This page highlights the different barriers users might face, which will impact on how they can access the service or information they need. We will look at the ways you can design for accessibility, making sure the maximum number of people can access content in the most efficient way possible.
Accessibility should be embedded within all the work that we’re doing. It should be something that’s considered from the start. It’s not a bolt-on that we add at the end.
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About accessibility
Web accessibility is a way of designing websites, tools, and technologies so that everyone, can use them as easily as possible. Make sure that nobody is excluded, if you do not make your websites or apps accessible, you may be breaking the law.
There are a range of different needs to consider when building or enhancing a website’s accessibility:
Blindness and impaired vision
Deafness or impaired hearing
Motor impairments
Cognitive and neurological conditions
At least 1 in 5 people in the UK have a long-term illness, impairment or disability.
People with cognitive disabilities represent the largest number of internet users with disabilities. Because these types of disabilities contain a wide range of nuanced conditions and an even wider range of severity, it is difficult to present a comprehensive set of accessibility standards. From a web content design perspective, it is better to focus on removing barriers to improve the user experience.
The concept of accessibility does not just apply to people with disabilities - all users will have different needs at different times and in different circumstances, including a temporary disability. Someone’s ability to use a service could be affected by their:
- location - they could be in a noisy café, sunny park or area with slow wifi
- health - they may be tired, recovering from a stroke or have a broken arm
- equipment - they could be on a mobile phone or using an older browser
Regulations and legal requirements
New regulations on accessibility came into force for public sector bodies in 2018. They say you must make your website or mobile app more accessible by making it ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’.
Your website will meet legal requirements if you:
- meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard - although there may be valid legal reasons for not meeting accessibility standards
- publish an accessibility statement that explains how accessible your website or mobile app is
Whether web accessibility has been on your mind for a while or is something completely new to you, there is no doubt that it is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
WCAG is an internationally recognised set of recommendations for improving web accessibility. They explain how to make digital services, websites and apps accessible to everyone. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 is based on four design principles. The principles apply to all aspects of digital delivery (including coding, site design, content and interactions).
Below, you will find some specific ideas and suggestions for how you can make sure your page content is perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
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Making website content accessible
Making website content accessible should be a part of the content design and writing process from the start, not something that is thought about afterwards.
Further information about how to make website content accessible is available in the content design and structure and website style guide pages within this playbook.
You also need to ensure downloadable documents are accessible. Information on making documents (downloads/PDF's) accessible.
Social media content
All the principles for accessible digital/online content apply to social media. But as a third party you will rely on the tools of those of the platforms and creating quality content. Any social media platforms should have a help page and accessibility information.
- Facebook – Accessibility | Facebook Help Centre
- Instagram - Accessibility | Instagram Help Centre
- Orlo - Adding alt text in Orlo
- X (formerly Twitter) - Accessibility (x.com)
Main tips for social media posts
Further reading and knowledge to ensure accessibility requirements are met
Making a website accessible involves a range of roles from website provider/developer to site owner/s to anyone who edits and creates content. But everyone should have a good understanding of their own role, and those of others in creating accessible content.
- To help your team understand why they need to meet the website and mobile app accessibility regulations please read the guidance on understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies.
- The accessibility regulations aim to help make sure online public services are accessible to all users, including disabled people.
- Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C) - Web Accessibility Tutorials
- Dos and Don'ts on designing for accessibility GOV.UK blog
Site owners / commissioners should also have a good understanding of the bullets below, audit their site regularly, have a plan to fix issues and update the accessibility statement:
- The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 in full
- Full guidance on doing a basic accessibility check is available on GOV.UK.
- Publish an accessibility statement
Tools for both site owners and authors
- We use Siteimprove to audit our websites and simplify the process of finding and correcting accessibility issues as well as quality assurance checks.
- WebAIM colour contrast checker tool
- WAVE WebAIM Accessibility Evaluation Tool
- Google’s Core Web Vitals, measure how users experience the speed, responsiveness, and visual stability of a website. This tool can help you to improve, user experience and accessibility. You can access lighthouse via chrome dev tools (F12), or as a chrome lighthouse extension.
Manually testing a page from a users perspective, is also important in making content accessible.
A way to check your website for accessibility issues is to invite people with a range of disabilities to interact with it while you observe and collect feedback. It is important to keep in mind that feedback from one person with a disability does not apply to all people with disabilities. You should understand the range of disabilities you will be planning and testing for, as you might need assistive technology prepared for your testers.
Commissioning Sure Trust could be an option for user testing.
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If you have any questions about these guidelines or how the accessibility regulations may affect your service area, or to access Siteimprove software contact the website team.
Enforcement
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in England, Scotland and Wales and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) in Northern Ireland will enforce the requirement to make public sector websites and mobile apps accessible (making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust).
Organisations that do not meet the accessibility requirement or fail to provide a satisfactory response to a request to produce information in an accessible format, will be failing to make reasonable adjustments. This means they will be in breach of the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
The EHRC and ECNI can therefore use their legal powers against offending organisations, including investigations, unlawful act notices, fines and court action.