What is accessibility?
What is it and how does it work?
Web accessibility refers to how easy it is for people to access and use a website, regardless of their physical abilities, level of understanding or choice of technology.
It is measured against the Web Accessibility Initiative's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Guidelines consist of priority checkpoints which web developers should aim to meet. There are three levels of priority, ranging from A to AAA. All Clarified sites aim to reach WCAG 1.0 priority AAA where possible.
Why is this important?
Not everyone uses the internet in the same way. Consider blind users who use special software which 'reads' a website out loud; elderly users who need bigger text sizes; people with limited mobility who don't use a mouse. This is just a small selection of users who can be prevented from using a website altogether if it has been badly constructed.
How does this affect you?
Taking steps to make your services accessible to the disabled is now a legal requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act. You may be aware of businesses making physical changes to their premises, such as adding a ramp for wheelchair users. The same principle applies to websites.
It's good for business!
The good news is that having an accessible website is great for business too. It promotes a positive image of your company and levels of customer care, whilst broadening your customer reach. The disabled community spends an estimated £80 billion each year (source: Disability Rights Commission), so excluding them from accessing a service is clearly not a good idea! And sites built for accessibility actually benefit all users - who wouldn't prefer a site which is clear, simple, loads faster and is easy to use?
Does your website comply?
If you have a Clarified website, we'll agree at the start of the project the priority level it will reach. If you have an existing non-Clarified website, we can offer you an accessibility review to check its current status. We can advise on any failings and how to bring it up to scratch, then carry this work out for you if you wish.
Any more questions?
If you're still unsure about accessibility and what it means for you, or are interested in how we can help, please do contact us and we can answer any questions you have.