Local firm makes internet use easier for the blind - Released
by Tom Brake MP |
| Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake has tabled
a parliamentary motion congratulating net-progress, a local
firm responsible for net-guide.co.uk, the accessibility search
engine which has achieved the "See it Right" award
from the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB). The RNIB
conducted an independent review of the search engine's accessibility. |
| net-guide is an internet search engine and website
directory. It has been designed to be easy to use, regardless
of whether or not you are blind or partially sighted. What makes
net-guide unique is that all the websites in its database have
been checked and rated for accessibility, so giving the visitor
an idea of the ease of use of the websites returned in a search
or from browsing the directories. By giving the results an accessibility
rating, users have an indication of the quality of visit they
can expect before going to the website. |
| Paul Crichton, speaking on behalf
of net-progress said, "Whilst accessibility is the cornerstone
of net-guide, we thought it was important to have the website
independently audited. The RNIB is the ideal organisation to
assess levels of accessibility, and the "See it Right"
logo is recognised as representing the highest standards. The
team are all very proud that net-guide has passed the RNIB audit,
and can now display the "See it Right" logo on the
home page." |
| Speaking on behalf of the RNIB, Donna
Smillie added, "net-guide's clean, accessible
design makes it easy for anyone to use. When we assessed it,
we found very little that needed to be changed. It was clear
that a lot of thought had gone into the accessibility of the
site design, and we are very pleased to issue it with our See
it Right Accessible Website logo." |
| Tom Brake said, "Local firms
in Sutton always go the extra mile for their customers and net-guide
is no exception. The two million people in the UK with a sight
problem deserve fair access to electronic information and net-guide
are providing an invaluable service." |
| Mr Brake's parliamentary motion reads, |
net-guide achieves RNIB accreditation |
| That this House offers its congratulations to
net-progress, an internet consultancy based in Carshalton, Surrey
on the launch of net-guide.co.uk; commends net-guide for achieving
"See it Right" accreditation from the Royal National
Institute of the Blind (RNIB); notes that the See it Right website
logo is awarded to websites which have demonstrated a commitment
to best practice website accessibility; further notes net-guide
is an internet search engine and website directory designed
to be easy to use, regardless of whether or not users are blind
or partially sighted; recognises the diligent work done by net-guide
in conducting independent audits on the accessiblity of the
websites in its database, which gives users an idea of the ease
of use of the websites returned in a search or from browsing
the directories; believes that two million people in the UK
with a sight problem deserve fair access to electronic information
and calls on web designers to take on the board the practical
advice offered by RNIB for producing websites which meet the
information needs of the blind and partially sighted, a requirement
enshrined in Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act
1999. |
About net-progress |
| net-progress is an internet consultancy using
a holistic approach to add value to a company’s online
presence. net-progress specialise in accessibility, quality,
visibility, behaviour analysis and reputation management in
order to deliver measurable improvements to a business. |
| net-progress has been working in the field of
web analytics since 1997, with clients ranging from FTSE100
companies to SMEs. |
| Net-progress run net-guide, an accessibility centric
search engine and directory, which has been short listed for
The National Library of the Blind’s Visionary Design Award. |
| net-progress produces regular surveys on various
aspects of online performance in a variety of sectors, as well
as accepting commissions from trade and consumer publications. |
Links [open in new window] |
| net-guide |
| Royal
National Institute of the Blind |
| Early
Day Motions |
| |
| return to the press
releases index page |
| |
