New EU rules on digital accessibility to come into force
If companies fail to comply with the European Accessibility Act they could be hit with fines and even prison sentences for senior staff.
Brian Dalton is blind and is a wheelchair user.
He is also a senior accessibility test engineer who works with clients to ensure their websites are accessible.
Mr Dalton relies on screen reader software to navigate through the internet.
"I will read the news headlines on various websites. I will want to book flights for holidays. I will want to book concert tickets. I'll want to do online shopping, just as anybody would," he said.
Even with the best software, if the website is not well designed it can pose problems for people with disabilities.
"The key is, are headings on websites accessible? Do they have accessible text? Are they structured in a right way?" Mr Dalton said.
"Is the text on the link going to tell me exactly where I'm going to be taken to when I click it?"
Mr Dalton is welcoming tomorrow's introduction of the European Accessibility Act.
"I think it will be amazing, because it's going to harmonise the standard of accessibility across EU member states.
"For example, there are guidelines around audio description, which says that pre-recorded video content has to be accompanied by an audio track.
"There are also guidelines around the functionality needed for accessibility for keyboard users," he added.
At the studios of New Graphic in Dublin, designers work with clients to make their websites more accessible.
"The new act means that any kind of digital product, be it a website, an app, or an ATM, needs to be accessible," said Diarmuid Slattery, Director at New Graphic.
"And websites should be accessible; you wouldn't build a new leisure centre and not make it accessible.
"Right now, I think there is a knowledge gap, businesses don't know enough about accessibility and they need some help," Mr Slattery said.
"Businesses need to think about how they write their content, as well as the images and videos they put up.
"Videos need transcripts and content needs to be structured in a way that is understandable," he added.
Digital Business Ireland (DBI) has expressed concerns about a lack of understanding of the new rules among companies.
A recent survey carried out by the group showed that nearly half of Irish businesses were unaware of the requirements.
DBI is calling for additional supports for businesses.
"We feel that the Government should be looking at grant support," said Caroline Dunlea, Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland.
"They could tier that support based on the size of the business.
"There is an investment into making a website accessible, ensuring screen readers are there, or the colour contrasts are correct.
"All of that has to be funded," Ms Dunlea said.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been designated as one of the lead supervisory authorities in Ireland for the European Accessibility Act.
It has produced a set of guidelines for small businesses.
Internet users like Brian Dalton say the new rules should not be something to be feared by businesses but rather should be viewed as an opportunity to deliver better websites and a better user experience for all.
"For me, independence is the freedom to do what I want to do when I want to do it.
"So, if I decide in the middle of the night to sit down and book my holidays or do my online shopping or read the newspaper, I can do it independently of anybody else, because the accessibility requirements will be implemented," he said.
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