This page contains material from a presentation at the WAI Best Practices Exchange Training in Madrid, Spain in February 2004. It is not intended to stand-alone; rather, it is primarily provided as reference material for participants in the training.

Web Accessibility Policies in France

Sylvie Duchateau, Braillenet

Last updated: 12 October 2004

Speaker

Sylvie Duchateau (France)

BrailleNet Association
WAI-TIES-project, IST funded project on Web accessibility

In the past:

Several decisions concerning accessible Web sites in the public sector:

october 1999: resolution from the French Prime Minister;
October 2000: decision from the interministerial Committee on State Reform, CIRE;
June 2001: Bill project on the information society.
July 2003: Decision from Interministerial commitee for the Information Society (cisi):
- to reform law on people with disabilities including Web accessibility

In the present:

Situation evolving
Creation of a governmental agency for the public administration: ADAE: www.adae.pm.gouv.fr
Develops requirements and documents for services in the public sector (for governmental and local Web sites).
December 2003: ADAE has published a working draft on Web accessibility to be followed by developers of public Web sites.

In the coming year

Publication of the final document by ADAE.
- issued for one year
- to be used for creating any public web site.
New law on the rights of people with disabilities
- should be discussed in February by parliament;
- to be voted in April 2004?
- to be discussed: including a part on electronic information;
- Should require public Web sites to follow ADAE recommendations

Situation of public Web sites in France

Most of the public Web sites do not follow WCAG.
Awareness raising and information has been made;
Training of developers of public Web sites in 2003, will be continued in 2004
Ministry of oversea departments has become accessible: http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr.
portal on taxes also making improvements for accessibility.