Internet Newsletter for Lawyers
May/June 2002, by Delia Venables

Will Your Site Be Legal?

Specialist Web development agency Slate is offering to provide a free "health check" for legal websites in order to ensure that they comply with guidelines arising from requirements within the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which come fully into force in October 2004.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 aims to end the discrimination which many disabled people face. Requirements under the Act include the need for service providers to ensure equal access to electronic information and services in the same way that physical access to facilities/premises is required. In accordance with these provisions a set of guidelines with the title Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG 1.0) have been issued that apply specifically to the design of websites.

The majority of these guidelines are aimed at securing proper provision for the visually impaired.Without obligation Slate will e-mail results directly back to the firm or chambers, along with general comments and recommendations on the site's compliance with the legislation. Contact Lee Corless at Slate at info@ontheslate.com or telephone 0207 619 9785. Slate's site is at www.ontheslate.com.

And a free email newsletter on accessibility

E-Access Bulletin is a free, text-only email newsletter on all issues surrounding access to technology by blind and visually impaired people, supported by the RNIB and other leading blindness charities. Coverage includes web site accessibility; access to mobile phones and digital television; and services and resources on the web aimed at visually impaired people.You can subscribe to the newsletter by emailing eab-subs@headstar.com with 'subscribe eab' in the subject header.

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