Dr Hollier looks at the recent work of the W3C in making it easier for people to check if websites are accessible for people with disabilities. This work includes the creation of the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schemato help web developers, and the WCAG 2.0 Evaluation Methodology Task Force(Eval TF)to create a methodology for accessibility evaluation.
Under provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 rules regarding mandatory levels of audio description will be reinstated on 8 October 2011, with required hours of described programming beginning in the first quarter of 2012.
A cloud-based tool, MyDisplay allows visitors to the BBC website to set up a theme tailored to their particular access needs, which is then applied across any of the three million BBC web pages the user visits.
The theme can include modifications to the text size, font style, colours and page structure. If users do not wish to customise their own theme, pre-defined themes are also offered in the categories of Limited vision, Asperger’s, ADHD, Dyslexia, Easier to read or BBC original. Once a theme has been created or selected it can be saved using a BBC account.
Significant developments include progress on Recommendation 8, which called for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to develop caption quality guidelines under consultation. These guidelines are almost finalised and will be presented to the ACMA Board shortly.
