Accessibility and the law
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 states that public sector websites published before 23 September 2018 must be compliant with accessibility regulations by 23 September 2020.
According to the Government Digital Service (GDS) this means that all public sector websites must:
- meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) to level AA
- make websites and apps perceivable, operable, understandable and robust
- publish an accessibility statement
GDS has published detailed guidance for Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies.
If we don't make documents accessible, we are breaking the law
It is the law that all content is accessible to users, no matter the severity of their disability, temporary or permanent.
Because accessibility is becoming such an important issue, organisations and individuals will make their voices heard if a website is publishing information that is inaccessible. There have been numerous cases of lawsuits being filed against companies in the UK and US in the last two years.
Public Health England is bound to comply with the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which set out guidelines for pages and publications, including:
- don't rely on colour alone to communication information
- provide alternatives to audio and visual content
- provide clear navigation
- ensure documents are clear and simple
- design documents to work on multiple devices
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. What used to be advisory, has now become compulsory. This is particularly the case for public sector bodies, so Public Health England is under scrutiny to ensure that we are compliant.
What was once advisory is increasingly becoming compulsory.
This means the old ways we used to design and publish documents now need to be changed. It is important that we do this work to ensure that we uphold the reputation of PHE.
Accessible websites are ultimately better for users
We've talked about accessibility in terms of compliance, but research suggests that in the long run, users overwhelmingly prefer to use accessible websites.
This applies to all users, not just people with disabilities. Accessible websites and documents are:
- more straightforward to navigate
- compatible with a range of software - not just Microsoft Office
- easy to read on multiple devices
- simple to quickly scan and learn the relevant information
This means that accessibility isn't about customising GOV.UK so that it's acceptable to use for people with disabilities - accessibility is about finding new ways to publish information that ultimately benefits everyone.
Watch Web accessibility perspectives: explore the impact and benefits for everyone short videos (all videos are subtitled).