Website Accessibility standards were introduced in 2020 and all practices are required to ensure their website complies with these standards by 23rd September 2020.
Mobile apps of public sector bodies must be compliant by 23rd June 2021.
The aim of these is to help make sure online public services are accessible to all users including those with disabilities.
The steps are:-
- Decide how to check your website for accessiblity problems.
- Make a plan to fix an accessibility problems
- Publish an accessibility statement
- Make sure new features are accessible.
There are a number of resources to assist with this.
W3C Web Accessibility initiatives Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
How to meet WCAG 2 (Quick reference guide)
NHSE&I Guide to making information accessible for people with a learning disability
Mencap’s website regarding how they have made their website accessible has some useful pointers.
National Disability Authority – Make your websites more accessible.
gov.uk information on Publishing accessible documents
BMA guidance on Following the Accessible Information Standard
NHSD Writing Tips for ensuring your wording is appropriate.
Hemingway Editor – an app which can check your writing. You can cut and paste paragraphs into the website for it to check for you. (A desktop version is varailble but not necessary.)
Some of the WCAG requirements include:
Perceivable
Text Alternatives, Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language.
- All audit and video is paused as default.
Adaptable, Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure.
- Ensure the sequence is logical (e are the sub headings on each page logically part of the main page heading)
- Ensure the layout still makes sense if viewed portrait / layout or on a small screen.
Distinguishable, Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background
- Use of colour, text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4:5:1 between the text and the background
- That text can be resized without loss of content or functionality
- That scrolling is only needed in one direction (i.e up and down only, not side to side as well).
Operable
Links and navigation must work.
Keyboard Accessible, All functionality available from a keyboard (without the use of a mouse) is needed (although should also work with a mouse).
Enough Time, No time out function on any forms, or where necessary that appropriate warning is given.
Seizures and Physical Reactions, No content should be designed in a way that is known to cause seizures or physical reactions.
Navigable
Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.
- Clear titles on web pages which clearly describe the topic or purpose of the page
- Meaningful order to pages
- Section heading are used.
- The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone
Input Modalities, Make it easier for suers to operate functionality through various inputs beyond keyboards.
- That the functionality works with the use of a single pointer without the need for a path-based gesture.
Understandable
Readable, Make text content readable and understandable
- That the language of the page can be programmatically determined / changed
- Avoid Abbreviations but if used ensure a mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning
- Avoid text that requires a reading level more advanced than the lower secondary education level.
Predictable, make web pages appear and operate in predicable ways.
Input Assistance, help users avoid and correct mistakes
- Automatically detect input errors and informs them what is incorrect
- Data is checked by the user before submission and submissions are reversible.
- Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input
Robust
Compatible, maximum compatibility with current and future user agents including assistive technology.