UnumProvident's UK site is the first to wear the 'See
it Right with UseAbility' badge following a process that combined
RNIB’s accessibility assessment with usability testing by
AbilityNet’s panel of web users with disabilities. The exercise
cost around £4,000 for the 200-page website. UnumProvident also
used an external agency, e-scape media.
John Hutson, a spokesman for UnumProvident, said: "We already
worked closely with RNIB and AbilityNet and we wanted to be the
first to get this accreditation."
Asked if the parent company's US site, unumprovident.com, would
be seeking the same accreditation, Hutson said the UK team has
shared its ideas with US colleagues. He pointed out that the US
does not have the same general legal requirement for websites to be
accessible to disabled to users, as is found in the UK's Disability
Discrimination Act.
Joanne Hindle, Corporate Services Director for UnumProvident,
added: "As greater accessibility for disabled people is core to our
business as the UK’s leading disability insurer, we are proud to be
setting the example for enhanced website access for disabled
users."
She continued: "We hope this new independent accreditation will
become the acknowledged standard and that the logo will increase
awareness of the various access issues affecting disabled people
and encourage other UK corporations to follow our lead. Ideally,
independently assessed user testing websites should be part of all
accessibility audits."
