What is web accessibility?

What is web accessibility​?

Web accessibility means ensuring that online services and content can be used and understood by everyone - including anyone using assistive technologies, like screen readers or screen magnifiers.​

In the public sector, web accessibility is a legal requirement, enshrined in The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018.

To meet the minimum legal compliance, your website must:

• meet the standards set out in the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

• publish a compliant accessibility statement

But the GOV.UK Service Standard is more specific about what it takes to make your website accessible - that's outlined in the Government Accessibility Requirements

These additional requirements ask you to also include disabled users in research and test your content with relevant assistive technologies.

It's worth clarifying at this point what 'website' means from the perspective of the regulators - the Government Digital Service (GDS). Most people make an assumption that 'website' refers to the main public website of your organisation. But that's not quite right.

The Department of Work and Pensions accessibility manual states: "GDS will consider anything using web technologies as a website. It doesn’t matter if it’s for internal use only or if you call it a programme, a tool or a portal. If it runs in a browser and it’s using web technologies such as http protocols, then it is considered a website..."

So, that means, all public websites or apps as well as staff intranets or extranets - almost any digital platform your organisation uses to communicate internally or externally - they're all subject to the regulations.

Who is web accessibility for?​

Some people use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, voice recognition or Braille displays to access the internet.

Content published online by the public sector must work for everyone, regardless of their situation, so must be compatible with the assistive technologies that people use.​

Most of the public don't have a choice when using public sector websites – there isn’t anywhere else to get the information or services they need – so it’s important that content works for them. ​

Sometimes the people who need this information the most are those who find it hardest to access.

But, people without disabilities also benefit hugely from accessible content, including:​

• People using mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and other devices with small screens, different input modes, etc

• Older people with changing abilities due to ageing

• People with temporary disabilities, such as a broken arm or lost glasses

• People with situational limitations such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio – a busy café, for instance

• People using a slow internet connection, or who have limited or expensive bandwidth

How are the regulations enforced?​

The Government Digital Service (GDS) monitors the compliance of public sector websites on behalf of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. GDS can ask for information and request access to intranets, extranets, apps or any public sector website.​

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in England, Scotland and Wales enforces the requirement to make public sector websites and mobile apps accessible (making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust).​

GDS has the power to refer public sector bodies to the EHRC where they find non-compliance with accessibility regulations.

Read more about GDS and GDS audits

How can Neill Sandys help?

At the most fundamental level, you need to know how your site performs against WCAG 2.2 and get your accessibility statement up to date.

We can carry out an audit of your site and help you replace your accessibility statement with an up to date compliant one, which should be refreshed annually.

We can also help to refine your processes and develop your team so that you can meet a higher standard of accessibility now and into the future.