Great Ormond Street Hospital
Introduction
In a bid to enhance the user experience for disabled people and to help them achieve compliance with Government Regulations, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) commissioned an accessibility audit of their website with us. This audit aimed to identify and rectify accessibility issues that could hinder the usability of the site for visitors with various disabilities.
Initial Audit Findings
During the initial audit, we meticulously reviewed the website and discovered numerous accessibility issues. These ranged from visual and navigational barriers to technical shortcomings that could impede screen readers and other assistive technologies. Following the audit, we updated their accessibility statement to make it compliant. It detailed the issues discovered and provided insights into how these issues affected disabled users.
Examples of Issues Identified
- Cookie Banner was not accessible
- Headings were skipped or empty, making navigation difficult with a screen reader
- Links were not always underlined, making it unclear that they were links in the first place.
- Inadequate contrast ratios, making text difficult to read for visually impaired users
- Some images were missing Alt text, so screen readers were unaware of what the images were of.
- Complex navigation structure, which posed challenges for users with cognitive disabilities.
- Forms that were not fully accessible, causing difficulties for users with limited motor skills.
- Focus outline was unclear, making navigation challenging for keyboard users.
- Some elements could not be reached with a keyboard
- Text was not readable at 200% zoom
Re-Audit After 16 Months
Sixteen months after delivering the initial audit report, GOSH requested a re-audit to assess the improvements made on their website. They provided a list of issues they believed had been resolved, and we proceeded to retest the website.
Improvements Noted
Upon re-auditing, we found that the overall accessibility of the website had significantly improved. Many of the previously identified issues were successfully addressed, including:
- Enhanced contrast ratios, making the site more visually accessible.
- Comprehensive and descriptive alt text for images, improving the experience for screen reader users.
- Streamlined navigation menus, facilitating easier access for users with cognitive disabilities and those who use keyboards.
- Accessible forms that were designed to accommodate users with varying motor skills.
Remaining Issues
Although the website had improved markedly, some issues remained. These were primarily minor glitches that can be easily fixed with continued diligence. Examples include:
- Occasional missing alt text for newly added images.
- Minor inconsistencies in form labels and instructions.
- Keyboard focus not always set correctly
Conclusion
The re-audit revealed that GOSH has made commendable strides in improving the accessibility of its website. While some issues persist, they are relatively minor and can be addressed quite quickly. Overall, the progress has been impressive, and the website is now generally much more accessible. The accessibility statement has been updated and will be uploaded to the website soon.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring web accessibility is an ongoing commitment. The positive changes observed at the Great Ormond Street Hospital website demonstrate the impact of sustained efforts towards inclusivity. It is encouraging to see how far the website has come, and we remain optimistic that with continued improvements, it will achieve full accessibility in due course.