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ARTICLE · 16 APRIL 2003

IT/eCommerce Bulletin April 2003

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
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United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

1. eCommerce NEWS

1.1 DRC to audit 1000 websites for accessibility for the disabled

2003 is the European Year of People with Disabilities. The EU has announced it will have a particular focus on promoting website accessibility for the disabled.

In the UK, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has announced that it will be investigating 1000 websites spanning the public and private sector to test for accessibility. The findings are likely to be released in late 2003 and the DRC has said they will be used to help website owners eradicate bad practice rather than as a prelude to litigation by the DRC.

Part III of the existing UK Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires that reasonable steps be taken to ensure it is not impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to make use of the service that is provided. That duty includes an obligation to provide "auxiliary aids" where it is reasonable to do so. Neither the Act nor the Code provides detailed guidance on

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