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The e-Accessibility Forum

This policy area is now the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This page and all related content will be migrated to the DCMS website shortly, when details are finalised and announced to Parliament.

Background to the forum

The e-Accessibility Forum is a key BIS lead initiative within the Digital Economy programme. It brings together Government, industry and the voluntary sector to explore and understand issues surrounding e-accessibility so better and more inclusive services can be developed enabling users and industry to benefit from sharing best practice across all sectors.

The Forum aims to help address the criticism that the UK business community has, so far, failed to grasp and incorporate the business opportunities that increased access for disabled people to online goods and services represent. The membership is open to bodies who are willing to provide support financially or in kind to help move this agenda forward. Invitations to attend the launch on 12 October have been sent to over 140 individuals and organisations representing both industry and representatives of disability rights groups and other interested parties.

The terms of reference for the Forum include producing an e-Accessibility action plan (PDF, 140 Kb) which will help eComms businesses improve and enhance their engagement with customers with special needs. This should benefit both disabled consumers by highlighting the need for better access to online services such as commercial websites, interactive games, and information services and business through new and expanded opportunities.

Purpose of the Forum and the Action Plan

The eAccessibility Forum will also be the primary means through which we implement new provisions on equivalent access to eComms services for disabled consumers. These place an obligation on Government to encourage manufacturers to produce easier to use and more affordable equipment.

The Prime Minister has already given his support to the Race Online 2012 campaign, (www.raceonline2012.org) which encourages public, private and charitable organizations to sign up to help some of the 10 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet to get online.

A key element of this is to increase the accessibility of online services to those members of the community unable to access or utilise the services and benefits. The Manifesto for a Networked Nation (http://raceonline2012.org/manifesto) published by Martha Lane Fox, as UK Digital Champion, in July 2010 includes three challenges on e-accessibility which will largely be taken forward through the Action Plan.