Cabinet Office
If the W3C WAI Guidelines are followed, websites can be made accessible to a very wide variety of people with disabilities. In this way the delivery of inclusive government services via the internet becomes an achievable objective. In order to achieve both the specific objective of online services that conform with these guidelines and the broader objective of inclusive services, recommendations should be focused on the different contributions made by different groups of stakeholders.
Recommendation 1
Set a clear target for making all public sector websites in the EU conform with WCAG 1.0 Level Double-A by 2010 as part of the i2010 strategy to promote an inclusive European information society.
Recommendation 2
Develop feedback mechanisms for closing the information gap between policy planning and actual outcomes across the EU (The European Internet Accessibility Observatory Project (EIAO) [External website] may provide a mechanism for such collaboration).
Recommendation 3
In particular, aim to test systematically, and on a regular basis, the progress that should now be made. This may include the revisiting the current study in 12 to 18 months' time, and should be integrated with ongoing i2010 monitoring activities.
Recommendation 4
Ensure effective liaison with all EU-wide organisations (e.g. EIAO, EDeAN, Support-EAM, eAccessibility Expert Group) to encourage the sharing of best practice and a harmonised approach across the EU so that eAccessibility becomes part of the mainstream for online services, e.g. the link between accessibility and usability.
Recommendation 5
Ensure that EU public procurement policy now builds applicable W3C WAI guideline requirements into all procurements of new website designs, major upgrades, and all outsourced content production (such as reports, publications etc).
Recommendation 6
Carry out a feasibility study in 2006 into the development of an appropriate qualification in accessible websites for developers, managers and content providers (perhaps aligned with aligned with the European Computer Driving Licence).
In line with the strategic objective for 2010 to promote an inclusive European information society, each Member State should produce an implementation plan that will cover at least the following recommendations.
Recommendation 7
Produce by 2006 a short-term public plan that enables a clear measurable improvement for all websites delivering public services.
Recommendation 8
In particular, promote the need for cross-governmental centres of excellence for eAccessibility (within Member States) that will provide special action plans, teams, standards and tools for improving eAccessibility according to clear priorities of ease of execution and impact on service.
Recommendation 9
Review the incentives available to encourage the provision of accessible websites in the public service and, if necessary, consider the need for a strong legislative framework.
Recommendation 10
Produce a plan for improving awareness throughout the country by reviewing all the examples of engagement identified in this survey as ideas for improving awareness of web accessibility.
Recommendation 11
Assess the potential for a practical style guide with common ‘look and feel’ standards for public service websites in line with the Canadian model, involving disabled users.
Recommendation 12
Ensure that government policy now builds applicable W3C WAI guideline requirements into all public procurements of new website designs, major upgrades, and all outsourced content production (such as reports, publications etc). In the case of software procurement, such requirements should apply equally regardless of the licensing model (open- or closed-source).
Note: This will normally require WCAG 1.0 Level Double-A, and may also include ATAG 1.0 Level Double-A and UAAG 1.0 (with an appropriate conformance profile) where these would also be applicable.
Recommendation 13
Develop feedback mechanisms for closing the information gap between policy planning and actual outcomes so that regular monitoring of performance against eAccessibility is made and communicated.
Recommendation 14
Plan now to get existing sites up to at least Level A in the short term (by the end of 2006) and to achieve Level Double-A in the mid-term (by end of 2008), prioritising carefully work applied to individual sites in order to enable the quickest resolution of the most common problems and thus achieve the biggest impact. In particular,
Recommendation 15
Make sure that all content commissioners and authors are fully trained in the importance of accessible content, and in the means that are made available to them to achieve this.
Recommendation 16
Build applicable W3C WAI guideline requirements into all public procurements of new website designs, major upgrades, and into all outsourced content production (such as reports, publications etc).
Recommendation 17
Produce software tools that conform with Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG1.0) to at least Level Double-A, and/or with the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG 1.0) as applicable (including open source software).
Recommendation 18
Build the W3C WAI guidelines into industry codes of practice.
Recommendation 19
Train all web designers in both the requirement for, and the techniques to achieve, fully accessible websites.
Recommendation 20
Develop a competence framework for web designers, which includes web accessibility, and use it for personal development schemes and recruitment campaigns.
Recommendation 21
Designate a champion (an individual and/ or an institution) for eAccessibility in each Member State with the responsibility and authority to ensure that improvements are made with the long-term target of achieving Level Double-A for all government websites by 2010.