VISION 2020 (UK) Ltd Board of Trustees

13 May 2014

Agenda Item – to be discussed under AOB

Title of Report: Fix the Web

Report of: Matt Broom

For: Decision

Confidential: No

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Fix the Web is a campaign with over a 1000 disabled people and volunteers working together to “crowd source” web accessibility. The project has seen over 2500 websites reported with potential accessibility issues that volunteers then take up with website owners. Fix the Web is an initiative of Citizens Online, a national charity that campaigns for internet access for all and has the backing of Stephen Fry.

Dr. Gail Bradbrook came to meet the Technology for Life group who approved the project and would like the Trustees to approve the idea of VISION 2020 (UK) Ltd putting their weight behind this.

2.The campaign

The internet has been a liberating force in the lives of many disabled people, opening up a wonderful new world of communication, ideas and networks. In theory, it should have created a level playing field.

Unfortunately, millions of disabled and older people are excluded from easily navigating their way around the web. To compound the problem, it is often difficult to complain about the offending sites. Fix the Web ( provides a quick and easy way for people to make complaints – as well as a volunteer-led process for those complaints to be reported back to website owners to get fixed.

The reporting process for a disabled person take less than a minute and is easily done through a form on the site: via twitter (#fixtheweb #fail, url and the problem) or by emailing . There is also a toolbar available on the site for browsers, developed by Southampton University, which includes a reporting button.

The role VISION 2020 (UK) Ltd would play would be to promote the campaign to its members and encourage member organisations to provide resources to increase web accessibility, so acting as a collaborative supportive hub.

Fix the web is already supported by the RNIB and by Abilitynet.

There is no monetary implication for VISION 2020 (UK) Ltd.

Appendix 1 press release re Fix the Web

2.1 Recommendations

It is recommended that the trustees approve VISION 2020 (UK) Ltd become a supporting member of Fix the Web

Name of Report Author: Matt Broom

Title of Report Author: UK Operations Manager

Date of Report: 08/05/2014

Appendix 1 press release

HelpFix the Web!

Over a 1000 disabled people and volunteers are working together to “crowd source” web accessibility; through the ingenious campaign called Fix the Web. The project has seen over 2500 websites reported with potential accessibility issues that volunteers then take up with website owners. Fix the Web is an initiative of Citizens Online(i), a national charity that campaigns for internet access for all and has the backing of Stephen Fry.

browsers, developed by Southampton University, which includes a reporting button.

Volunteers can support the drive for an inclusive internet, by taking part in the project; which they can do in their own time, online and to whatever degree of involvement they chose.

Stephen Fry comments:

“We all expect a few glitches when we go on line, but when it comes to accessibility for disabled and older people, the problem is colossal. Fix the Web is doing something about it in a positive and practical way – I urge you to get involved and help get this problem fixed. Fix the Web gets to the very heart of the problem – it’s pure genius!”

The majority of websites are simply not designed with accessibility for all in mind, despite the proven business case for inclusion. With around 6 million excluded disabled and older people in the UK with a combined spending power of £50 - 60 billion(ii), in purely commercial terms, inaccessible sites are clearly losing out.

Leonie Watson, who is blind, comments:

"I do most of my shopping online, as it's more convenient. I’m surprised by how many retailers just don't get accessibility. If their website isn't accessible with my screen reader, I won't spend my money there. It's basic business logic really - more accessibility, more people, more potential revenue."

We expect to see ramps, extra wide doorways and adapted toilet facilities in the built environment. But what about the equivalent on-line? Do we consider that websites might need their own virtual ramps? Apparently not, with 80% of sites failing to meet even minimum standards(iii) and despite the fact laws are in place to ensure that they do(iv). Blind users report losing, on average, 30.4% of their time due to web access issues (v).

Citizens Online believes that disabled people should not be expected to fight their corner alone. For this reason Fix the Web is recruiting a huge

taskforce of tech volunteers to champion the cause and report problems

back to web owners. The project aims to have at least 10,000 volunteers dealing with 250,000 websites annually. This will ensure that disabled users can make complaints quickly in the knowledge that there will be technical support on hand to take things forward on their behalf.

Fix the Web has been made available as a result of seed funding from Nominet Trust(vi) and is working in partnership with AbilityNet(vii), Bloor Research(viii), Coolfields Consulting(ix) Hanona(x) Learning Societies Lab at Southampton (xi), Nomensa(xii) and RNIB(xiii). The aim of Fix the Web is to introduce cultural change across the web, making it a more accessible and inclusive place where the needs of disabled people are taken into consideration and vital change can be made.

Dr. Gail Bradbrook of Citizens Online comments:

“I believe many techies would be horrified to think that the Web they love so much is excluding people. I firmly believe that this isn’t a problem disabled people should have to deal with on their own. It’s time a committed group of tech volunteers took charge of the issue and made it their own.”

If you want to get involved with the Fix the Web campaign or find out more, visit:.

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Contact:
Dr. Gail BradbrookgailATcitizensonline.org.uk 01453 752828, 07866838584