The UK Disability Rights Commission released a formal report on the accessibilty of 1000 UK web sites the other day (14th April). Not surprisingly the results were not good. Some of the findings:
Most websites (81%) fail to satisfy the most basic Web Accessibility Initiative category.
All categories of disabled user consider that site designs take insufficient account of their specific needs.
Although many of those commissioning websites state that they are alert to the needs of disabled people, there is very little evidence of such awareness being translated into effective usability for disabled people.
Website designers have an inadequate understanding of the needs of disabled users and of how to create accessible websites, and would welcome clearer guidance.
When I think of disabled people using web sites, I must confess that I normally think in terms of visual impairment (in fact blindness). An interesting point I picked up in the report is around cognitive impairment. The report recommends that web sites should provide what it calls "Easy Read" sections or versions. The example given (the report itself in "Easy Read") is like a child's book; using very simple language and lots of pictures.