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State of the eNation Reports
Social networking sites lock out disabled users
18 January 2008
Social networking sites may be revolutionising internet communication, and creating new and exciting opportunities in both leisure and business, but is this Brave New World as democratic and inclusive as it appears?
Pioneering research by national computing and disability charity, AbilityNet, of five of the most popular sites, shows that, in contrast to their apparent universal appeal, they are effectively ‘locking out’ disabled visitors, the majority of whom can’t even register, let alone participate in the on-line communities they wish to join. This gross oversight is not only unethical, it is also clearly in contravention of the Disability Discrimination Act (1999).
As well as extensive review by AbilityNet consultants, feedback was also compiled by survey responses from AbilityNet’s team of 100 disabled end user testers. With a diversity of disabling conditions including vision or hearing impairment, motor, literacy and cognitive difficulties, they access their computers using a wide variety of adaptive hardware and software. These range from ‘tweaking’ the browser (making changes such as enlarging text or altering colour schemes), to using screen reading or voice recognition technology.
None of the sites reviewed – neither Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo, nor Bebo1 - would allow login without the identification of a CAPTCHA image. A visual verification code used to determine whether the end user is human, a CAPTCHA image is usually a random display of distorted words or letters which can only be deciphered by people and not by software. Those unable to interpret the graphic due to vision impairment, dyslexia or learning difficulties are therefore blocked from proceeding any further.
Some of the sites, such as Yahoo and Facebook, offer disabled users an alternative, but these were found to be unusable in practice. MySpace’s CAPTCHA image changes every 60 seconds – an added complication to an already impenetrable process for many disabled users.
AbilityNet’s assessment looked at both usability and accessibility with a focus on the real life challenges that disabled users experience on-line.
The author of the survey, Kath Moonan, AbilityNet’s Senior Accessibility and Usability Consultant, says: “UK participation in social networking is the highest in Europe with around 80% of the online population now making over 25 million visits a month to sites such as those covered this review
.
“With a disabled population of some 10 million potential users, these sites are inadvertently imposing a ‘technological lock-out’ on those who have most to gain from social networking - arguably the most socially excluded members of the community.”
In addition to the moral argument for accessibility, there is a legal imperative for facilitating disabled access and participation. Like other websites, these sites are also subject to legislation which has been in place since 1999. Under the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, website providers have to make ‘reasonable adjustment’ for those with special needs, just like those offering goods and services directly to the public.
Once over the registration hurdle, disabled end-users will find that their problems have only just begun. Kath and her team discovered a whole host of further usability barriers rendering many of the tools and devices on offer completely inaccessible. For non-mouse users for example, there are no links provided to enable them to quickly skip over the main navigation. This means that some content can take up to 100 tab presses to reach. Added to which, the cosmetic changes to links that occur when a mouse user moves the cursor over them, becoming underlined for instance, are not replicated for keyboard users making it difficult for them to identify the active link.
Most social networking websites allow users to perform complex interactions such as adding friends, watching videos or listening to music by using powerful new scripting techniques. Many users with disabilities are unable to use these features because of compatibility issues with assistive technologies such as screen reading software used by blind visitors. AbilityNet would like to emphasise that it is not only able-bodied people who have friends!
Some important links are displayed graphically and lack alternative text labels (describing their function) thereby excluding blind users. In addition, they can neither be resized effectively for users with vision impairments, nor have their colours altered to assist users who are colour-blind.
Text across the site is set using absolute sizing which means it cannot easily be resized by users who encounter difficulties. If a user overrides the default text size, this can cause the layout to alter and overlap or superimpose on a similar coloured background, making readability a major issue.
In addition to the problems highlighted in the report, there is the added complication of allowing users to create their own content (User Generated Content). This can create further difficulties for disabled web users who require content to be delivered in specific ways.
Kath continues: “Many of the barriers to accessibility we encountered could be easily remedied and it was shocking how little response we received when we approached the sites for advice on these issues.
“We would like to ask the operators of these sites to look at some of the key factors governing disabled access, namely: the reduction of the amount of CAPTCHA and the provision of an intelligible audio alternative; user-friendly support for those experiencing access problems and lastly, adherence to what is, after all, the law.”
State of the eNation reports
AbilityNet is at the forefront of a number of initiatives both at home and abroad to improve website accessibility for disabled people and provide both private and public sector organisations with the expertise they need to ensure that their websites are meeting guideline levels of compliance (such as those recommended by the W3C/WAI).
AbilityNet’s ‘State of the eNation’ reports are designed to draw attention to the issue of accessibility and usability and to help disabled people find the best websites for their needs.
The next eNation report will focus on sites offering music downloads.
For more information on website accessibility, usability and design, contact AbilityNet on 0800 269545.
Issued by the AbilityNet Press Office: 01926 429595 or at accessibility@AbilityNet.org.uk.
1. www.facebook.com; www.facebook.com; www.youtube.com; www.youtube.com; www.yahoo.co.uk and www.bebo.com
Editor’s notes
W3C/WAI These guidelines, first published in May 1999, provide a framework for accessibility. There are over 65 individual W3C checkpoints arranged in three levels of compliance to test for and only about a third can be assessed for conformity by an automated tool such as Watchfire’s Bobby. A comprehensive series of manual and automated tools, including Bobby is employed by AbilityNet in carrying out its surveys.
About AbilityNet
AbilityNet is a charity that brings the benefits of computer technology to adults and children with all types of disabilities. AbilityNet offers a comprehensive range of services to disabled people, professionals, employers and statutory bodies. It provides free information and advice on any aspect of computer use by disabled people including individual assessment of technology needs, adapted computer equipment with full training and technical support, a programme of awareness education, and consultancy for employers on system and workstation adaptations, as well as website and software accessibility.
In 2007 AbilityNet supplied free advice and information to some 850,000 enquiries through its national freephone and web-based services. In addition, the charity's consultants saw nearly 2,000 disabled children and adults for individual assessments, equipment, training sessions and home support visits.
In the same year, AbilityNet's professional education courses and seminars attracted around 6,000 staff from public, private and voluntary sector organisations, seeking to develop their awareness of adaptive technology for those with disabling conditions and learn practical solutions to apply in the workplace, at home or in education.
AbilityNet is dependent on grants, donations from and fund raising from charitable trusts, companies and individuals to carry out its work on behalf of disabled people and those who support them.
For further details check www.abilitynet.org.uk or call AbilityNet’s freephone helpline on: 0800 269545
Issued by: Caroline Saint Freedman, AbilityNet Press Office
Tel: 01926 429595
E: press.office@abilitynet.org.uk
For more information:
- Email accessibility@AbilityNet.org.uk
- Phone 0800 269545
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