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Leading retailers challenged to improve websites and apps within six months
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Five-point pledge to make sites accessible to all
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Mystery shoppers to check on progress as clock ticks down
PC Pro has joined forces with Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to encourage companies to get their websites and apps to a minimum standard, allowing blind and partially sighted users to access their goods and services online. The 180-Day WebSight Pledge will be launched in this month's issue of PC Pro, out today (14 June).
Design criteria
PC Pro and RNIB are asking companies to tweak their websites and apps using five key design criteria, which will improve the user experience of blind and partially sighted customers. RNIB and its partners will be offering advice, expertise, and consultancy services to pledging companies throughout the process.
During the six-month pledge period, a team of blind and partially sighted Web Watchers will be busy mystery shopping, providing each company with valuable feedback as the clock ticks down.
Follow-up
Companies fulfilling the pledge criteria in the allotted time will be listed in a follow-up PC Pro feature, receive promotion and commendation from RNIB, and be able to bear the WebSight-approved logo on their website.
The five pledges are:
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Avoid fixed-sized fonts and make text size and colour user configurable where possible. Avoid the use of patterned backgrounds.
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To make our website/app screen reader compatible with popular screen readers such as JAWS for Windows, SuperNova, VoiceOver and NVDA.
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To use a consistent interface throughout our website/app.
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To ensure that our website/app is fully accessible using the keyboard alone.
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To test our website/app with blind and partially sighted users and their support groups before implementing major changes.
PC Pro Editor, Barry Collins, said:
"When one of our own writers, Davey Winder, suffered a sudden and dramatic loss of vision with wet macular degeneration, it really brought home just how poorly those with limited vision are served by major websites and apps.
I hope our campaign makes website and app developers realise they can no longer afford to ignore the millions of users with limited vision."
Kevin Carey, Chair of RNIB Group said:
"One of RNIB's campaigning priorities is to improve website accessibility for people with sight loss and it is extremely encouraging that people are now taking up the cause.
Companies with goods and services to sell are really missing a trick if their websites are inaccessible; blind and partially sighted people are customers too and will go elsewhere if they can't access a website. There are almost 2 million people in the UK with sight loss and it makes strong commercial sense for companies to make these relatively inexpensive, simple changes. I hope that this campaign will be the start of real and lasting change in making inaccessible websites a thing of the past."
The campaign will be documented on the PC Pro website, www.pcpro.co.uk, which will aim to show every side of the campaign experience: the thoughts and experiences of company heads who are taking part, the impact on partially sighted and blind users, and expert thoughts from RNIB representatives.
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For further information, please call Gabriella Brooks or Stacey Kerr, RNIB Press Office, on 020 7391 2078 or Gabriella.brooks@rnib.org.uk.
Further information can also be found on the 180 Day Websight Campaign page.
Notes to editors:
About PC Pro
PC Pro is the bestselling computing monthly in the UK, with a website that attracts over a million unique visitors every month. PC Pro helps professional PC users to make the best possible IT decisions through a unique blend of definitive labs-based reviews, provocative and entertaining features and real-world advice.
About RNIB
Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk