Accessible web content

You probably know all about your obligations under the Accessibility Act to make your buildings accessible or even your responsibilities to your employees. But did you know that the Act also covers websites too?

Making your site accessible requires:

• The coding to meet WCAG 2.0 – these are industry accessibility guidelines and should have been followed by whoever created your website.

• The content is accessible. Some of this, such as the text and background colours should be covered by your website developer – but other aspects are controlled by whoever updates your site. See below for some of the things to consider.

Benefits of an Accessible website

As well as meeting your legal obligations, web content produced with accessibility in mind tend to be easier to use for anyone accessing your site, not just those with an impairment. Accessible sites are easier to maintain and search engines will rate them higher too.

Making your content accessible

If you used professional web designers to create your site, the coding should have been created to the latest accessibility guidelines. However the content you add must be formatted accessibly too. Some of the things you should consider include:

• Consistent layout

• Headings

• Titles

• Links and downloads

• Content Style

• Images

• Site behaviour

Dispelling some myths about accessible websites

Despite what some web designers might try to tell you:

• Producing an accessible website doesn't have to be any more complicated or expensive, provided accessibility is included from the start.

• Accessible and attractive web design can go together.

• Accessible websites tend to be easier to use for all your users - and they are more Search Engine friendly too.

• There is no such thing as a compliant site. Because of the individual nature of disability and the continually evolving web technologies, it isn't possible to produce a checklist of Do's and Don'ts. The Accessibility Act itself relies on case law to define acceptable practice, whilst WCAG 2.0 are guidelines only. Following them should produce an acceptable site, but you may still be expected to modify your site to accommodate an individual's impairment.