UKNM: Blind Blind Blind (was two launches and two funerals)

[Russell Buckley]

Richard Longhurst writes:


> "The National Federation of the Blind filed a federal suit against AOL for

> making its service inaccessible to the

> blind. The suit claims AOL violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by

> failing to make its service compatible with programs designed to help blind

> people..."

>

This isn't my area of expertise but I *understand* that Part 2 of The

Disability Discrimination Act of1995, which came into effect in October this

year would allow disabled people  (including blind people) to do something

similar over here.


Apparently this law says that companies must ensure that people with

disabilities are not offered less favourable services. We do a lot of work

in the sales promotion sector and an interpretation means for instance, that

a blind person (say) must be able to enter a competition and therefore

promotors will need to produce braille versions of leaflets or that a deaf

person can take part in a phone in.


It may also have implications as far as prizes or incentives are concerned.

The law seems to imply that if a disabled person wins a car which is not

specially adapted for their needs, the promotor is in breach.


However, if this is the case with marketing campaigns generally, wouldn't

the law apply equally to websites?


The other concern many people have is that disabled pressure groups may have

funds to create precedents in this arena. So there may well be cases of

fairly spurious litigation to clarify exactly what the law means.


This will obviously be costly and time consuming for everyone.


So when Richard concludes

>

> Could I be arsed to incorporate Bobby's suggestions in Rich Clickings? No,

> but I might be able to find time tomorrow. Or possibly the day after.

>

It may be that you have to take notice!


Does anyone actually know the situation re this Act?


Russell Buckley

The Handling Partnership

http://www.thepartnership.co.uk


ecommerce fulfilment * mail order * telebusiness  * email response handling 


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