Web accessibility as CSR in the Information Society
Details
Yoshiko will lead the discussion on web accessibility and CSR..an intriguing topic. In more detail she writes:
Abstract
Ongoing changes in society towards the Information Society have given rise to new challenges with reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This paper focuses on web accessibility as a responsibility of corporations and discusses practical ways to ensure that websites, “the Web” hereafter, be made accessible to all the readers, including the elderly and people with disabilities.
The United Nations (the UN) recognises Web access as a basic human right in the Information Society, and Governments in major economies endorse it. On the technical side, a set of high quality voluntary standards has been established by a group of experts. Despite this backing, implementation of web accessibility has been slow in practice. There is a gap between what should happen and what it is happening. Why are good ideas adopted slowly?
To gain a better insight into today’s reality, its barriers and opportunities, the author interviewed web owners and experts, who are promoting web accessibility in Europe and in Japan, which has led to a number of recommendations for action to all stakeholders.