This is a collection of helpful accessibility resources compiled from trusted sources, with detail around best practices and the public sector regulations.
If you have any questions about accessibility or would like a chat about what Frank can offer, feel free to contact us. We can offer bespoke accessibility training or a review on your website.
What is accessibility?
Watch this short video which explains a bit about web accessibility and why it is important.
Accessibility is...The need to cater to different abilities and situations.
We must try to exclude as few people from our websites as possible and think about the range of users who need to access our content.
“[web accessibility is] essential for developers and organisations that want to create high quality websites and web tools, and not exclude people from using their products and services.”
- W3C, Web Standards Organisation
This is arguably even more important in healthcare than most sectors.
On our web pages all users should be able to:
- Perceive
- Understand
- Interact
- Navigate
Examples of disabilities which could impact this
- Blind or partially sighted
- Arthritis
- Dyslexia
- Neurodivergent users
Government Digital Services (GDS) has extensive user profiles for different types of users on their website here.
More than just disability
Accessibility is not simply ‘disability’. Having accessible websites can be helpful to many people according to the scenario they are in, for example:
- Situational - Being on slow Wi-Fi, or in a noisy cafe
- Temporary disability - You could be tired, or have a broken arm
- Equipment - An old, slow mobile phone or computer
- Literacy - A low literacy level needs simple, understandable content
- Older people - May just simply struggle with technology due to arthritis for example
These can all happen to anyone, at any time.
To help ensure that all users can access the same content, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). All public sector websites must meet these guidelines. The guidelines relate to how information is put on the web (e.g. about content) and how the site is built (e.g. code and mark up). Clients are responsible for the content (although we can support with training and our Accessible Content Guide) and Frank are responsible for ensuring the code is compliant. Clients are also required to include an Accessibility Statement on their website
Regulations
- Make your website or app accessible and publish an accessibility statement (GOV.UK)
- An introduction to digital accessibility regulations (YouTube)
A video webinar from Government Digital Services talking through the accessibility regulations and how you may be impacted - A Frank guide to Gov.uk accessibility notifications - a short video explaining what the reports are, what they mean and what to do if you receive one
- Can your website's level of accessibility be rated? A Frank blog on ranking and testing a website for WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.2
- Frank's update on WCAG 2.2, what it means for your site and how we can support you
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (W3C)
The WCAG 2.2 Guidelines from W3C, as of October 2023
WCAG 2.1
The Guidelines for WCA2.1 still stand, WCAG2.2 is in addition to 2.1
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (W3C)
The WCAG 2.1 Guidelines from W3C, as of June 2018 - Understanding WCAG 2.1 (W3C)
An informative document to expand on an aid understanding of each point within WCAG 2.1
Content
Frank will build your site to be compliant with WCAG 2.2 A/AA standard. However, it is the responsibility of the client to ensure the content is presented in a way that is also compliant. Here are some helpful tips, but Frank can also provide dedicated accessibility training for you.
- Frank's Accessible Content Guide - essential for anyone who is writing content for, or maintaining your website
- Content design: planning, writing and managing content (GOV.UK)
A series of articles on how to write and design content suitable for GOV.UK, much of which can be incorporated into your own content. - Use of images with text including alternative text - Images on GOV.UK
Documents
- Are PDFs accessible? Find out and learn about how Frank can support you to convert your PDFs here.
- Publishing accessible documents (GOV.UK)
GOV.UK advice on publishing documents that meet accessibility regulations, including PDFs and document archiving. - How to make your PDFs accessible (YouTube)
A Government Digital Services video webinar from Leeds City Council on tidying inaccessible PDFs in preparation for the accessibility regulations. - Use of PDFs and office documents (NHS Digital)
NHS Digital describe the 'problem with pdfs'.
Testing
- Doing a basic accessibility check if you cannot do a detailed one (GOV.UK)
- How to carry out basic accessibility checks (YouTube)
A video webinar from Government Digital Services showing how you can carry out some basic accessibility checks. - Testing with assistive technologies (GOV.UK)
An article from the GOV.UK accessibility community detailing how you to test with relevant assistive technologies, such as screen reader and speech recognition software.
Accessibility Statement
- How to avoid common accessibility statement fails (YouTube)
A Government Digital Services video webinar from the team responsible for enforcing accessibility statements, highlighting statement best practices and easy-to-avoid mistakes. - Sample accessibility statement (GOV.UK)
A sample (fictional) accessibility statement from GOV.The UK with guidance on what you can include in your statement.
Engagement
- Making accessibility accessible: the secret to engaging your workforce (YouTube)
A Government Digital Services video webinar on frameworks for successfully engaging a workforce in digital accessibility. - Building digital services that work for everyone (YouTube)
A Government Digital Services video webinar from a GOV.UK senior developer, going through a fictional GOV.UK service and highlighting how to build accessible digital services.
Frank's Accessibility Toolbar
- As part of your website build, Frank usually provides our Accessibility toolbar. Usually located at the bottom of the page, it is labelled 'Show accessibility tools' which toggles to ‘Hide accessibility tools’ to stop it from being visible.
- Users can click on the toolbar to view various accessible options, including:
- Text size - to significantly increase the size of the text without it spilling across the page
- Contrast - to change the colour contrast on screen to one of four different high contrast colour settings
- Google translate - to change the language (Frank cannot guarantee the accuracy of the translation)
Read Aloud Technologies
- Third party apps or plug-ins can be added to the tool bar, including "Read Aloud" support tools such as "ReciteMe" or "BrowseAloud". However, these services often attract an annual licence fee. Frank have put together a Guide to Accessing Free Read Aloud Technology which you can include in your Accessibility Statement. Frank do not take responsibility for the accuracy of this information and therefore recommend that clients check this at the time of publication.