Meeting accessibility requirements
We will be breaking the law if our public sector websites, mobile apps and all media published on them, do not meet accessibility requirements.
Regulations and reasonable adjustments
Accessibility regulations say a public sector website or mobile app must be accessible by making it "perceivable, operable, understandable and robust".
Public sector website also have to include and update an accessibility statement. This is the accessibility statement for this website.
The full name of the accessibility regulations is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 .
These regulations build on our existing obligations to people who have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 . These say that all UK service providers must consider 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled people.
For example, somebody might ask for information in accessible communication formats , like large print or an audio recording. There are a number of factors that determine what makes something a 'reasonable' adjustment: Duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people .
Outsourced websites
All websites we outsource to external suppliers must meet the accessibility requirements. See Outsourced websites .
You are legally responsible for your website and other media meeting accessibility requirements, even if you have outsourced your website or media creation to a supplier.
Mobile apps
Accessibility regulations cover public sector mobile apps developed for use by the public. These regulations cover areas such as the public sector body using bespoke app choices of functionality, or branding.
Authoring tools
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 provide guidance for designing web content authoring tools that are:
- more accessible to authors with disabilities
- designed to enable, support, and promote the production of more accessible web content by all authors
How to meet accessibility requirements
Our websites will be compliant if we:
- meet the international WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard: Understanding WCAG 2.1
- publish an accessibility statement that explains how accessible our website is. The format for this is indicated in Sample accessibility statement (for a fictional public sector website) .
