Equalities Impact Assessment of IT Accessibility
In Great Britain public authorities have a duty to promote race, disability and gender equality. Under the amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Public Sector bodies were given a duty to publish a Disability Equality Scheme.
The HMRC Scheme includes provision to carry out Equality Impact Assessments against all appropriate processes within the Department. This Scheme highlighted a need to examine the accessibility of all HMRC Information Technology (IT) systems. This report outlines the outcome of that assessment and invites feedback from individuals and representative bodies of all diversity groups to HMRC’s approach to improving IT Accessibility for all our Customers and Staff.
Equality screening of IT Accessibility was carried out across each of the nine specific diversity groups operating within HMRC e.g. Race, Gender, Age, Disability. A full list of each of the internal diversity groups involved in this review, and their response, is included at Appendix 2 to the main report. Following the initial screening of our approach it was found that the main area requiring further examination was in respect of disability. IT Accessibility has relevance to all aspects of equality and this is taken into account in the policy being assessed. However, it is recognised that the main impact is likely to be on individuals (internal staff and external customers) with disabilities who may not be able to access (i.e. use) IT systems depending on how the system is built.
We wish to consult both externally and internally with both representative bodies for disability groups and individuals to ensure that our approach meets their needs and to receive feedback on how our approach may be improved. Feedback may be provided in writing to the contact address outlined at Section 0.2 of the main report or on-line by completion of the on-line questionnaire which accompanies this report on the HMRC website. The closing date for responses is Monday 31st December 2007.
Your input is invaluable in helping us to ensure that we have a clear vision of the activities that are important to you or to the disabled people that you represent and will help us to ensure that your views are taken into account in all our future activities.
If you would like any further correspondence on this subject in an alternative format please contact Janet Daykin on telephone number 01274 539646 or at:
Visually Impaired Media Unit, 2nd Floor, Victoria Street, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD98 8AA.
