# RNID to launch new accessible 'user-centred' website

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/02/15/rnid-launch-new-accessible-039usercentred039-website/
- Published: 2005-02-15T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

RNID, the organisation that represents the needs of the nine million deaf and hard
of hearing people in the UK, will shortly be launching its new ‘user-centred’ website.
The new website has been completely redeveloped based on extensive research with
website users.
The new website has been developed following extensive user-testing,
and RNID says that it combines “a high level of accessibility and strong design.”

Carol Monoyios, RNID’s Director of Marketing and Membership, said: “We set out to
create a web-experience which was equivalent for all users. Not just a site that
was a ‘best effort’ in accessibility. And we’ve demonstrated that it is possible
to achieve accessibility without compromising on the design or the quality of the
site.”

Under the Disability Discrimination Act all websites are now required to be accessible,
but there remains considerable confusion about how to achieve a truly accessible
and easy to use site.

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RNID has paid particular attention to ensuring that the new site is written in Plain
English, which is essential to make the site accessible to deaf people whose first
language is British Sign Language. The use of Plain English is often overlooked 
in developing accessible sites, where the focus has more often been on page structure
to achieve accessibility for groups such as blind users. Yet any site written in
Plain English will be accessible to a wider audience.

Carol Monoyios explained the level of user testing they employed: “RNID tested prototypes
of the site with people with a wide range of disabilities – including hearing and
sight loss, dyslexia, colour blindness, wheelchair users and people with limited
dexterity – to ensure the site reflected how people intuitively search for information.”

The new site includes a considerably improved shop, which sells assistive technology
products from RNID Sound Advantage.

RNID will launch its new website on 17 March 2005.

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