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You're reading an article from the Accessibility section on PHE's web content knowledge base. To browse more useful articles, visit our home page. |
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The internet is changing and becoming more accessible
The internet is increasingly at the heart centre of our public life. More and more information and
Information, banking, shopping and government services are all now delivered online.
Ten years ago, the internet had a more niche role in our lives, so there were less well-defined standards for how we publish content online.
Due to this But now - due to the rapid growth and shift of services to online platforms , - accessibility has grown in importance.become ever more important.
If we do not ensure that content published online is accessible for all users, we run the risk of discriminating against those with specific needs, or disabilities.
Public Health England has a responsibility to publish accessible documents
The UK Government has committed to making GOV.UK a website that can be accessed by all users.
This includes people with disabilities - but also users who are using software other than Microsoft Office, or people with temporary requirements (like working in low light conditions).
This work is being implemented across all government departments.
At Public Health England, we need to make changes to ensure our publications are accessible. For example, by publishing HTML pages instead of PDF documentsAccessibility means that we design and publish content for the web, in a way that allows everyone (including but not limited to people with disabilities) to understand and read that content.
If we do not make
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documents accessible, there are legal and reputational risks
Public Health England has been working to modernise publications and guidance, so that they meet these accessibility standards.
For example, by publishing as HTML documents instead of PDFs and it means that users who have access requirements are actively excluded and discriminated against.
The UK Government has committed to making GOV.UK accessible, and Public Health England must ensure that all publications and guidance meets those accessibility standards.
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