ClacksWeb Accessible to All
Published on:
04
November 2005
ClacksWeb has become the first local authority website in the country to achieve accessibility accreditation from The Shaw Trust.
The Shaw Trust, who are the largest UK provider of employment services for disabled people, have carried out an accessibility audit of Clackmannanshire Council's website and found that it can easily be used by people with a range of disabilities. As well as being the first UK local authority to achieve accreditation, ClacksWeb is only the second site anywhere to accomplish the 'plus' award issued by the Trust.
The Trust tested ClacksWeb through both an automated process while a team of experiences web auditors, all of whom are disabled individuals who use adaptive technology, also spent a fortnight checking that they could use the site.
In their report The Shaw Trust say: "It is hoped that other local authorities will take their cue from Clacksweb and realise that providing a fully accessible service is a realistic goal."
Web Development Manager Daniel Champion said: "Making ClacksWeb accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of ability, has always been my aim and I am delighted to receive this recognition from the Shaw Trust.
"For Clackmannanshire to be the first local authority in the UK to receive Shaw Trust Web Accreditation is a real achievement. The fact that we have also received the 'plus' award provides the highest level of assurance that ClacksWeb is universally accessible."
The Shaw Trust provides the only pan-disability audit of web accessibility, and accreditation where a site meets their standards. While most people use a mouse, keyboard, monitor and a common web browser such as Internet Explorer to access the web, others rely on assistive technologies to deliver the content of a web page.
ClacksWeb has been designed to be accessed by those who are not able to see, hear, move or process some types of information easily. It is also suitable to those with colour blindness and dyslexia.
ClacksWeb has been shortlisted in the Accessibility Award category at the Good Communication Awards which will be held on Monday 7th November in London.