Fact Sheet 6. Making your website accessible
Websites and digital electronic information can be designed to be accessible to a wide variety of information users. Adaptations to an existing website are generally more difficult to do and can be more expensive. Designing for universal access is a better approach. This can enable people with disabilities to access information using assistive technologies, for example text-to-speech software used by web users who are blind and vision impaired.
Making sure that electronic information is accessible to the widest possible audience will help your organisation to reach out to everyone and will raise the organisation's profile and visibility.
What do you need to do to make your website accessible?
- Make sure to build in accessibility from the start.
- Make sure your website conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
- Professional web accessibility auditors can audit your website for accessibility. The National Disability Authority's information technology accessibility guidelines explain WCAG and accessibility requirements for other technologies. See http://universaldesign.ie/useandapply/ict/
- A good resource to use if you are commissioning an external web development company to build your website is the Accessible Procurement Toolkit from the National Disability Authority (NDA). This gives practical advice and guidance, including how to maintain the accessibility of the website in the future as changes are made to content and functionality.
How can you test the accessibility of your website?
Involve people who will use your website in the planning and testing of the site. Ask people with disabilities to carry out realistic tasks using the website. This will show whether your website or other electronic documents are accessible in practice. It is best to commission a professional user testing company to carry out this work.
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Many organisations are unsure if their websites are accessible. NCBI's Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT www.cfit.ie) has a user testing service. The Gateway project in Galway contracted CFIT to make sure its website was accessible. Gateway had created a website, www.gateway2at.org , to show how assistive technologies could help people with disabilities to realise their capabilities in third level education and the workplace. Aimed at educators, employers and young people with disabilities, the brief was to make the information not only accessible but also professional and appealing. User testing helps to uncover accessibility problems and provide solutions to them. CFIT ran a series of tests involving people with visual and motor impairments carrying out practical tasks on the website, such as searching for information and resources using assistive technologies. According to the Gateway project manager: "Having the site tested by its intended users was an invaluable part of the development process." The Gateway team was relieved to find that the site worked exactly as the designers had intended, although some minor changes were suggested that would make the experience even smoother for people using screen readers. |
Accessibility statement
A good practice is to put an accessibility statement on your website. This should include the following:
- your organisation's accessibility policy;
- how that policy is carried out (how input is sought, what testing is done and so on);
- where the website is with respect to this policy;
- any accessibility problems;
- what is being done about these problems, with timescales for remedial work;
- any accessibility problems that cannot be fixed; and
- what alternative arrangements are in place to access the information (for example, telephone support).
Making websites accessible to people who do not have access to computers
Most people today have access to the Internet. Not having access to the Internet is a significant barrier to accessing information. Putting computers into public places, such as libraries and information centres, and training people how to use the Internet, can help to break down these barriers.
| Library Links is a joint initiative between the Citizens Information Board and the public library network. Supported by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (The Library Council), its aim is to make the Citizens Information website, www.citizensinformation.ie, available from Internet terminals in all public libraries. Many people choose libraries as their first port of call when looking for information on rights and entitlements and this initiative will give easy access to the website for those who do not have ready access to the Internet. |
Further resources
National Disability Authority Accessibility Guidelines, including WCAG and accessibility requirements for other technologies.
National Disability Authority Guidance on commissioning a new Website
National Disability Authority Guidance on carrying out a web accessibility audit
National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) Information on making websites accessible for people with disabilities
RNIB, Guidelines and a video, Websites that work, for accessible design for vision impaired people
Maynooth University, Best practice guidelines and suggestions for producing digital documents
Nielsen, J. & Markes. J., Writing for the Web
Plain English Campaign (UK), Plain English tips for clear website
SAIF, Making websites accessible Guidelines with particular reference to people with learning disabilities
AccessibleNet. An independent, online directory of links and resources about web accessibility. www.accessiblenet.org
