Nomensa claims 75% of UK's FTSE 100 companies fail to meet DDA requirements

Internet Business News, April 27, 2006

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Some 75% of the FTSE 100 companies listed in the UK do not meet the minimum requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), according to Nomensa, an Internet company which creates websites.

Nomensa said the main complaint received was that the web sites do not allow users to increase text size, meaning those with sight problems may be excluded from using the site. Text-heavy pages, a lack of text descriptions for pictures and too much use of jargo were also cited as problems.

Nomensa listed the most common flaws as poor quality web code, poor use of lists, not using headings and lists, missing alternative text for pictures and using pop-up windows. It claimed its research, which tested the sites according to globally recognised 'web content accessibility guidelines', identified problems across websites for all the major industries.

The Daily Mail and General Trust and Xstrata web sites were found to be the best performing, while sites including Marks & Spencer, Alliance & Leicester, Sainsbury and Royal Sun & Alliance were listed as being ahead of their peers.

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