines. The dealers are still confused as to what they need to do.

    Dealers, lawyers and compliance experts I interviewed noted that the lack of specific federal regulations governing how a website complies with the ADA has led to uncertainty over next steps. Dealerships are among businesses being sued over the issue.

    https://www.autonews.com/commentary/unclear-ada-compliance-rules-websites-flummox-dealers   

  • AU | Companies still fail on online accessibility

    “Accessibility barriers stop people with a disability doing the most ordinary activities that other people do day-to-day” - in Australia food delivery apps are failing to comply fully with the WCAG2.0 standards and the companies risk excluding people.

    Australian versions of Deliveroo, UberEats, and Domino’s applications and web sites do not yet fully comply with WCAG 2.0, although all of these companies have said they are continuing to improve their digital accessibility and already offer some assistive features. 

    https://which-50.com/cover-story-companies-still-fail-on-online-accessibility-even-as-new-challenges-emerge/

  • US | ADA standards catch up with ecommerce, and lawsuits are on the rise

    The Domino’s Pizza case is not the only one and anyone doing business on the internet need to ensure they comply with ADA.

    A lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza over whether its website and mobile app comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act may be the highest-profile case involving commercial digital compliance, but it’s not alone.

    https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/ada-standards-catch-up-with-ecommerce-and-lawsuits-are-on-the-rise