by Penny Everett, VerseOne Accessibility Specialist
Will this be the case that makes lax web service providers take notice of their legal responsibilities?
The RNIB have been trying to work with a low cost airline (BMIBaby) since 2010 and, despite RNIB's giving them both a full audit report and recommendations, BMIBaby has still not made any significant progress in making their web services more accessible.
So, finally, the RNIB has now served BMIBaby with legal proceedings as the website remains inaccessible to those using screen readers, or those who cannot use a mouse.
Hugh Huddy, the RNIB Campaigns Officer for Inclusive Society, said: "Blind and partially sighted customers deserve to have access to the best online prices and flight information, just as any customer of BMIBaby does. Why should those with sight loss risk missing out on a web-only deal, or be forced to ring a call centre simply because companies are failing to take accessibility standards seriously?"
Even if this case is settled out of court, it has gone public and therefore will be quoted for many years to come! So for those web service providers who don't worry about making sure their website is inclusive: "Be afraid, be very afraid."
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