About these guidelines

Introduction

The National Disability Authority (NDA) developed these IT guidelines to provide comprehensive direction on making electronically delivered services accessible to people with disabilities.

This initiative arises from the Irish Government's commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (Page 100, Para 19) to making public services accessible to people with disabilities and also from the obligations on public bodies in the Disability Act 2005 Section 28 (2) regarding electronic communications.

The NDA commissioned Frontend Usability Engineering Ltd to develop the first set of guidelines in 2001 covering the following specific technologies:

• Websites and online applications
• Public access terminals, such as ATMs, information kiosks, ticket vending machines, Information displays, and card readers
• Telecommunication devices and services, such as desktop telephones, mobile phones and Interactive Voice Response services
• Computer application software

In 2007, the NDA added a number of resources to these guidelines including:

• a range of best practice guidance for web developers, designers and content creators;
• an introduction to web accessibility for managers.This provides high-level information on issues of legal obligations, business benefits and processes to improve the accessibility of your organisation’s website;
• an IT Procurement Toolkit that provides guidance to buyers of IT products and services to include meaningful, measurable and accurate criteria on accessibility in Request for Tenders.
• guidance on web accessibility auditing
• guidelines on Smart Card Technologies

The guidelines are provided as a resource for producers and procurers of Information and Communication Technology (IT) products and services. They aim to give guidance on how to ensure that these products and services are accessible to as wide an audience as possible, including people with disabilities.

Role of NDA

The National Disability Authority is the national independent statutory body established to advise government on policy and practice relating to people with disabilities.  Its objectives are:

• To support the effective implementation of the National Disability Strategy by:
  • Providing independent, authoritative advice and information
  • Effectively discharging NDA's own statutory obligations
• To monitor and review the National Disability Strategy
• To identify and advise on emerging and ongoing issues in policy and practice relating to people with disabilitiesTo develop guidelines, standards and Codes of Practice to promote quality and accessibility of services and facilities for people with disabilities
• To develop guidelines, standards and Codes of Practice to promote quality and accessibility of services and facilities for people with disabilities
• To build capacity to achieve its objectives and enhance communications

It carries out many of these functions in relation to web accessibility, as well as other accessibility areas, such as customer service and the built environment. It provides a wide range of material on web accessibility.

NDA has personnel with knowledge and expertise in the area of web accessibility. Feel free to contact us to discuss your work in this area. Although we cannot provide in-depth input into every project, please contact us as early in the development process as possible so we can discuss what supports and assistance we can offer you.

National Disabililty Authority
25 Clyde Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Ireland
Phone: +353 1 6080400
Fax: +353 1 6609935

Authors and Advisors

2001

Contributors

Web, Application Software, Public Access Terminal and Telecoms Accessibility Guidelines: Dr. Mark Magennis, Anthony Quinn, Frontend Ltd

Reviewers

The NDA drew together a group of accessibility and public policy experts which provided expert input and review at every stage of development of the guidelines.

2007

Contributors

• Project Manager: Dónal Rice, IT Accessibility Coordinator, National Disability Authority
• Accessible IT Procurement Toolkit: Dr. Mark Magennis. Director of the Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) at NCBI
• Smart Card Accessibility Guidelines: Dr John Gill, Royal National Institute for the Blind. Dick Clarke, Consult Hyperion.
• Designing and Developing Accessible Website: Dr Jon Dodd, Bunnyfoot Universality
• Web Accessibility Auditing Guidance for Managers: Fiachra O'Marcaigh, AMAS

Reviewers

The development of these resources was supported by the Irish eAccesibility Group which is co-chaired by the NDA and the eInclusion Unit at the Department of an Taoiseach.  The Group oversaw the development process for the resources and reviewed all content.

The NDA would also like to thank all those who participated in this consultation as well as audience interviews, end-user interviews and user tests.