Public e-accessibility in Sweden Funda Denizhan Swedish Agency for Public Management

Goals and visions – the 24/7 agency  All government services which can be delivered electronically should be delivered electronically  Accessibility for everyone  Single point access  Improved transparancy and democracy Regulations  Swedish Work Environment Act  Ordinance SFS 2001:526

The Handicape Institute The Swedish Agency for Public Management The Disability Ombudsman The Government Interoperability board Actors influencing e-accessibility

Are the public web sites accessible for all? June 2003, an evaluation of 92 public websites vast majority of the web sites were not structured and designed based on the differing abilities of people Difficulties in interpreting and applying the WAI guidelines Lack of knowledge and common guidelines

The 24 hour web – guidelines for design of public web sites 9 chapters,145 guidelines contents and services – standards language, design and information structuring criteria for choice of publishing tools information on assistive devices Checklists for self-assessment and in procurements WCAG Released in June 2004 Marketing campaign September-December Positive response

Availability of e-accessibility expertise on the market WCAG Expertise restricted to small specialized companies Knowledge gap in IT companies accessibility and usability is not considered as important issues

Tools for affecting the market and the authorities Public procurement Guidelines and awards Monitoring/evaluations 75% of the public procurements in ICT is purchased through the framework agreements Creates possibilities to affect the choice that is open to the administration Usability and Accessibilty as an award criteria in procurements for framework agreements

Tools for affecting the market and the authorities Public procurement Guidelines and awards Monitoring/evaluations The 24-hour web..and other guidelines issued by the Government Interoperability board The Golden Link (Guldlänken) special award stimulating the Swedish public sector in their Internet-based services to the citizens.

Tools for affecting the market and the authorities Public procurement Guidelines and awards Monitoring/evaluations Annual questionnarie sent out by the Disability Ombudsman Self-assesment with the 24-hour checklists Model for follow-up and evaluation of e-government commissioned to the Agency for Public Management

Conclusion/summary

Links to web sites The Swedish agency for public management The Disability Ombudsman The Swedish Handicape Institute The Government Interoperability board The 24-hour web guidelines timmarswebben The Golden Link Funka Nu Tibo

Suggested issues for supplier apraisal Assesment of usability and accessibility of the products and services to be included in the portfolio Follow-up of end users´ satisfaction with the products and services delivered Implementation in products and services of feedback from the end-users Usability and Accessibilty as an award criteria in procurements for framework agreements

Availability of requirements Requirements on supplier’s capacity and ability Requirements on HW/SW and services Requirements on supportive services Assessment in call-off under framework agreement AccessibilitySuggestion available Many sources available Sources available Many sources available UsabilitySuggestion available Not availableSuggestion available Methods available ErgonomicsAvailable?Many sources available N/AMany sources available

Supplier appraisal  Now: request descriptions, statements  Middle term: establish desirable or mandatory requirements  Long term: establish certification regime, require certificate (or equivalent)

Public purchasers want  Certified suppliers  Product-specific usability requirements and  Product-specific accessibility requirements that  are easy to understand, both by supplier and purchaser  are easy to verify, both by supplier and purchaser  don’t distort competition  don’t increase cost  Not to select requirements from a list, targeted to designers  Model for cost-benefit analysis of accessibility and usability during life-cycle

Areas for harmonisation Requirements on supplier’s capacity and ability Requirements on HW/SW and services Requirements on supportive services Assessment in call-off under framework agreement Accessibility Prio 1 Prio 2 Sources available Many sources available Usability Prio 1 Not availableSuggestion available Methods available ErgonomicsAvailable?Many sources available N/AMany sources available

Public actors influencing e-accessibility The Government Interoperability Board effective information use e-identification and secure information exchange information security accessibility

The Government interoperability board 04:01 “The 24 hour web” - Guidelines for design of Government public Web Sites, 04:02 Guidelines for Government Use of Certificates and Electronic Signatures 04:03 Guidelines for User Interfaces that meet legal requirements

 Accessibility = to be able to use  Usability = freedom from discomfort, frustration, irritation  Ergonomics = not becoming injured