User-Lab's John Knight to guest speak at WMita DDA meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 29, 2004 -- 29 June 2004, West Midlands, UK



User-Lab's John Knight to guest speak at WMita DDA meeting



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John Knight, Usability Engineer at User-Lab http://www.user-lab.com is to guest speak at West Midlands IT Association (WMita) http://www.wmita.co.uk/ DDA meeting focusing upon the issues of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The event is to be held at Orchard Room, The Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel Wednesday 30th June 2004 5.30pm - 8.30pm, and has been organised as WMita addresses concerns over disability act.



Concerns, speculation and confusion amongst information technology companies regarding the timing and implications of the DDA, has prompted the WMita to take a lead in offering advice.



One effect of the DDA, which is scheduled to come into force in October 2004, will be to ensure that websites are accessible to blind and disabled users, but IT specialists have complained that little information is available to help them ensure its successful implementation.

Wmita's response is a presentation organised by the Hereford and Worcester Branch featuring a leading authority on DDA, John Knight, Usability Engineer of Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (User-Lab) at the University of Central England.



Charles Huthwaite of Wmita's H&W Branch said: "Web accessibility is a hot topic at the moment and we feel we can learn a lot from John's knowledge and experience in this area. Many hold the view that DDA could potentially destroy the effectiveness of their websites but our advice to them is not to panic. We intend to give practical, down to earth advice on what the new Act requires, what needs to be done and what indeed DDA is all about," explains Huthwaite.

This presentation is the first in what WMita intends to become a series of road shows about DDA and accessibility in general which will result in WMita offering clear advice and guidance to its members and the West Midlands IT community.

This presentation is the first in what WMita intends to become a series of road shows about DDA and accessibility in general which will result in WMita offering clear advice and guidance to its members and the West Midlands IT community.



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