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Legal threat to website firms

Evening Chronicle Newcastle 7 Sep 01

FIRMS could land in court if their websites are not adapted for the disabled, North East experts have warned.

Fears thousands of companies might not just lose trade but end up paying compensation rose after a landmark case.

The Australian Olympic Commission was ordered to-make a payout to a partly-sighted man after its site to promote last year's games was difficult for him to use.

Now lawyers and disability groups believe it is only a matter of time before the first case

against a UK business.

Stefan Cross, of Newcastle solicitors Thompsons, said: "All service providers are obliged to make their services accessible to everyone.

"If there is a block to some people using that service because of a disability then they are theoretically liable under discrimination law."

John Goodday, of Employers Forum on Disability, said: "There is a lot of ignorance among web designers and companies about their obligations and difficulties customers may have."

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