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Day 1: What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility or web accessibility is about making sure everyone can access websites and digital services - people on different devices, in different environments and with different abilities. This includes people who rely on assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, or voice input software.

Why does it matter?

  • accessibility ensures equitable access to information, products, and services for all users, if a website, app or service isn't accessible then it means some people can't use it.
  • there are legal requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 to make sure websites and services are accessible to all.
  • the GOV.UK Service Standard, prioitises accessible service design which means that government services must be accessible before they go live online.

Who benefits from accessibility?

Everyone benefits from accessibility but it is particularly important for:

  • people with visual impairments, including blindness, partial sight, or colour blindness.
  • people with hearing impairments, including Deaf people who rely on sign language.
  • people with mobility impairments who cannot use a mouse or keyboard.
  • people with cognitive impairments, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or neurodivergence.

How do people access websites and services?

People access websites, services and mobile applications in a number of different ways, including:

  • by using a mobile or tablet to access the internet or use apps.
  • using a desktop or laptop computer.
  • by customising browser settings to change how a website looks.
  • using screen readers to convert text into speech or Braille.
  • using screen magnifiers to enlarge text and graphics.
  • relying on speech recognition to control devices and dictate text.
  • using different input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, sip and puff devices or other input devices
Accessibility is not optional—it’s essential. Build services that work for everyone.

Web accessibility perspectives - compilation of 10 topics/videos

Watch the video from W3C "Web Accessibility: Essential for some, useful for all" to learn about the impact of accessibility and the benefits for everyone in a variety of situations.