New disability / sight impairment laws in UK

How do they affect the net

[Richie0x]

There are new disability discrimination laws coming into effect in the UK in October. Every public service, shop, etc has to make their services available to disabled people.

Apparently it also covers sight impairments. How does that affect the web? Will every UK based website have to provide text-only versions of their sites? Or at least make sure their CSS doesn't affect the browser's Text Size ability?

Are their any online resources about this?

[Staffa]

I'll wait and see come the date.
Then have a look at how gov sites have implemented the new law .... what's sauce for the goose ........ ;o)

[victor]

A good starting point is:

[disability.gov.uk...]

[ciml]

The October 2004 issues are to do with employers (large employers were covered already) and physical access to premises (stairs, etc.)

Part III of the '95 Act has applied to providers of goods and services since October 1999.

This includes Web sites, and contrary to popular assumption a service does not have to be commercial to be covered.

The Australian legislation is similar, but came in earlier. I'm sure I don't need to mention IBM and the 2000 Olympics...