MPs' websites failing disabled people

Many MPs are not making their websites accessible to those with disabilities, according to a charity.

Abilitynet says that some sites are “failing completely to meet the minimum accessibility criteria” and therefore “imposing a technological lock-out on disabled voters".

The criticism comes after the charity was asked to judge the accessibility offered by MPs' websites at the first annual British Computer Society (BCS) MP Website Awards.

Designed to underline the integral role that IT plays in parliamentary communications, the awards, judged by Abilitynet, look at websites in three categories - design, engagement and accessibility.

A series of tests employing adaptive technologies commonly used by disabled people checked if websites had screen readers and voice-recognition software. Testers also looked at how easy it was to make changes to improve access for those with visual impairments, dyslexia or physical problems that could make using a mouse difficult. Abilitynet said the “majority of MPs had not considered any of these,” when building their sites.

Robin Christopherson, head of accessibility services at Abilitynet, said: “Bearing in mind the legal obligation for websites to enable disabled people to access and navigate them effectively, standards of accessibility amongst the websites sampled ranged widely with many of them failing completely to meet the minimum accessibility criteria.”

He said as a result the websites were “imposing an - albeit unintentional - technological lock-out on disabled voters,” which was a “rather undemocratic trend at a time when initiatives like e-government were attempting to bridge the digital divide and promote IT access for all”.

Professor Nigel Shadbolt, a judge for the awards and president of the BCS agreed. He said: “Of particular concern was the large number of MP websites that failed to be shortlisted because they failed the accessibility test."

Alan Johnson, MP for Kingston Upon Hull West and Hessle, was awarded the Accessibility Award as his website was found to incorporate accessibility and effective use of modern media techniques such as blogs, pod or video casts and instant messaging.

Other MPs were awarded for a variety of different categories including Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, who won the Design Award, and Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, who won the Engagement Award. Adam Price, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, won the Website Award 2007, which was considered to be an outstanding example of the very best incorporation of the three judging criteria.