Many of these suggestions don’t just apply to web content but most forms of online communicaton via Email, Word document, SharePoint site, PowerPoint Microsoft Form can be more accessible with a few simple considerations.
There is however, a legal obligation to make web content meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines AA rating
Your service must be accessible to everyone who needs it, including services only used by public servants. You may be breaking the law if you do not make your service accessible. (therefore this includes internal SharePoints and other sites that hold web content)
You need to think about how users might access and use your service before you design or build anything.
Accessibility is different from assisted digital support, which means helping users with low digital skills or limited access to the web.
Meeting government accessibility requirements
To meet government accessibility requirements, digital services must:
- meet level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) as a minimum
- work on the most commonly used assistive technologies – including screen magnifiers, screen readers and speech recognition tools
- include disabled people in user research
- have an accessibility statement that explains how accessible the service is – you need to publish this when the service moves into public beta
If your service meets government accessibility requirements, then you’ll also be meeting the accessibility regulations that apply to public sector websites and mobile applications.
Birmingham city council’s accessibility statement can be found on the Birmingham City Council Website.
For access to accessibility resources please go to our page on accessibility resources.