Introduction

This gives you a basic understanding of what accessibility is and how we need to be ‘inclusive’ of all when communicating with our customers and each other.

Web accessibility explained

Web accessibility means that websites, apps and tools are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them using ‘assistive technologies’.

For example, someone with impaired vision might use a screen reader (software that lets a user navigate a website and ‘read out’ the content), braille display or screen magnifier. Someone with motor difficulties might use a special mouse, speech recognition software or on-screen keyboard emulator.

When websites are created badly that cannot accommodate these assistive technologies, they can create barriers that exclude people from using the web.

Accessible design should be applied to all methods of communication - websites, letters, apps, posters and documents. By making something ‘accessible’, we automatically make the user experience richer for all users, whether they have a disability or not.

Who this affects

At least 1 in 5 people in the UK have a long term illness, impairment or disability. Many more have a temporary disability, such as a broken limb, recovery from surgery or even pregnancy.

Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the web, including:

• auditory
• cognitive
• neurological
• physical
• speech
• visual.

Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, for example those:

• using mobile phones, smartwatches, smart TVs, and other devices with small screens, different input modes, etc.
• with changing abilities due to ageing
• with ‘temporary disabilities’ such as a broken arm or lost glasses
• with ‘situational limitations’ such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio
• using a slow internet connection, such as those in a rural area
• who have limited or expensive bandwidth.