Links

Academic/General Interest Resources

Nature of Disability

• A brief definition of disability by the MA

  Massechussetts Department of Education

• Definitions of Disability

  This is a World Bank report, which looks at definitions of disability and methods of measuring disability. The report compares the phenomenon of disability internationally and tries to show the close links between disability and poverty. It also contains three case studies on Brazil, Equador and Nicaragua

• Disability History Museum

  "The DHM website contains a digital library on the history of disability with documents and pictures from the 18th century to the present."

• Disability Social History Project

  "The website includes a disability history timeline, information on projects, publications and events as well as some useful external links."

• Introduction to Web Accessibility

  "A brief introduction to the problem of disability and web accessibility from the Irish National Disability Authority."

Organisations, Charities and Online Magazines

Research Centres

• Canadian Center on Disability Studies

  "The Website of the centr contains mainly information on the centre itself and its research and publicity activities. There is also a links page with links to other organisations and resources."

• University of Leeds Centre for Disability Studies

  "This is the website of the University of Leeds' Centre for Disability Studies and it contains information on the teaching and research activities of the centre as well as a link to the UK Disability Archive."

Charities

• Ability Net

  Ability Net is a charity, which offers services for disabled people to help them utilise ICT. These services include advice training and accessible web development. The website contains some information on web accessibility and few accessibility resources.

• AIDIS Trust

  "This small charity specialises in providing advice and support to disabled people to help them utilising technologies to overcome their disabilities. The website contains information on hardware and software solutions and informs about the latest products and technologies."

• Birmingham Disability Resource Centre

  "This is a charity, which aims at providing support, advice, counselling, information and resources to disabled people. The website contains apart from information on the BDRC and its services some useful links."

• Disability Law Service

  "Charity that offers free legal advice to disabled people."

• Employment Opportunities

  "Charity which helps disabled people to find employment. "

• Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

  "This is an umbrella organisation for disability organisations and disabled people. RADAR aims to inform policy, runs campaigns in Parliament and does research in the area of disability and society. On the website there is access to RADAR's publications including a monthly newsletter."

• Royal National Institute for the Blind

  "The website of a leading charity for blind people in the UK. The website contains information on visual impairments and how to cope with them. In addition there is a research library on web accessibility including guidelines, for a, journals and organisations."

• The British Council of Disabled People

  "This is the national organisation of the worldwide Disabled People Movement. On the website are many articles on disability, society and web accessibility, as well as many links."

• The International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet

  "The site contains a general introduction to web accessibility and some information on the activities and services of the center."

• The Shaw Trust

  "The Shaw Trust is a national UK charity, which specialises in helping disabled people find employment. The website contains information for disabled people searching for work as well as some statistics on disability and employment."

• Worldwide Network on Disability and Human Rights

  This is charity that wants to raise the awareness of disability and web accessibility. The website contains links to relevant reports and articles as well as news and events concerning the complex of disability, accessibility and human rights.

General Resources

• Accessibility 101

  "This is a general resource on web accessibility, which includes information on legislation, website design tips, accessibility articles, accessibility website tests and links to relevant organisations and websites."

• NewMobility

  "This is an online magazine for disabled people with news, stories and message board. Some of them relate to web accessibility."

• Web Accessibility for All

  "This website contains news, tools and an introduction to web accessibility."

Social and Economic Inclusivity in the Labour Market

The Legal Challenge

• Access all Sights

  "This is an article that was published in the Guardian on the issue of accessibility of websites for employment."

Employment Statistics

• "Active Labour Market Programmes for People with

  "This is a report by the European Commission on the employment situation of disabled people and European programmes for improving it."

• Disability and Employment Statistics

  "This website of the Shaw Trust contains statistics on disabled people in employment. "

• Disabled People in Public Sector Employment 1998-2004

  "This is a publication of the National Statistics Office, which looks at trends in the employment of disabled people in the public sector."

Research on Disability and Employment

• Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion

  "CESI is a non-profit organisation, which undertakes research and provides consultancy in the field of social inclusion of people belonging to all kinds of minorities. The website contains a large searchable database with statistics, research papers, documents and other publications."

• Disability and Employment

  "This article by Colin Barnes from 1992 looks at the exclusion of disabled people from the labour market."

Resources for Disabled Jobseekers

• DisabilityWorks

  "Website that aims to help disabled people find employment.On the website there is a whole range of services and information available for disabled people and employers."

• Disabled People's Employment Resources

  "This website contains a list of links to information and various organisations in connection to employment of disabled people."

• Employers Forum on Disability

  "This is the website of an employer organisation, which focuses on the way disability affects business, e.g. the employment of disabled people and on providing goods and services to disabled customers. On the website are news, press releases, links to Forum publications and information on issues like conformity with the DDA and web accessibility."

• Remploy

  "Employment agency that specialises in finding work for disabled people in mainstream employment."

The Digital Divide

Research

• "Disability and the Digital Divide: Comparing

  "This is a brief research paper by the RTC RURAL Institute, which contains statistics on disability and Internet access."

• Digital Divide Council Research

  "The website contains links to articles, surveys and organisations with respect to the use of the Internet by particular social groups."

• Digital Divide Initiatives: Are They Accessible to People with Disabilities?

  "This brief article argues that disabled people are underrepresented in the digital divide debate because the debate itself is not made accessible to them."

Policy and Strategy

• "The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People

  "This is a white paper of the US Department of Comerce, which addresses the challenges and opportunities that the digital society offers for disabled people."

General Websites on the Digital Divide Debate

• National Center for Technology Innovation: Digital Divide Resources

  "The website contains articles on disability and the digital divide as well as links to relevant websites and other research in this area."

• The Digital Divide

  "This is a website dedicated to bringing about a second digital revolution which would include all those in it who are presently excluded from using the web. The website contains lots of information on the problem and history of the digital divideand what can be done about it."

• The Digital Divide Network

  "This is a web forum for educators, activists and policy makers who are engaged in bridging the digital divide. It contais news, articles and links to relevant organisation and communities."

Journals

• Disability and Rehabilitation

  Disability and Rehabilitation is an international, multidisciplinary journal which seeks to encourage a better understanding of all aspects of disability, and to promote the rehabilitation process. The journal publishes articles on rehabilitation in practice and rehabilitation engineering, spanning a range of issues including the severity and magnitude of disability, clinical medicine including gerontology, psychosocial adjustment, social policy issues, vocational and educational training, and rehabilitation engineering.

• Disability and Society Journal

  Disability & Society is an international journal providing a focus for debate about such issues as human rights, discrimination, definitions, policy and practices. It appears against a background of change in the ways in which disability is viewed and responded to.

• Information Technology and People

  As information technology becomes ever more sophisticated, complex and pervasive, its encounter with organizational structures and practices continues to deepen in importance, to the organizations themselves, to the people who comprise them, and to the societies in which this encounter is embedded.

• Journal of Disability Policy Studies

  The Journal of Disability Policy Studies addresses compelling, variable issues in ethics, policy, and law related to individuals with disabilities. A major focus is quantitative and qualitative policy research. Articles have implications in fields such as education, law, sociology, public health, family studies, medicine, social work, and public administration. Occasional special series discuss current problems or areas needing more in-depth research, for example, disability and aging, policy concerning families of children with disabilities, oppression and disability, school violence policies and interventions, and systems change in supporting individuals with disabilities.

• Technology and Disability

  Technology and Disability communicates knowledge about the field of assistive technology devices and services, within the context of the lives of end users - persons with disabilities and their family members. While the topics are technical in nature, the articles are written for broad comprehension despite the reader's education or training. Technology and Disability's contents cover research and development efforts, education and training programs, service and policy activities and consumer experiences.

Books on Web Accessibility

• Building Accessible Websites

  "Joe Clark (2002), Building Accessible Websites, New Riders"

• Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

  "Steve Krug (2005), Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, New Riders"

• Maximum Accessibility

  "John Slatin, Sharon Rush (2002), Maximum Accessibility, Addsion Wesley"

• Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities

  "Michael Paciello (2000), Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities, R&D"

• Web Accessibility: Standards and Regulatory Compliance

  "Michael P. Burks, Patrick H. Lauke, Jim Thatcher, Richard Rutter, Cynthia Waddell (2006), Web Accessibility: Standards and Regulatory Compliance, Apress"

Government Resources/Legislation

Government Policy

European Guidelines

• The European Union Disability Strategy

  "This website provides a forum for disability and equality issues in Europe. Its goal is to outline and discusse possible Europe-wide measures and standards for improving equality and opportunities of disabled people. There are also many European key policy documents and statements available on this website."

Outside the UK

• Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology

  Ordinance of the German government on web accessibility for disabled people of German government agency websites.

• Applying the ADA to the Internet

  An article by Cynthia Waddell on the policy issue of web accessibility and disabled people' rights in the US.

• Disability Act 2005 (Ireland)

  This legislation defines the rights of disabled people in terms of employment, education and access to services and goods.

United Kingdom

• Disability Equality Duty

  This policy requires all public bodies in the UK to give equal opportunities to disabled people in terms of employment, education and access.

• Parliamentary Statement of the ODI

  The statement generally explains, the function, mission and vision of the ODI.

• Improving the Life Chances for Disabled People

  Prepared by the Strategy Unit of the Prime Minister's Office the report outlines the government's ambitious plans of creating a more just society for disabled people.

• "Ending Poverty and Widening Opportunity

  Policy statement of the Disability Rights Commission, which outlines the DRC's Disability Agenda.

• Improving Information for Disabled People

  This is a policy statement of the ODI concerning the rights of disabled people to have access to information.

Legislation

Additional Information UK Disability Laws

• Content Providers and the DDA

  "This is a briefing paper written by Martin Sloan on the legal implications under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 of provision by education service providers of digitised materials to colleges and universities."

• Disability Discrimination Act & Web Accessibility

  "Some background information on the DDA from the webcredible website"

• UK Resources for Web Accessibility and the Law

  "The website contains a wealth of links to legislation, codes of practices, legal interpretations, official publications and relevant organisations."

International Laws and Guidelines

• UN Conv on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

  "The convention recognises the human rights of disabled people and aims to protect and promote these rights. The UN drafted this convention in December 2006 and it was opened for signature and ratification in March 2007. Up to now 86 nations have signed the convention."

• UN Convention Info

  This is British website with further information on the UN convention on human and disability rights. The website has links to relevant documents and publications.

• UN Human Rights Convention

  This is a link to the UN declaration of universal human rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948 and which is now the foundation of international human rights laws.

UK Legislation

• Disability Discrimination Act

  "The DDA gives rights to disabled people with respect to employment, education, access to services, facilities, goods and land ownership."

• Disability Rights Commission Act

  "The Disability Rights Commission Act established the DRC in 1999. It defines the functions and work of the DRC in accordance with the DDA from 1995."

• Special Educational Needs and Disability Act

  "This legislation is an amendment to the DDA and it covers the rights of disabled students with respect to admissions, teaching and learning and student services. In addition, special provisions for disabled students with respect to accommodation, catering,and leisure facilities."

Political Bodies

European Organisations

• European Disability Forum

  This is the website of the EU umbrella organisation for representing and supporting disabled people living in the EU. The website provides a huge resource on disability and human rights, disability and employment and disability and the information society.

• European Social Fund

  This is a European organisations, which aims to improve the employment opportunities within the European Union, especially for disabled or otherwise disadvantaged people. The ESF funds projects in collaboration with national organisations that are in accordance with its aims.

UK Government

• Business Link

  "Business Link is a government website that provides practical information for business organisations in the UK. This includes information on employment, disability and accessibility. There are links to relevant publications, laws, regulations and guidelines."

• Disability Policy Division of the DWP

  "The website contains a lot of information and advice for disabled people with respect to employment,training and education, health, support and legislation."

• eGovernment Unit

  "The eGovernment Unit supports the government on matters of IT and it has four main responsibilities: formulating IT policy, developingIT components,promoting best practices and providing services to UK citizens. The website also contains guidelines and research on e-Accessibility."

• Information Commissioner's Office (OCI)

  "The ICO is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information by promoting good practice, ruling on eligible complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations, and taking appropriate action when the law is broken."

• Office for Disability Issues

  The ODI is a UK government organisation, which aims to become a centre of information and expertise on disability issues. Furthermore, the ODI intends not only inform policy, but also change the public perception of disability. On its website information on ODI policy, projects and ODI reports can be found.

• Office of the e-Envoy

  "This is a suborganisation of the Cabinet Office that is responsible for developing government online services. The office publishes a monthly report and there are lots of media resources on the latest developments, statistics, reports and guidelines."

• The Equalities Review

  "The Equalities Review was established in 2005 by the British Government to investigate the causes of persistent discrimination and inequality in British society. On the website the Final Report of the Equalities Review can be found."

UK Parliament

• Parliamentary Information Technology Commission

  "PITCOM is a forum for MPs, ICT professionals and academics for excahnging information and opinions on ICT, which was created in 1981 by the British Parliament. The website contains information on PITCOM activities, events and reports and also relevant links to websites of other Parliament and government organisations/committees. "

• The Equality and Human Rights Commission

  "The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the successor of the Disability Rights Commission. The DRC was established by the British Parliament in 2000 to stop discrimination of disabled people and to promote equality. The DRC has published several Impact Reports which are available on the website.In addition, the DRC website contains extensive resources for employers and disabled people with respects to laws and policy."

Technical Links/Making an Accessible Website

Technical Background

Assistive Technologies

• abilitytechnologies.net

  A small website with links to information on technologies and products that can be utilised by disabled people.

• American Association for the Blind

  "This is a database with products for people who are blind or visually impaired."

• Supportive Writing Technology

  Assistive Technology Database

Technical Guidelines

• Illinois Web Accessibility Standards

  "These are the web accessibility standards of the US state Illinois."

• Introduction to Web Accessibility

  "This is a short article, which contains some technical hints for making a website accessible."

• Irish National Disability Authority IT Accessibility Guidelines

  "The website contains a detailed explanantion of the W3C's Web Accessibility Inititiative guidelines."

• Joe Clark - Accessibility, Design, Writing

  "A small website with some website design guidelines and articles."

• Making Educational Software and Websites

  "The American National Center for Accessible Media has devoloped technical guidelines and standards for accessible websites in education."

• Quality Framework for UK Government Websites

  "The Cabinet Office has released general technical guidelines for UK government websites, which can be found here."

• Style Gala

  "This website provides information on web design and standards. It includes resources with web design tutorials, tools, fonts, news and publications."

• W3 Commission

  "W3C is an international forum for developing guidelines and technology for web standards. W3C includes a great range of member organisations a fulltime staff and liaisons with national and international organisations. The website contains information on W3C activities and technical reports."

• Web Accessibility Initiative

  "The W3C has developed technical guidelines for making the web more accessible for disabled people. There is also a general introduction to web accessibility, tips for designing accessible websites and methods for the evaluation of websites."

• Web Content Accessibility Guideline

  "This a link to the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guideline. "

• Web Design Group

  "This small website includes some general hints on accessible website design and some links"

Software Tools, Programmes and Resources

Disability Technology Websites

• Accessify

  "The Accessify website offers a broad range of software, tools and resources on making accessible websites. Accessify has also plenty of links to the best accessibility websites on the web."

• Adobe Accessibility Resource Center

  "A good resource on all aspects of accessibility. It includes information, articles and tools for making accessible websites. There are also many examples, templates and case studies, as well as an excellent links page."

• IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center

  "This company website has some very good resources and links on accessibility. Apart from general information on technology, laws and regulations and developer guidelines, there are also many interesting case studies, which illustrate the problem of accessibility and how to solve it. "

• RNIB Web Access Centre

  "This is the website of a UK charity for people with sight disabilities. The Web Access Centre contains guidelines and tools for website developers. There are also links to RNIB publications and there is a research library that covers all aspects of sight loss."

• TechDis

  "The website of an advisory organisation for education and inclusivity in the UK. It contains a list of tools, guides, articles and a technology database."

• UI Access

  "This is a free resource for universal interface design and usable accessibility information. It contains some articles, tools and national regulations and laws on web accessibility."

Web Accessibility Software Tools for Downloading

• Accessible Web Page Design Resources

  "Small website with links to software and information for designing accessible websites."

• Cornucopia of Disability Information

  "Webpage with many useful links to articles, organisations, software and tools related to technology and disability. There is a whole section of links for designing an accessible website."

• Guild of Accessible Web Designers Resources

  This a collection of software tools and utilities.

• isolani - dynamic and accessible web applications

  "This is a small website with some information and articles on web accessibility."

• webaim

  "An American website dedicated to expanding the potential of disabled people. The website contains a good collection of software tools and resources"

Companies that Make Accessible Websites

Private Companies

• bitingedge

  Newcastle, UK

• Blueygreen

  Blueygreen, Newport, South Wales NP19 9ZG

• Breeze Media

  "Breeze Media Ltd., Gleann, 1 The Terrace, Glenlomond, Perth&Kinross KY13 9HF"

• Bunnyfoot.com

  "Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QG"

• eConnected

  "eConnected Ltd., The Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 1RL"

• Empower Inc

  "Empower Inc., 1 Downstream, Number 1 London Bridge, London SE1 9BG"

• Epic web

  52 Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1NH

• fourquarters

  "fourquarters I.S. Ltd., Technology House, Lissadel Street, Salford, Lancashire M6 6AP"

• Nomensa

  "Nomensa Ltd., 1 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5BW"

• Stone Square

  "Stone Square, 1 Perserverance Terrace, Halifax HX1 3EF"

• The Accessible Website Company

  38 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1PJ

• Userite

  "Website Auditing Limited, 8 The Coles Shop Merton Abbey Mills, London SW19 2RD"

• Zanet Web Design

  info@zanet.co.uk

Umbrella Organisations

• Manchester Digital Association

  "This is the website of a Manchester business association, which aims to promote digital business in Manchester. "

• Manchester Digital Development Agency

  "The MDDA is a suborganisation of the Manchester City Council, which aims to promote the community access to ICT and to support non-profit organisations and businesses in the field of ICT."

• The Guild of Accessible Web Designers

  "This is an international organisation of web designers and developers with the aim of promoting and protecting web accessibility standards. The website contains news, publication, a member library and tools and software for making accessible websites."