Leading web sites fail accessibility tests

The country's top online retail sites are failing to meet minimum accessibility standards according to new research by web site usability specialist Nomensa released today.

The firm measured the sites' homepages and terms and conditions pages against the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, using both automated and manual testing techniques, and found only three met the standards on their terms and conditions pages.

Common failings of the sites, which include Amazon, Apple and Argos, were pop-up windows, which can disorientate users with disabilities and those using screen readers, according to Nomensa's head of accessibility Leonie Watson.

Other problems included navigation links on sites which were unable to work without JavaScript, and alt text descriptions for images which were lacking in detail.

"There's a lack of education [among design agencies and retailers] about what to do and how to do it," said Nomensa managing director Simon Norris. "There is a clear need for the industry to truly improve the skills it has – retailers should be finding out where they stand in light of current accessibility guidelines."

Firms need to decide what their accessibility goals are in short and long term, and these may have to involve an entire site redesign, said Norris. Online retailers must also ensure that achieving these goals is high on the corporate agenda, and that they implement processes to ensure that standards are maintained over time.