Canadian federal government ordered to make websites accessible to the blind

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Thursday, 2 December 2010 16:09pm

Justice Michael Kelen of the Canadian Federal Court has ordered all government websites in Ottawa, Canada to become accessible for blind and vision impaired users within the next 15 months.

Three years ago, legally blind business consultant Donna Jodhan launched the proceedings as she had repeatedly failed in an attempt to use a government website to apply for employment, accessing data on the Statistics Canada website, filling out an online census form, and viewing information on other government sites.

With an MBA and extensive IT experience and training, Jodhan was made reliant on others to accurately navigate through these sites, as they have not been made compliant with up-to-date accessibility standards.

Justice Kelen found that Jodhan's Charter rights were infringed upon when she was denied access to government services and information on the basis of her physical disability.

Jodhan's inability to access departmental websites represents 'a system wide failure by many of the 146 government departments and agencies to make their websites accessible', the judge wrote.

John Rafferty, CEO of the Canadian Institute of the Blind, told The Starthat while the judgment is 'phenomenally encouraging', the legal battle shouldn't have been necessary.

'We shouldn't have had to fight,' he said.


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