Web sites that work: web usability for disabled people

Julie Howell - Digital Policy Development Manager, RNIB

Wednesday 16th March 2005, 6:30 pm (refreshments available from 6:10 pm)

Apex International Hotel 31-35 Grassmarket Edinburgh EH1 2HS  (street map)

There are in excess of 8 million disabled people in the UK. Increasing numbers of disabled people use the web for leisure, to support their work, to shop, bank and locate information. Impairments such as sight loss, hearing loss, poor concentration or difficulty using a mouse should not be a barrier to accessing the web. However, research findings published by the Disability Rights Commission in April 2004, suggested that as many as 81% of public-facing web sites are difficult or impossible for disabled people to use. Why should this be the case? What can companies do to improve the situation? What does the law say? In this presentation, RNIB's Digital Policy Development Manager will describe RNIB's Campaign for Good Web Design and will suggest how businesses can tap into a market with a potential value of £50m p.a.

About the speaker

Julie Howell has been an active member of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative and helped produce the 1999 WAI film 'Web Sites That Work'. Julie has advised the UK Government on its web design strategy, and represented RNIB on the Office of the e-Envoy committee that published 'The Quality Framework for UK Government Website Design'. During 2004, Julie assisted the Disability Rights Commission in its Formal Investigation into Web Accessibility, and continues to undertake a rigorous programme of outreach and education to raise awareness of the value and importance of inclusive design to the digital design community and those who influence and regulate it.

She has presented papers at more than 50 national conferences, and regularly provides commentary on digital access issues on international TV, radio and in the press.

Find out more about accessible web design at www.rnib.org.uk/webaccesscentre

Contact details:
Julie Howell Digital Policy Development Manager Royal National Institute of the Blind Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6XU
julie.howell@rnib.org.uk
Desk +44 (0)1733 375074
Mobile +44 (0)7984 600089.

Speaker's presentation from the meeting

PowerPoint (1955K), PDF (229K)