Switzerland

  1. Is there existing legislation in your country to encourage or ensure that websites, in particular government, public service or other sites providing widespread services of general use (such as hiring services, travel, telephony, energy, education, employment, leisure...) are accessible to visually impaired people? Please be sure to specify in your answer to which categories of site the regulation(s) apply.

    The Swiss federal law for the equalization of people with disabilities has to be mentioned. It regulates amongst others things the access to services especially in the public sector. Public agencies are bond to consider the concerns of people with disabilities. Accordingly they must design their web performance accessible. Private providers of services are not bond to the equality law. So they don't have to fit their web performance to people with visual impairments.

  2. What are the standards that are used in your country to measure website accessibility?

    The WCA-Guidelines are used to measure website accessibility in Switzerland. Since 2008 the Guidelines 2.0 and the conformance level AA are common in the public sector. (P028 – Federal guidelines for web design)

  3. Is there an authority in place to establish, measure and control website accessibility?

    The association eCH and the expert group “Accessibility” advance the international standards of website accessibility in Switzerland especially in the public sector.
    The foundation “Access for all” figures as a competence centre in the area of website accessibility in the public and private sector. They test and publish frequently the accessibility of websites in Switzerland.

  4. Is there a legal obligation to regularly review the accessibility of websites?

    Since the beginning of 2011 the federal office tests the website accessibility of federal authorities annually.

    If yes, at what intervals?
    Annually

  5. Is there an established timeframe for

    1. new websites to be made accessible?
      if yes what is it ?
      Unknown
    2. existing websites to be made accessible?
      if yes what is it ?
      Unknown

  6. What sanctions are imposed by the law for websites which fail to comply with accessibility regulations?

    Unknown

  7. Is there a legal obligation to include awareness of accessibility issues in training provided to webmasters and related professions?

    No obligation exists.

  8. Is there a legal obligation on educational authorities to provide specific training on Web accessibility issues in related areas (such as engineering and computer sciences, telecommunications and networks courses, etc)?

    No obligation exists.

  9. Are there official guidelines in place to assist webmasters and technical staff in making their websites accessible?

    The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 (see answer two).

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