Publically Available Specification On Web Accessibility
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is unhappy with the lack of action that followed last year’s report on the dire state of British web site accessibility. So it is working with the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop clear guidance.
The DRC published the results of its first formal investigation of 1,000 UK web sites in April 2004. The investigation highlighted the fact that up to 80% of UK web sites were breaching guidelines web accessibility guidelines and risking legal action under the Disability Discrimination Act.
However, the DRC has been disappointed by the general lack of action following its report, so it has commissioned the British Standards Institution to provide new guidance in the form of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) aimed at demystifying web accessibility.
A PAS is not a full British Standard but was created as a fast-track process of standardisation suitable for creating best practice and recommendations documents for industry, especially in fast-moving technologies where developing a British Standard might take too long. The process followed when creating a PAS is based on that used to create a full British Standard; the main difference being that full consensus on technical content is not required for a PAS.
Although the inititial end result is not a standard, a PAS can become a standard over time, depending on how it is accepted, and it is subject to review in less than two years.
PAS78 aims to tackle many of the myths and confusions surrounding web accessibility, including, for example, the role of automated tools and how and when to involve disabled people in user testing. It will not replace the WCAG guidelines but will focus on assisting site owners and managers by describing the role of standards and user testing within site development.
The final document is unlikely to recommend a particular level of accessibility on the WCAG scale as the DRC’s view is that such a recommendation is, potentially, dangerous as it is possible to satisfy Level AA and still be in breach of the law.
However, DRC’s endorsement of PAS78 could be a significant factor in any future disability discrimination case when deciding whether an organisation has attempted to comply with current legislation with regard to web accessibility.
PAS78 is due to be published later this year and will be updated every two years.