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The internet is changing and becoming more accessible
The internet is increasingly at the centre of our public life.
Information, banking, shopping and government services are all delivered online.
Due to the rapid growth of online platforms, 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 all users.
This includes users with disabilities - but also extends to any user who may have a particular requirement, such as opening a document in software other than Microsoft Office.
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 states:
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).
What this means is that we must offer an accessible option when publishing content, or we are breaking the law and breaching guidelines.
Public sector bodies are under increasing scrutiny from organisations and individuals campaigning for an accessible web.
There is a real reputational and legal risk for PHE if the guidelines are not followed.
Accessibility ultimately benefits all users
Making our pages and publications accessible has a time and effort cost associated to it.
It means that we need to find new ways of doing things.
Re-think how we design and publish long-standing documents.
But it makes GOV.UK better to use for everyone. User research shows that accessible websites are overwhelmingly preferred by all users, not just those with disabilities.
Accessible websites and publications are:
- easier to use
- simpler and more straightforward to navigate
- compatible with all kinds of software
This contributes to a better user experience for anyone who is reading PHE publications, including scientists and specialists.