Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Setting up a Quality Mark for web accessibility and the results of two years of web evaluation testing in the Netherlands Eric Velleman, January 31, 2005 Seminar Braillenet / Edean

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Introduction

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Online shopping Increased with 50% Increased participation of younger generation 30% of shopping was outside own country But is it accessible?? Numbers in millions Source: Forrester ‘The 2004 European Online Retail Consumer’

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Online government 93% of EU member states have a website 90% of all countries online offer information, databanks, legislation online 30% offers online services But are they accessible?? Global eGovernment readiness: United States Denmark England Germany Switserland Netherlands (11th place) Source: Global eGovernment readiness report 2004

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Does it pay off? For people with disabilities and for ROI? Yes! Accessibility saves you money 60% decrease in serverload, easier maintenance…. Multi platform and multi modality included ‘Top of the Web’ research for the Commission: filling out income tax online saves Europeans a total of 7 million hours per year ‘Does eGovernment pay off?’ research by Dutch Ministry of Internal affairs shows that eGovernment pays off even though in the long run, significant changes in the backoffice are necessary.

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Quality Mark and evaluation scheme

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Our Mission Ensure that people with disabilities and age-related impairments (and all of us) can enjoy “full citizenship” in the Information Society

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - The problem Buyers, sellers and users need reliable information on accessibility and services to help them make informed decisions and advance clear communication.

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - The solution Create a web site and evaluation scheme where stakeholders can obtain and share vital information on accessibility and control the quality of products and services.

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Targets Provide harmonisation of evaluation and interpretation in the accessibility market by - Harmonized accessibility standards for evaluation and interpretation (also European - Promoting the sharing of information between all stakeholders

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - More targets Conferences, interactive workshops, discussion lists and focus groups to facilitate sharing of information Ensuring representation from all stakeholders Promoting best practices, (V)PAT with control mechanism Identify experts (designers, evaluators…) Elevate the business response

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Implementation

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Brochure and normative document

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Quality Mark drempelvrij.nl Transparant and clear‘Normative document’ Ensuring representation from all stakeholders Support websites ( for users and for ‘business’)

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Extra stimulation 0 – 12 checkpoints conformant Report indicating problems and general solutions 12 – 16 checkpoints conformant ‘Orange’ logo with link to PAT and complaints procedure 16 checkpoints conformant ‘Green’ logo with link to PAT and complaints procedure

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Identifying experts Accessible builders/designcompanies Accessible websites/best practice

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Identify best practice examples

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Succes after 2 years of evaluation and raising awareness

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Current state in most countries Percentage of accessible website In the Netherlands: websites 33 accessible Percentage of total Dutch websites Percentage of government sites

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Conformance with guidelines Dutch situation: 2 checkpoints: designers ‘please the test’ 4 government websites had the Quality Mark (less than 0,4 percent of the total. Dec.2004) Monitor 2004 shows 2 of the 100 sites accessible

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - Results of actions Results of Drempelsweg campaign, drempelvrij, accessibility foundation and others: Awareness (85% population, 67% companies) 33% of participants are accessible 101 paying participants Participants include multinational companies Significant increase in accessibility of websites 350 Declarations of Intent Clear website List of preferred suppliers Increasing demand for usability testing protocols

Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation - More information - Harmonisation of Evaluation Methodology in coordination with WAI and Support-EAM. - Establishing a European quality mark and supporting services. - the Foundation that is now responsible for the Dutch Quality Mark logo - (registration for the quality mark) - about the drempels weg project