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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.
But now - due Due to the rapid growth of online platforms - accessibility has 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
, if websites are not accessible for people with disabilities, they are excluded from public life.
The UK government has made a commitment that GOV.UK will be a website that is accessible for The UK Government has committed to making GOV.UK a website that can be accessed by all users.
This includes people users with disabilities - but also users who are using extends to any user who may have a particular requirement, such as opening a document in 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 documents.
If we don't make documents accessible, we are breaking the law
As of September 2018, it is the law for public sector bodies to publish all pages and documents in an accessible format.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has made it illegal for public bodies to publish inaccessible publications states:
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Countries are to promote access to information by providing information intended for the general public in accessible formats and technologies, by facilitating the use of Braille, sign language and other forms of communication and by encouraging the media and Internet providers to make on-line information available in accessible formats (Article 21). |
In addition, the Equality Act 2010 says that digital services must be accessible to everyone who needs it - and this includes attachments, images and infographics.
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