Web accessibility, Ramón Sanmartin Sola

EU actions on Web-Accessibility

ECC-Net- Web and Communication Workshop21.11.2013

Ramón Sanmartin SolaUnit ´Digital Social Platforms” DG Communication Networks, Content and Technology

Types of actions

1. Policy initiatives2. Standardisation activities3. Projects4. Studies

1. Policy – Former Initiatives

• Many initiatives at European level in Web-Accessibility since 2000

• “Soft law” = Encouragements and Commitment

• Initiatives coming from the three main European institutions: the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council

1. Policy – Former InitiativesEuropean Commissiono eEurope Action Plan (2000) and Communication on eEurope 2002: Accessibility of Public Web Sites and their Content (2001) oCommunications on eAccessibility (2005) oTowards and accessible information society (2008)

European ParliamentoResolution on the Commission Communication on eEurope 2002

Council oResolutions on eEurope Action Plan (2002) oRiga Ministerial Declaration (2006) oConclusions on the EC Communication on the accessible information society (2009)

1. Policy – Former Initiatives

• In addition to the European efforts, there have been parallel actions:

National measures: 24 Member States

International measures: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) signed by all MS and ratified by 25 = ACTUAL COMMITMENT

1. Policy – Present situation

• Despite all these efforts, the situation of Web-Accessibility in the EU today:

Low accessibility of public sector websites: less than 55% of websites accessible

Diverging and uncoordinated efforts: leading to varying national specifications

1. Policy – Line to take

• So what now?

o “Soft EU law" + National initiatives => “Harder EU law"

o Harder law: current & upcoming complementary legislative proposals

1. Proposal for new Public Procurement Directive

2. Proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies´ websites (Web-Accessibility Directive)

3. European Accessibility Act

1. Policy – Public Procurement Dir.

• Currently under negotiation• Establishes obligation to take into account accessibility

criteria in technical specifications of public contracts"For all procurement the subject of which is intended for use by persons [...] those

technical specifications shall, except in duly justified cases, be drawn up so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users."

• In opposition to encouragement of the existing version (2004)"Whenever possible, technical specifications should be defined as to take into account

accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users“

1. Policy – Public Procurement Dir.

• What does this actually mean? What are the practical effects?

Upcoming EU standard on eAccessibility (EN 301549), including requirements on web-content (WCAG 2.0 Level AA)

+ Procurers tend to use available relevant standards =Obligation to include WCAG 2.0 Level AA in technical

specifications for public contracts for websites => PUBLIC SECTOR WEBSITES PROCURED TO BE ACCESSIBLE

1. Policy – Web-Accessibility Directive

• Identification of the problem: o Non-functioning of the internal market for provision of web-

accessibility;

• Drivers to the problem: o Fragmentation due to different national web accessibility

(WA) specifications o Uncertainty for the procurers / owners


• ConsequencesProblems for public administrations:o Cost for alternative service provision and higher tender priceso Criticism on social and public responsibilityProblems for citizens:o Low accessibility of public sector websiteso Digital Social exclusionProblems for web-developers:o Difficulties for SMEs to operate cross-borderso Limited interoperability of assistive technologies


• The proposal establishes harmonised accessibility requirements for a set of public sector bodies´ websites

Requirements• In line with Principles of WCAG 2.0:Websites to be accessible in “an adequate way for user´s perception, operation and

understanding” and “in a way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies at Union and international level”

Scope • Websites owned by public sector bodies• offering 12 types of essential services for citizens

1. Policy – Web-Accessibility Directive(1) Income taxes: declaration, notification of assessment(2) Job search services by labour offices(3) Social-security benefits: unemployment benefits, child allowances, medical costs(reimbursement or direct settlement), student grants.(4) Personal documents: passports or driving license(5) Car registration(6) Application for building permission(7) Declaration to police, e.g. in case of theft(8) Public libraries, e.g. catalogues and search tools(9) Request and delivery of birth or marriage certificates(10) Enrolment in higher education or university(11) Notification of change of residence(12) Health-related services: interactive advice on the availability of services, onlineservices for patients, appointments.

1. Policy – Web-Accessibility DirectiveUse of standards•Presumption of conformity with requirements for websites which meet future European harmonised standard•Harmonised standard to point to WCAG 2.0 AA•Possible to update the content of the standard (i. e. WCAG 3.0) without changing the legislation

Monitoring and reporting•Compulsory monitoring and reporting to the Commission•Harmonized monitoring methodology to be decided by MS and the EC


Additional measuresoEncouragement to extend the scope of the implementation to public sector websites => To foster spill-over effectoProvide statement on the accessibilityoEncouragement to develop mechanisms for consultations, cooperation and exchange of best-practices with industry and civil society

TimelineoFixed deadlines for transposition (mid2014) and implementation (2015)


• Opportunities to be created

For citizens:o Improved access to essential 'basic public services‘

For industry:o Easier and cheaper to operate EU-wideo Better growth conditions for SME´s (clear and consistent use

of technical criteria)

For public administrations

o Efficiency/effectiveness, reduced need for helpdesk support o Fulfil social responsibility and commitments

1. Policy – Web-Accessibility Directive• Summary & explanations

What´s the objective? o Tackle the problem of the internal market on web-accessibilityo by establishing harmonised requirements for a specific set of

websites and, at the same time,o help MS to fulfil their commitments and ensure web-

accessibility in EU

Why set of websites?o It´s a “Silver bullet” – Obligation on a set of websites that will

generate a “spill-over” effect to national legislations • Proposal is now under discussion at Parliament and Council

1. Policy – Web-Accessibility Directive• Main amendments tabled at the EP

Scopeo Extension to cover "all public sector websites" and "websites

providing services of general interest"o Extension to cover mobile applications

Timeline for implementationo Two different deadlines: 1) Closer deadline (2015) for new

content 2) Later deadline (2017) for existing content• Internal Market and Consumer Affairs (IMCO) Committee to

vote on 28th November > Vote in EP's plenary

1. Policy – European Accessibility Act

o Expected to cover web-accessibility, in particular private sector

o Complementary to and not in conflict with the Web-Accessibility Directive

o Currently under preparation by DG JUST

2. Standardisation activities

• Mandate 376o Mandate 376 to the European Standardisation Bodies to

deliver a European standard on accessibility requirements of public procurement of ICT products and services, but can be used for other cases

o Final draft of EN 301549 is to be voted by National Standardisation Organisations

o Estimated publication date is February 2014o Web-content requirements: WCAG 2.0 AA

3. Projects

• Funding to different Research and Development projects:o eAccess+: Establishing a cooperative platform for supporting and

improving the implementation of eAccessibility throughout Europeo WAI-ACT: Collaborative environment to result in

o Expanded European and international cooperation on the development of accessibility solutions for people with disabilities;

o Internationally harmonised evaluation methodologies; o A coordinated research agenda on eAccessibility

o European Internet Inclusion Initiative (EIII): building a new combination of existing tools to support crowd source enabled user testing, automated evaluation and surveillance of the web and audio-visual media.

4. Studies

• Funding for many studies, consultations and surveys on Web-Accessibility in Europe:

o Measuring Progress of eAccessibility in Europe (MeaC I)o Economic Assessment for Improving e-Accessibility Services and Productso Monitoring eAccessibility (MeaC II)o Web-accessibility in European countries: level of compliance with latest

international accessibility specifications, notably WCAG 2.0, and approaches or plans to implement those specifications

o Study on assessing and promoting e-Accessibility

4. Studies

• Some results from the 'Study on assessing and promoting e-Accessibility'

o Progress on policy side, with almost all MS with some type of obligation or policy, and some having strengthened or developed existing approaches

o Much room of improvement for levels of WA being achieved across EU and lower level of WA than in comparison countries (AU, NO, CA and US)

o Considerable variation across MS in the levels of WAo Tendency to work towards WCAG 2.0 guidelines, but variations on the

aspects of WA that seem to be given emphasiso Tendency for accessibility requirements of blind end-users; with poorer

performance in meeting requirements of users with hearing impairments

Thank you!

Education

Web accessibility, Ramón Sanmartin Sola