Introduction to accessible content
Accessible content is easier for everyone to use, understand and navigate.
It helps people find what they need quickly and complete tasks without extra effort.
You can read an overview of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) below. These are the standards we must follow.
Our legal duty
We also have a legal duty to think about the needs of disabled people when we design and deliver services.
The Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty, says our services must be accessible.
This means the content we use to deliver our services must also be accessible.
You can read more about creating accessible services and environments for disabled people.
What accessible content means
Accessibility can mean different things, depending on the situation.
Online, it means making sure everyone can use our content. This includes people with disabilities.
Good accessible content means people can complete tasks in a similar amount of time and effort as anyone else. GOV.UK explains more about what accessibility means.
Accessible content is written and designed so as many people as possible can understand it.
This includes people with:
- vision impairments
- dyslexia
- motor (movement) difficulties
- learning disabilities or cognitive impairments
- hearing impairments or deafness
You can read more about why accessibility is important on GOV.UK.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognised recommendations. The guidelines explain how to improve web accessibility and solve users' problems.
WCAG 2.2 is the latest version of the guidelines.
Levels of compliance
There are three levels of compliance within the WCAG 2.2 guidelines:
Level A
This covers basic accessibility.
Level AA
It is a legal requirement that Norfolk County Council (NCC) websites meet this level. This is stated in The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Meeting this level means our websites are accessible for as many people as reasonably possible.
Level AAA
This is a higher level of accessibility. WCAG conformance requirements state that level AAA is not possible for some content.
What the WCAG guidelines cover
The guidelines cover areas such as:
- Colour contrast
- Correct tagging of images and headings
- Link text
By fixing these issues, we can:
Help remove some of the common barriers people face with inaccessible websites
Improve the experience for all users
Make the website work better for users of assistive technology. For example, screen readers used by people with visual impairments.
Further information
Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps on GOV.UK
All content on our websites must be accessible.
This includes public websites, such as www.sefton.gov.uk, as well as internal sites like the intranet and SharePoint.
Types of content
The following content must be accessible:
- web pages
- PDFs and other documents (such as Word and Excel files)
- online forms
- videos
- images
- text
If content is used to deliver a service, it should be accessible — even if it is not published on a website.
New and existing content
We are focusing on making sure all new content is accessible from the start.
Existing content should be reviewed and improved when it is updated.
What does not need to be fixed
Some older documents do not need to be made accessible.
PDFs and other documents published before 23rd September 2018 do not need to be fixed unless:
- they are essential to providing a service, or
- they are updated or republished after this date
For example, forms for free school meals or school places must be accessible. People need these to use the service.
Documents such as newsletters or meeting minutes do not usually need fixing. They are not used to access services.
You can read more about content you may not need to fix on GOV.UK.
If you create content, you are responsible for making sure it is accessible.
This includes anything you write, design or publish.
If you ask an external organisation to create content for Sefton Council, you are still responsible for making sure it is accessible.
When you commission work, include a link to our accessible content guidance in your brief.
Examples of content you may create or commission
You or your service might create or commission:
- documents for public websites, the intranet or SharePoint
- web pages
- videos or audio content
All of this content must be accessible.
See Content that must be accessible for more information.
Make content accessible from the start
Always aim to make your content accessible, however you plan to share it.
This is important even if the content is not published online.
Accessible content:
- is easier for most people to use and understand
- supports people with disabilities, including those you may not be aware of
may be needed to deliver services - may need to be published online in the future
Further information
You can find more guidance on accessible communication formats on GOV.UK.
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