Via en så kallad Tillgänglighetsredogörelse ska offentliga aktörer informera allmänheten om hur väl deras webbplatser och e-tjänster uppfyller lagen om tillgänglighet på webben. Den här artikeln visar att de svenska regionerna och stora sjukhusen har webbplatser som inte följer lagen och där det inte går att se att man systematiskt jobbar med att åtgärda brister.

Abstract

The Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) is part of the European Union’s work for digital inclusion. The WAD obligates that public sector bodies’ websites meet accessibility standards and provide an accessibility statement on the website informing about inaccessible content, and a feedback mechanism for reporting accessibility issues or requesting inaccessible content in an accessible format. The objective of this study was to evaluate how healthcare providers in Sweden have applied accessibility statements on their websites as regulated by law. A descriptive study using a mixed methods approach was conducted, by quantitative descriptive data analysis of the healthcare providers’ accessibility statements compliance to requirements and qualitative data analysis of the written information provided in the accessibility statement. All but one of the 37 evaluated healthcare providers published an accessibility statement. None of the healthcare providers fully met the requirements for accessibility statements, and no one complied with the intention of the law, i.e. to provide accessible health information and eHealth services. There was no or minor progress between the first and the latest published accessibility statement. The possibility to declare no or partial compliance with the law, or claim disproportionate burden, and the lack of enforcement procedures, risk producing symbolic actions e.g., publishing accessibility statements without intention to abide by the law. We suggest that the directives for accessibility statements should be advanced regarding comprehensiveness, understandability, and usefulness. It is suggested that the assessment protocol developed for this study may be used for future evaluations of accessibility statements.

‍

Ladda ner artikeln: How have public healthcare providers in Sweden conformed to the European Union’s Web Accessibility Directive regarding accessibility statements on their websites?