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Accessibility - Legal Context

Web design to accessibility guidelines and legal requirements

Experienced web developers that design to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and many other standards such as 'Bobby Approved', HTML, 'LYNX inspected' (text only browser) and to the Disability Discrimination Act - DDA and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act - SENDA

Legal Context to accessibility

Special Educational Needs and Disability Act - SENDA

Since 1st September 2002 the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 gave disabled people legal rights in relation to their access to post school education. Under DDA Part 4 education providers have legal responsibilities:

  • a) not to treat disabled learners less favourably for a reason related to their disability
  • b) to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled learner

These new duties apply not just to teaching and learning but also to any service, which is provided specifically for students or learners. The duties are anticipatory, that is providers will need to anticipate the likely needs of disabled learners and not merely respond to individual needs as they arise.

Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act - DDA

David Blunkett, said (sic.): "Access to information is vital for all of us...for those without immediate access to the written word, reading is just as important as for everyone else...that is why I support the campaign to bring about greater accessibility for material ..."

The remaining Rights of Access in Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 are now in place. Under Section 21(4) of the Act: "A service provider must take reasonable steps to provide auxiliary aids or services if this would enable (or make it easier for) disabled persons to make use of any goods, facilities or services which it offers or provides to the public."

Are you prepared? Is all your information accessible? Are you missing potential clients or customers?

Revised Code of Practice to accompany the DDA

In February 2002, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) published a revised Code of Practice to accompany the DDA (available from www.drc-gb.org). The Code of Practice explains fully the duties of those providing services. For example, a fashion retailer with the facility to buy on-line constitutes the offering of a service under the terms of the Act. A service can be free of charge or chargeable and all e commerce sites are covered by the Act as well as single page websites that simply offer information about services.

In April 2004, the DRC published the findings of extensive research into web accessibility for disabled people. The survey included detailed analysis of 1,000 websites by a panel of disabled people and gave rise to extensive findings and recommendations intended to guide service providers to enable them to meet the requirements of the DDA.

The DRC's DDA Code of Practice and the report "The Web Access and Inclusion for Disabled People" are available at www.drc-gb.org

Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act

In America Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act required all federal (Govt.) websites and their vendors to be fully accessible to people with disabilities by June 2001. Although enacted more than 14 years ago, amending the law in 1998 to give members of the public and government employees with disabilities the right to sue agencies in federal court for non-compliance, ensured an active programme for successful website compliance. How long before the UK gets tough?

Accessible W3CAAA Web Design - More information

About SynergiDesign

SynergiDesign is a qualified and experienced professional Birmingham based website and creative design agency which has created many stunning websites for a variety of businesses and organisations all over the UK.

SynergiDesign are experts in the web site and corporate design field. We offer a complete range of internet marketing and associated services: creating a brand and logo; design and print; website development; eCommerce; search engine optimisation (SEO); flash animation; video; website hosting and domain name management.

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Latest Projects



The Law Society

The Law SocietySynergiDesign won the contract and created the software (secure, interactive, web-standards compliant, meeting the highest of web accessibility W3CAAA standards, web software) to undertake this marketing activity and analyse its success.

"The level of activity generated by these campaigns met or exceeded our expectations."
John Rieger - The Law Society



"I am writing to congratulate you and your team for the first class sales brochure that you have produced for our latest development in Belgravia"
Rigby & Rigby


Presentation for an Automotive international trade show in Japan on behalf of the government agencies we designed an impactful presentation pulling together content from a variety of automotive manufacturers.

"Many thanks for your help on this project and turning it around within such a short timescale. I was most impressed with your level of expertise and service and will happily recommend you to other colleagues."
Ginny Truslove


Web Applications / Software Development



Content Management System – Web Application

CMS InterfaceSynergiDesign have created an innovative, versatile and highly functional website and CMS for SO LONDON Publishing. The website and bespoke content management software are designed to the highest .Net 2 and CSS programming standards which allow for online management of the magazine including:

  • magazine issue management
  • articles and article ranking
  • image management
  • image auto optimisation and resizing
  • complex banner advert management

Ecommerce Web Design

Diamond Dealer Direct is a long-established diamond merchant and manufacturer with a recently acquired retail outlet which now enables them to deal direct with the public giving access to one of the UK’s largest stock of internationally recognised certified diamonds from the top gemmology laboratories. A high end ecommerce shopping website and content management system with a sophisticated and customised pricing software system and also an extensive search engine campaign was developed for Diamond Dealer Direct.

Diamond Dealer Direct

Web design summary:

  • Web Design
  • Ecommerce shopping cart
  • Search Engine Optimisation
  • PPC campaign
  • Bespoke Content Management System
  • Reporting System
  • Order Management System
  • Registration System