BWDMA Usability Accessibility Working Group

BWDMA Usability Accessibility Working Group

22nd September 2003

Professionals from both the blind and deaf communities join the British Web Design and Marketing Association's (BWDMA) new working group for accessibility and usability. The call, issued only a week ago, has already attracted members across the digital economy.

Aiming to devise practical initiatives to remedy social exclusion from the internet, the working group includes scientists, academics and industry professionals. According to Jodie White, BWDMA Relationship Manager, it's the participation of people with disabilities that makes the composition unusual. White explains: "The group is designed to attract a broad range of professionals from trade bodies, advocacy groups and industry professionals. But by having contributing professionals that are both disabled and work in the digital sector, the group has greater insight into the diversity of requirements for people with disabilities."

Meetings are now being planned in London, Bristol and Manchester.

Acting Chair for the working group, BWDMA member Léonie Watson, was a creative designer and programmer who went from 20:20 vision to absolute blindness. She now works as a fulltime Usability and Accessibility Consultant assisting local government, corporate and academic organisations for human-centred design company Nomensa.

According to Watson, the working group's industry-wide composition gives it gravitas: "Since the evolution of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) usability and accessibility have become hot issues and inevitably there are those that 'jump on the bandwagon'. I am so very encouraged however, by the commitment of people that obviously have a real passion for usability and accessibility. We already have some very interesting initiatives to consider that could make a significant difference."

Working group member Jeremy Freeman (Managing Director, Bamps.com Ltd) is profoundly deaf. He comments: "The DDA places a burden of responsibility upon all website owners and yet there is still a very low level of awareness amongst commercial organisations. Large enterprises should seize the opportunity to contribute; we are going to generate opportunities of excellent exposure for those that decide to sponsor our initiatives."

The BWDMA working group will hold its inaugural meeting in October and will continue to seek contributions from across the digital industry.