Your site must be accessible to a at least WCAG 1.0 level double-A
(the minimum standard set by the COI for all public sector sites – see notes section below for more details), this includes (but is not limited to) the following requirements:
- Provide appropriate alternative text for all images [see 4a]
- Structure each page such that they are still readable and usable if no styles or visual layout is applied [see 1b]
- Use explicit labels for all form elements [see 5a]
- Code tables properly
- Ensure the contrast of text and informational images is sufficiently high
- Ensure all information is communicated without relying on colour
- Ensure all of the site’s features, functions and content are available via the keyboard (without relying on the mouse)
- Ensure that pages do not flash or flicker
- Provide transcripts and captions for multimedia
- Ensure all PDFs are accessible [see 8a]
Accessibility is a more complex topic that can be covered here, Delivering Inclusive websites (COI guidance produced June 2008) provides more information about accessibility and the steps you are required to take
Your site must use valid markup and CSS (or other Web technology) code
- Include a ‘doctype’ statement at the start of each page to indicate which standard you are using
- Use all markup/tags for the intended purpose
- Do not use ‘deprecated’ tags
- Check HTML and XML via the W3C Markup Validation service
- Check CSS style sheets via the W3C CSS Validation Service
Test the site using the popular browsers
- Firefox: must test to version 3.0,.x should test to version 2.0.x
- Internet Explorer: must test to version 6 and 7, should test for version 5.5
- Safari: must test to version 3.x, should test to version 5.5
- Chrome: must test to version 0.2.x
- Opera: must test to version 9.x, should test to version 8
Notes and discussion points
Why is accessibility important?
Accessibility is a vitally important component of all websites. The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) and placed an additional duty on the public sector to promote disability equality in the full range of public sector activity – including delivery of information and services via the Web. Only if your website is accessible will it meet your legal obligations.
As well as meeting your obligations an accessible site has additional benefits including:
- It reaches a wider audience (regardless of ability or disability) by working on a wider variety of browser and device combinations (such as mobile phones and handheld computers)
- It will tend to appear higher in search engine rankings
- It is easier to update, maintain and repurpose for other formats
What level of accessibility do I need to reach?
The minimum standard of accessibility for all public sector websites is Level Double-A of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 1.0 (WCAG 1.0). All new websites must conform to these guidelines from the point of publication
Version 2.0 of the Web Content accessibility guidelines became a W3C Recommendation in December 2008. Consideration is currently being given to the adoption of version 2.0 as the minimum standard for public sector websites.