Accessibility testing challenges

Day 24 # Learn about accessibility law in your country


UK

Most public sector websites and mobile apps do not currently meet accessibility requirements. For example, a recent study found that 4 in 10 local council homepages failed basic tests for accessibility.

Common problems include websites that are not easy to use on a mobile or cannot be navigated using a keyboard, inaccessible PDF forms that cannot be read out on screen readers, and poor color contrast that makes the text difficult to read - especially for visually impaired people.

You may be breaking the law if your public sector website or mobile app does not meet accessibility requirements.

The accessibility regulations came into force for public sector bodies on 23 September 2018. They say you must make your website or mobile app more accessible by making it ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’. You need to include and update an accessibility statement on your website.

The full name of the accessibility regulations is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

The accessibility regulations build on your existing obligations to people who have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland). These say that all UK service providers must consider ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled people.

All public sector bodies have to meet the 2018 requirements unless they are exempt.

Public sector bodies include:

  • the central government and local government organizations
  • some charities and other non-government organizations

    When you may be exempt from accessibility regulations

    All UK service providers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (in Northern Ireland).

    The following organizations are exempt from the accessibility regulations:

    • non-government organizations like charities - unless they are mostly financed by public funding, provide services that are essential to the public or aimed at disabled people

    • public sector broadcasters and their subsidiaries

    The following organizations are partially exempt from the accessibility regulations:

    • primary and secondary schools or nurseries - except for the content people need in order to use their services, for example, a form that lets you outline school meal preferences

    Partially exempt organizations would need to publish an accessibility statement on their website.










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