Charity praises mobile applications

The growth of applications and websites for phones and other mobile internet enabled devices is good news for disabled web users, a leading charity has said.

Robin Christopherson, of Abilitynet, said rather than excluding people with disabilities, mobile apps make it easier for them to use the internet.

We talked to Mr Christopherson about whether by ignoring the needs of disabled people, app and mobile website developers could end up in breach of the Equality Act, which comes into force on 1 October, and replaces certain laws including the Disability Discrimination Act.

However, as the head of accessibility services for the national charity, which helps adults and children with disabilities use computers and the internet, Mr Christopherson told Computeractive he was “excited” about mobile developments.

“In order for these mobile websites and apps to work on smaller screens, the developers have had to make them simpler, which in turn has made them more accessible," he said.

"The developers have gone back to basics and the websites and apps are browser-based and can handle Ajax. This means people with disabilities, from visual impairments to learning difficulties find them easier to use on a PC."

He said Apple in particular deserved recognition for its strict control over the apps it allows for its devices

“The other platforms such as Symbian and Android tend to be a bit of a free for all. Apple has been very consistent in the way it ensures accessibility, and this applies to the apps it allows.

"It won’t approve an app unless it meets a certain standard,” he said.

He went on to point out that there will obviously always be some apps some people won’t be able to use, and some people may only be able to use others on a PC, but a mobile app would always be easier to use.

It may also be certain apps or mobile sites do breach the Equalities Act he said, but if this will lead to improvements remains to be seen.

Mr Christopherson pointed out that although the DDA had covered web inaccessibility, it hadn't ever led to a test legal case in the UK against developers.