what are accessible websites?
Accessible websites enable users to navigate efficiently, access information and complete tasks whatever their abilities.
Most people consider blind users when discussing website accessibility, but accessibility caters for people with the following:
- blindness or partial sight
- deafness
- learning difficulties
- dyslexia
- poor manual dexterity
- colour blindness
why make a website accessible?
Accessible websites primarily cater for people with disabilities. However, accessible websites provide various methods to navigate and access content, subsequently they not only benefit those with disabilities, they benefit others including:
- older people
- people with dial-up internet connections
- keyboard navigation users
Although dial-up internet connections are decreasing, some regions of the UK are unable to establish a broadband connection. Dial-up accounts for 24.8% of total UK internet connections.
Accessibility overlaps a large number of usability issues, so addressing accessibility enables better usability for all users.
legal requirement for accessibility
The Disability Discrimination Act DDA makes it a legal requirement for websites which provide a service to be accessible. Currently no one has been prosecuted in the UK.
how do I know I'm getting an accessible website?
A guide called Publicly Available Specification PAS 78 gives valuable information about accessibility and sets out guidelines to ensure you get an accessible website.
- Download PAS 78 Free Guide
PAS 78 was published by the British Standards Institution BSI following an investigation into website accessibility by the Disability Rights Commission DRC.
business benefits of making websites accessible
Although not an exhaustive list, the following are the main benefits:
- wider audience
- better search engine rankings
- faster download times
- cheaper site maintenance
- accessible by different media eg mobile phones, television, print
accessibility, what's next?
An accessibility audit will give you a clear indication of the current state of your website.
If you would like a quote for testing your website, or would like to discuss any of the services offered, please call on 07717 496 116 or send an email with details of your website via the form on the contact page.
useful resources
- Publicly Available Specification 78 BSI guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites
- Web Accessibility Initiative accessibility guidelines and techniques
- Disability Discrimination Act Disability Rights Commission
- DRC Codes of Practice Disability Rights Commission
- Family Resources Survey Disabled People and Carers sections
