Can We Fix The Web?

This paper reports on an innovative approach to facilitating the expedient reporting of web accessibility issues using volunteers. The aim of the Fix the Web website and project is not to replace existing formal methods of reporting inaccessible websites, but to provide an easy, informal way by which users with disabilities can report inaccessible websites quickly and can be assured that a volunteer on their behalf will take the issue up with the website owner or administrator. Fix the Web was launched in 2010 and from a small start has gone onto success in dealing with nearly 150 inaccessible websites. The results of an analysis of reports of inaccessible websites received by the Fix the Web are also presented and the practical benefits and limitations of using an informal approach to achieve accessibility are discussed.