Net-Progress Makes Internet Use Easier For the Blind

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.

(PRWEB) December 21, 2004 -- 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 were 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 are 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.

Notes to Editor:

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 shortlisted for the NLB Visionary Design Awards 2004.

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.

www.net-progress.co.uk and www.net-guide.co.uk or Paul Crichton on 020 8926 0971 and 07973 108 981

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