# Accessibillity Audit > Professional Website Accessibility Audits using real Disabled People --- ## Pages - [Issues](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/): A variety of challenges that can hinder the ability of individuals with disabilities to fully engage with content. - [WCAG](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/): Priority A Website Accessibility Standards set the groundwork for web accessibility - [Audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/): Introduction to Website Accessibility & Audits In today’s digital world, ensuring your website is accessible to everyone is not just about - [Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/): Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies that can be used by everyone. - [Keyboard Navigation](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/keyboard-navigation/): At Access By Audit, we're dedicated to enhancing web accessibility by focusing on keyboard navigation, a crucial aspect for many users, including those - [Colour Contrast](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/colour-contrast/): Empowering Digital Inclusivity with Every Hue At Access By Audit, we believe in creating a digital world that is accessible, inclusive, and vibrant for - [What is WCAG?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/web-content-accessibility-guidelines-wcag/): The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have served as this critical framework, evolving over the years to meet the changing needs of the web and - [About](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/): We have been working in the field of website accessibility since 2006 when my company, Access by Design, built its first accessible website. - [Training](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/training/): Achieving digital accessibility can be complex, requiring an in depth understanding of guidelines, technologies, and user needs. This is where specialised - [User Testing](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/): Manual checking of a website is absolutely essential if you want to ensure that all your accessibility issues are picked up. - [What is Digital Accessibility?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/what-is-digital-accessibility/): Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies that can be used by everyone, including those - [TEDTalk](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/tedtalk/): Define accessibility on the World Wide Web through a compelling, easy-to-understand, TEDTalk by Clive Loseby. - [Our Clients](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/our-clients/): We work with companies within the Public and Private Sector, helping them, wherever they may be on their Digital Accessibility journey. - [Accessible PDFs](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/accessible-pdfs/): What are PDFs? PDFs, or Portable Document Formats, is a file format that was developed by Adobe in 1992 that revolutionised the way we share documents to - [Consultancy Service](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/consultancy-service/): Welcome to Your Pathway to Web Accessibility Excellence At Access By Audit, we specialise in guiding businesses and organisations through the complexities - [Public Sector Websites](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/public-sector-websites/): Public sector websites should adhere to WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines. We will help you achieve this through our accessibility testing. - [Our Team in Action](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/our-team-in-action/): Many accessibility audits only use automated tools; we go much further. Our disabled accessibility testing team provides real-world insights. - [Our Testing Team](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/our-team-disabled-testers/): Need a website accessibility test? Have one by disabled people and raise accessibility standards, UK and Worldwide! - [Browser Compatibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/browser-compatibility/): Web browsers vary across devices, making browser compatibility crucial. Relying only on one browser risks accessibility issues for diverse users. - [What is a Website Accessibility Audit?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/what-is-website-accessibility-audit/): An Accessibility Audit will discover why your website is hard for disabled people to use and help you improve it for everyone. Get in touch. - [Automated Website Accessibility Testing](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/automated-accessibility-testing/): At Access By Audit, we believe in a web accessible to everyone. Our mission is to ensure that your digital products and services are not just compliant - [Blog](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/our-blog/): Latest news about web accessibility, accessible website design and web accessibility audits. - [Our Company](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/our-company/): Enhance your website accessibility! Our expertise since 2006 means strong design and inclusivity. We will help you meet each visitor's needs. - [Contact](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/contact-us/): To find out what is involved with an accessibility audit or any other aspect of digital accessibility, book a free initial chat today - [Case Studies](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/case-studies/): Helping Clients with their Online Accessibility! - [Accessibility Statement](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/accessibility-statement/): Learn how to create a comprehensive accessibility statement that communicates your commitment to digital inclusivity. - [Manual Accessibility Testing](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/manual-accessibility-testing/): Manual checking is vital for addressing all accessibility issues, ensuring legal protection and projecting an honest, approachable image. - [Usability and Navigation Issues](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/usability-navigation-issues/): Website accessibility ensure a superior experience for all. Manual checks uncover issues, prioritising best practice in our audits. - [W3C Coding Errors](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/w3c-coding-errors/): W3C Coding Standards. Another essential element of digital accessibility, which is why we include it in each accessibility audit we undertake. - [Search Engines](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/search-engines/): Coding errors impact search engines. Poor rankings affect accessibility; less visibility hurts everyone, especially those with needs. - [Priority 4](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/priority-4-screen-readers/): Priority 4 Screen Reader Issues: Closing your eyes mimics the challenges faced by users. The Tab Test reveals over 96% website failures; - [WCAG Priority AAA](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-aaa/): WCAG 2.2 Priority AAA for advanced website accessibility. Offering true alternatives, especially in media content. for a more inclusive experience - [WCAG Priority AA](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-aa/): WCAG 2.2 Priority AA Standards. An essential part of digital accessibility. Our accessibility testing achieves compliance. - [WCAG Priority A](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-a/): Priority A in WCAG 2.2 sets the minimum standards for websites, including Alt Text, functionality with blocked scripts, and video captions. - [Home](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/): Is your website accessible to everyone? We will help you achieve the highest accessibility standards through our live testing --- --- ## Posts - [Just 29 Days Left: Is Your Website Ready?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-29-days-left-is-your-website-ready/): There are now only 29 weekdays left before the European Accessibility Act takes effect. From 28 June, private companies that serve users in the EU must - [Why We Only Build EAA Compliant Websites](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-we-only-build-eaa-compliant-websites/): When it comes to compliance, there is no halfway point. The European Accessibility Act is bringing strict legal requirements for websites accessed in the - [The Truth About Accessibility Overlays: What Every Business Needs to Know](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-truth-about-accessibility-overlays-what-every-business-needs-to-know/): Accessibility overlays promise a quick solution to website compliance. They claim to fix accessibility issues instantly, with no need to make changes to - [Hitting Record Again After 11 Months](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/hitting-record-again-after-11-months/): It has been nearly twelve months since I last uploaded a video to YouTube. This was not due to lack of interest. When you are running a business under - [No, B2B Websites Are Not Exempt From the European Accessibility Act](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/no-b2b-websites-are-not-exempt-from-the-european-accessibility-act/): There is a common misconception floating around, one I hear far too often. “We are a B2B company, so the European Accessibility Act does not apply to us.” - [Ever had this response?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ever-had-this-response/): A Familiar Reply You reach out to a company about their accessibility issues and the risks posed by the European Accessibility Act. They thank you for the - [When Brand Reputation Matters More Than Money](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/when-brand-reputation-matters-more-than-money/): You can talk about the financial risk of non-compliance. You can even point to legal penalties and regulatory crackdowns. But for many corporate - [Accessibility Is Not Just for GAAD. It Is for Every Day.](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-is-not-just-for-gaad-it-is-for-every-day/): Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) came and went last Thursday, as it does each year on the third Thursday in May. Once again, we missed it. Here’s - [For Web Agencies: Your Clients' Risk Could Be Yours Too](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/for-web-agencies-your-clients-risk-could-be-yours-too/): The European Accessibility Act takes effect on 28 June 2025, just 44 days from today.It will apply to any business offering digital products or services - [Most Accessibility Statements Are Not Compliant. Here Is What We Found](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/most-accessibility-statements-are-not-compliant-here-is-what-we-found/): We recently reviewed 110 websites to see how ready they were for the European Accessibility Act. We were not expecting perfection, but what we found was - [45 Days Left: If Your Client’s Website Is Not Accessible, You Could Be Held Liable](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/45-days-left-if-your-clients-website-is-not-accessible-you-could-be-held-liable/): The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025. Any organisation offering digital products or services in the EU must meet accessibility - [46 Days To Go: How Ready Is Your Website For The European Accessibility Act?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/46-days-to-go-how-ready-is-your-website-for-the-european-accessibility-act/): The countdown continues — with just 46 days to go, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is fast approaching. From 28 June 2025, organisations providing - [47 Days To Go: Is Your Website Compliant With The European Accessibility Act?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/47-days-to-go-is-your-website-compliant-with-the-european-accessibility-act/): The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025 — and the countdown is on. If your organisation provides digital products or services to - [Case Study: Working with Giant Digital on British Wireless for the Blind](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/case-study-working-with-giant-digital-on-british-wireless-for-the-blind/): Background When Giant Digital were commissioned to redevelop the website for British Wireless for the Blind (BW), they knew from the outset that - [The European Accessibility Act - you have only 65 days](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-european-accessibility-act-you-have-only-65-days/): What is the Act? The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes new rules regarding accessibility, comparable to the impact GDPR has had on Data - [Great Ormond Street Hospital](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/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 - [Boost Your ROI: Importance of Including Disabled Users in WCAG Audits](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/boost-your-roi-importance-of-including-disabled-users-in-wcag-audits/): This is because, apart from being the right thing to do, making the website accessible is not only a legal requirement but also means that the website is - [Today I celebrate the return of plain text emails!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/today-i-celebrate-the-return-of-plain-text-emails/): Why is this something to celebrate? I hope this will lead, one day, to the eventual elimination of HTML emails altogether. I am not a fan of HTML emails. - [Userway faces class action lawsuit over alleged false accessibility and ADA compliance claims](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/userway-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-false-accessibility-and-ada-compliance-claims/): Lawsuit over accessibility widget This article originally appeared on TechStart-ups on 23/12/2024. Userway is facing a class action lawsuit filed by - [FTC orders AI accessibility startup accessiBe to pay $1M for misleading advertising](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ftc-orders-ai-accessibility-startup-accessibe-to-pay-1m-for-misleading-advertising/): Reposting this article from the TechCrunch website:  The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has fined accessiBe, a startup that claims to make websites - [Here’s a novel experience, an invisible Accessibility Statement!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/heres-a-novel-experience-an-invisible-accessibility-statement/): Should you have an accessibility statement? One of the first things I check when I am working on a website audit is the existing accessibility statement, - [Oh you mean ten ENGLISH pounds???](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/oh-you-mean-ten-english-pounds/): Testing a donation page during an accessibility audit Iona and I had fun recently on the Donation Page of a Charity that we were testing. We had a choice - [Clive is a keynote speaker at brightonSEO 2025!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/clive-is-a-keynote-speaker-at-brightonseo-2025/): Clive is delighted to announce that they will be a Keynote Speaker at brightonSEO next April! Passionate about improving digital accessibility, Clive - [Accessibility overlays don't work!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-overlays-dont-work/): What is an accessibility overlay? This is one of the most confusing aspects of website accessibility. It is also one of the most important, as this can - [Do you know if your SAAS Platform is accessible?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/do-you-know-if-your-saas-platform-is-accessible/): Is Your SaaS Platform WCAG 2.2 Compliant? Or, to put it simply—can disabled people effectively use your digital products? I’ve been receiving a growing - [Just Pay, Mede!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-pay-mede/): If you are blind, using Websites can be tricky at the best of times, especially when it comes to making online payments. Mede is blind and uses a screen - [Just Start Iona!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-start-iona/): In this video, Iona is testing an online portal. To begin the process, she needs to press a big start button in the centre of the screen! This would not - [Helping ACRO with their Online Accessibility!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/helping-acro-raise-their-online-accessibility-standard/): What does ACRO (The Criminal Records Office) do? ACRO perform many important functions for the public, dealing with Subject Access Requests, Applications - [Krista's Wish List!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/kristas-wish-list/): Here's a video highlighting the difficulty Krista has just trying to close off a box! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcUKPM-Q0w Video Transcript Hello. - [Enhancing Wicked with Accessibility Services!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/enhancing-wicked-with-accessibility-services/): I had the pleasure of watching Wicked The Musical last night at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. Having seen it before in the West End, this time the - [A colour check is just as important in the real world!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-colour-check-is-just-as-important-in-the-real-world-as-it-is-on-a-website/): An elderly parent and his credit card My elderly father has been hospitalised for some time but will be coming home on Monday. This news brings immense - [Celebrating 25 Years of WCAG Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/celebrating-25-years-of-wcag-accessibility-a-reflection/): What is WCAG Accessibility? Twenty-five years ago, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0. - [Unveiling WCAG 2.2: A New Chapter in Web Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unveiling-wcag-2-2-a-new-chapter-in-web-accessibility/): The digital world is ever-evolving, and with it, the standards that ensure it remains accessible to all. The release of the Web Content Accessibility - [Navigating the Internet: Overcoming the Accessibility Challenge of Keyboard Navigation](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-accessibility-challenge-of-keyboard-navigation/): A Website Accessibility Audit will show you where disabled people will find challenges if they cannot use a mouse. Often it is simple to fix! - [Unveiling the Secrets of Website Accessibility Auditing: Behind the Scenes](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unveiling-the-secrets-of-website-accessibility-auditing/): Website accessibility audits serve as essential tools in achieving this goal, offering insights into how well a site adheres to established accessibility standards. - [Poor Colour Contrast Fails Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-most-websites-fail-accessibility-through-poor-colour-contrast/): Colour contrast is a critical factor in a Website Accessibility Audit. Getting this right is fundamental to having an Accessible Website! - [A Step-by-Step Guide to Website Accessibility Audits](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-step-by-step-guide-to-website-accessibility-audits/): A WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit by disabled website accessibility testers is a must to achieve compliance, let us help! - [Alt Text in Web Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-critical-oversight-of-alt-text-in-web-accessibility/): With a Website Accessibility Audit, we help you get the fundamentals right and help you achieve having an accessible website. - [Why an Accessibility Audit is Nothing to Fear](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-a-website-accessibility-audit-is-nothing-to-be-fearful-of/): In the paced world we live in today it's crucial to ensure that your website is accessible, to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This not - [Common Hurdle in Web Accessibility: Mislabelled Forms](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-common-hurdle-in-web-accessibility-mislabelled-forms/): Our Website Accessibility Audits will help you undserstand where there are errors in your foms and how you can resolve them. We want to help! - [Why Automated Website Accessibility Testing Tools Do Not Go Far Enough](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-automated-website-accessibility-testing-tools-do-not-go-far-enough/): The significance of website accessibility In today's age, where the majority of information and services are accessed online it is crucial to recognize - [Accessibility Testing is essential when you have a Website Accessibility Audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-testing-is-essential-when-you-have-a-website-accessibility-audit/): WCAG Compliance is only part of the journey. For a full website accessibility audit, the lived experience of disabled people is key. - [How an Accessibility Audit can help your business website](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-an-accessibility-audit-can-help-your-business-website/): Ouir disabled accessibility testing team will help you ensure that all visitors to your website are able to do business with you! - [The Importance of Using Disabled People in Website Accessibility Audits](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-importance-of-using-disabled-people-in-website-accessibility-audits/): Need a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit? We work with disabled people with each one we do! Call us now on 01243 776399 to find out more! - [A fully accessible website and a unicorn - what they have in common](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-a-fully-accessible-website-is-like-a-unicorn/): A WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit by real disabled people is what you will need to understand how you can get closer to that goal! - [How a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit Empowers All](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-a-wcag-2-2-website-accessibility-audit-empowers-all/): Do you need a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit? We use disabled people with each one we do. Call us now! - [Insights and Tactics from Website Accessibility Audits](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/insights-and-tactics-from-website-accessibility-audits/): Having a Website Accessibility Audit with disabled accessibility testing will give you truly unique insights you will not find elsewhere! - [Deciphering a Website Accessibility Audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/deciphering-a-website-accessibility-audit/): A Website Accessibility Audit with a disabled accessibility testing team gives you unique insights not found anywhere else! - [Breaking Barriers in Digital Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/breaking-barriers-a-comprehensive-guide-to-digital-accessibility/): From inclusive design tips to navigating legal requirements, our blog post explores fostering inclusivity online for everyone. - [Can you Answer the Question Before Last?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/answering-the-question-before-last/): Only by website accessibility testing by blind people can you truly understand the issues disabled people face. Here is one example. - [Understanding the Challenges Faced by Screen Readers](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/understanding-the-challenges-faced-by-screen-readers/): Screen readers face website accessibility challenges due to lack of structure, inaccessible multimedia, complex elements, inconsistent navigation - [Your accessibility statement is like an MOT Certificate](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/your-accessibility-statement-is-like-an-mot-certificate/): Website accessibility is about meeting the standards required to show the "road worthiness" of your website. Let us help you with yours. - [Navigating Challenges: Designers and the Complex Landscape of Website Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/navigating-challenges-designers-and-the-complex-landscape-of-website-accessibility/): Designers face diverse challenges: understanding user needs, evolving standards, aesthetics, accessibility, education, integration and website testing. - [The Imperative of Website Accessibility Testing: A User-Centric Approach](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-imperative-of-website-accessibility-testing-a-user-centric-approach/): Website accessibility affects so many more people than you may think. Only by testing with disabled people can you truly understand why. - [Opening links in a new window - is this a good idea or not?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/opening-links-in-a-new-window-is-this-a-good-idea-or-not/): Link behaviour is one of the most misunderstood components of website accessibility. Let us show you how important it is to digital inclusivity! - [Buttons and Links - commonly misunderstood](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/buttons-and-links-commonly-misunderstood/): Buttons and Links are a confusing website accessibilty issue for many people. Only through live testing can you truly understand the problems. - [Website Accessibility: Its Significance for Your Organisation in 2024](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-its-significance-for-your-organisation-in-2024/): An opportunity to go deeper into website accessibilty with TED Speaker Clive Loseby. Digital Inclusivity is at the heart of everything he does! - [A stairway and a ramp are both perfectly fine!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-stairway-and-a-ramp-are-both-perfectly-fine/): A website accessibility audit is crucial to understanding what accessible alternatives you can provide, often for low cost. Call us today. - [Ensuring Accessibility: A Friendly Reminder on Alt Text Best Practices](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ensuring-accessibility-a-friendly-reminder-on-alt-text-best-practices/): Alt Text is a fundamental principle with website accessibilty, find out why. Contact us today if need an accessibilty audit of your website. - [An annoying start to the week turns into a Web Odyssey!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/an-annoying-start-to-the-week-turns-into-a-web-odyssey/): It is only through real experiences that you can truly uncover what accessibilty issues there may be, here is one unlikely example! - [Imitation: A Flattering Approach to Web Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/imitation-a-flattering-approach-to-web-accessibility/): We are leading the Web in digital inclusivity with our accessible web design techniques. Let us help you on your digital accessibily journey! - [Assisting the Scottish Parliament with Digital Accessibility](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/assisting-the-scottish-parliament-with-digital-accessibility/): We were proud to help the Scottish Parliament on its digital accessibility journey, through a website accessibility audit with our disabled testers. - [Logical Reading Order: Bridging Accessibility in Digital Documents](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/logical-reading-order-bridging-accessibility-in-digital-documents/): Creating an Accessible PDF and PDF Remediation are both difficult issues. We can remediate your documents and provide compliance certificates! - [Navigating the Challenges of Inconsistent Links](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unraveling-the-web-navigating-the-challenges-of-inconsistent-links-in-website-accessibility/): Introduction In the dynamic landscape of website accessibility, a recent audit conducted for an NHS Health Trust revealed a commendable standard overall. - [This is what an Accessibility Toolbar should be like](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/this-is-what-an-accessibility-toolbar-should-be-like/): Website Accessibility goes far beyong a simple set of rules, if you want to understand it properly, look at what we do ourselves. - [The Moment of Truth](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-moment-of-truth/): Accessible Web Design can be challenging but, by working with us, your websites will be far more accessible to so many more people! - [Allow me to pose a question](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/allow-me-to-pose-a-question/): With a website accessibilty audit, it is important to consider the credentials of the company you are enaging. We are proud of our track record! - [The European Accessibility Act](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-european-accessibility-act/): The European Accessibility Act is coming in 2025 and it will affect every website, inside and outside of the European Union. Find out why then call us. - [Which investment would you prefer for the same website accessibility audit?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/which-investment-would-you-prefer-for-the-same-website-accessibility-audit/): The accessibilty of your website is a vital one with legal ramifications. It is much cheaper to get your issues addressed prior to a lawsuit! - [An accessibility statement with a difference!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/an-accessibility-statement-with-a-difference/): With digital accessibility, it is often the small things that makes a big difference to your visitors. Here is a real-world example of just that! - [What occurs when you stumble at the initial obstacle?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/what-occurs-when-you-stumble-at-the-initial-obstacle/): Colleges and schools fall under Governemnt requirements for website accessibilty. Here is one such example of how we help! - [Are you solely interested in checking off boxes?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/are-you-solely-interested-in-checking-off-boxes/): What are you looking for in an accessibility audit? Even if you just want to tick some WCAG boxes, you would be surprised at how many more there are! - [Why would a small business need a website accessibility audit?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-would-a-small-business-need-a-website-accessibility-audit/): A website accessibility audit is a subject that people find difficult. We are here to help you on your jouurney in a clear and straightforward manner. - [Why is website accessibility important?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-is-website-accessibility-important/): The importance of website accessibilty cannot be understated. We will help you understand what is needed in a straightforward way. - [How do I know if my website needs to be accessible?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-do-i-know-if-my-website-needs-to-be-accessible/): The accessibility of your website is important for many reeasons, Contact us today if you need help with making yours more accessible. - [What does an Accessible Website actually mean?](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/what-does-an-accessible-website-actually-mean/): Understanding website accessibilty can be challenging. However, we break it down for you in easy to undersdtand langauge. Calll us today. - [A simple analogy](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-simple-analogy/): A website accessibility audit may often reveal inexpensive ways of making your website more accessible quickly. Call us today on 01243 776399. - [If you widen your doorway, everyone benefits!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/if-you-widen-your-doorway-everyone-benefits/): Digital inclusivity can be measured through a website accessibility audit. Having one with our team of disabled testers will be enlightening! - [Allow me to introduce my amazing Website Accessibility Audit Team!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/allow-me-to-introduce-my-amazing-website-accessibility-audit-team/): Having disabled people test your website is the only way to truly understand what the issues may be with your website. Let us help you! - [Website Accessibility Audit for Arun District Council](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-audit-for-a-district-council/): A large website with a lot of functionality! We have recently completed an audit for Arun District Council. Their website contained a large amount of - [Online Learning Platform Accessibility Audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/online-learning-platform-accessibility-audit/): Website accessibilty applies to web portals just as much as it does to standard websites and requires a specific skillset. Let us help you! - [Why the Tabbing Order is Important](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-the-tabbing-order-is-important/): Website accessibility is so important and it can be boiled down to some simple prinicples. Here is one that everyone can understand. - [3 things to consider when commissioning an accessibility audit of your website](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/3-things-to-consider-when-commissioning-an-accessibilty-audit-of-your-website/): We use Disabled People with every website accessibility audit we do. It is the best way to truly understand your digital accessibility. - [Accessibility Audit for a Travel Company](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-audit-for-a-travel-company/): Understanding what digital accessibily issues there may be with your website is a crucial first step on your digital accessibility journey. - [Accessibility Audit for a Help Portal](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/help-portal-accessibility-audit/): Not all Websites are visible to the public! Websites are usually public-facing and more straightforward to audit. If you can find a website and it does - [Website Accessibility Workshop](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-workshop-4th-august-2021-at-4pm/): A full day to deep dive into all aspects of website accessbiilty, led by CLive Loseby, a TED speaker and expert on the subject. - [Everything you need to know in one video!](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/everything-you-need-to-know-in-one-video/): A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough interviewed by the wonderful Jill Wilson from the Equality Practice. She had heard that Website Accessibility was - [The thing about film critics](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-thing-about-film-critics/): If you work in accessibile web design, you truly understand the challenges that designers face. This is why we are uniquely placed to help you. - [Website accessibility audit for a publicly-funded body](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-audit-for-a-publicly-funded-body/): If you work witihn the public sector, you need to comply with Government guidlines regarding the accessibilty of your website. We can help you. - [NHS Website Accessibility Audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/nhs-website-accessibility-audit/): We love working with our clients witihin the NHS, helping them with their website accessibilty through our live testing with disabled people! - [When is an audit not an audit](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/when-is-an-audit-not-an-audit/): Consider the credntials of your website accessibilty audit supplier carefully. Here are some simnple questions to ask that will be a massive help! - [Accessiblity Audit for a Parish Council](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessiblity-audit-for-a-parish-council/): If you are a Parish, District or County Council, your website will need to comply with Government Accessibility Guidelines. We can help you. - [Inclusion means different things to different people](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/inclusion-means-different-things-to-different-people/): Educating the world in website accessibilty is our mission and we make the most of every opportunity to talk about digital inclusivity! - [Terms of Website Use](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/terms-of-website-use/): These are the terms of use with our website dedicated to Website Accessibility Audits. We would be delighted to help you, call us today. - [Privacy Policy](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/privacy-policy/): This is privacy notice of 333 Media Services Ltd Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number: 16241789 Registered Address: St John's House, St - [Cookie Policy](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/cookie-policy/): Our Cookie Policy explains the cookies we use on our website. We do not have a Cookie Banner as they break website accessibility. - [Accessibility Information](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-information/): We, at Access by Audit, really care that our website is accessible to everyone, regardless of your ability or disability, your race, religion or gender. - [Acceptable Use Policy](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/acceptable-use-policy/): Read our policy explaining the terms under which we provide out content regarding website accessibility and digital accessibilty in general. - [Site Map](https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/site-map/): List of pages of a our access by audit website --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages ### Issues > A variety of challenges that can hinder the ability of individuals with disabilities to fully engage with content. - Published: 2024-08-05 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/ Accessibility Issues What kind of accessibility issues are there?   Digital accessibility encompasses a variety of challenges that can hinder the ability of individuals with disabilities to fully engage with online content. Understanding and addressing these issues is crucial for creating inclusive digital environments. Here’s a breakdown of some prevalent accessibility barriers and their implications. Understanding Color Contrast For individuals with visual impairments, distinguishing text against a background can be challenging if the colours are too similar. This scenario, known as a colour contrast issue, affects readability and can be identified using color contrast checkers. These tools evaluate coded elements like text and background colours but may not assess graphics or images. Surprisingly, about 83. 6% of top websites do not meet the standard for colour contrast. The Importance of Keyboard Navigation Many individuals with disabilities rely on keyboard navigation, bypassing the mouse due to visual impairments or physical limitations. A fundamental test for keyboard accessibility is the Tab Test, which assesses whether a site can be navigated using the tab key alone. Regrettably, a significant majority of websites fail to accommodate this essential navigation method. The Role of Alt Tags For users who are blind, understanding visual content like images, especially those containing text, is impossible without alternative text descriptions, or "Alt Tags. " These descriptions are vital for screen readers to convey the content of images, yet over a third of the top websites lack adequate alt tags for their images. Labelling Forms Correctly Forms are common on... --- ### WCAG > Priority A Website Accessibility Standards set the groundwork for web accessibility - Published: 2024-07-30 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/ Introduction to WCAG and Accessibility Standards At Access by Design, we help businesses create websites that not only meet basic accessibility requirements but also go beyond to offer an inclusive, user-friendly experience for all. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are an essential framework for ensuring websites are usable by people of all abilities, and we guide our clients in meeting the most up-to-date standards. This page explains the different conformance levels of WCAG, from Priority A to Priority AA and the advanced Priority AAA standards. Whether you’re just starting to make your website accessible or looking to achieve the highest level of compliance, we are here to help you navigate the process. Key Areas of WCAG and Accessibility Standards What is WCAG? Understand the evolution of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and how they’ve shaped the accessibility landscape. Learn about the latest version, WCAG 2. 2, and its implications for businesses and web developers. WCAG 2. 2 Priority A Standards Explore the Priority A guidelines that represent the basic requirements every website must meet to be accessible. Learn about essential checks such as adding alt text to images and ensuring navigation works without JavaScript. WCAG 2. 2 Priority AA Standards Dive deeper into the Priority AA standards, which are considered the benchmark for most websites. These standards address issues like text contrast, ensuring websites are usable for a wider range of users, including those with visual impairments. WCAG 2. 2 Priority AAA Standards Learn about the Priority AAA standards,... --- ### Audit > Introduction to Website Accessibility & Audits In today’s digital world, ensuring your website is accessible to everyone is not just about - Published: 2024-07-30 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/ Introduction to Website Accessibility & Audits In today’s digital world, ensuring your website is accessible to everyone is not just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for alal visitors. Website accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities who may rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or other devices to navigate online content. This parent page provides a comprehensive introduction to the various aspects of website accessibility audits, covering key concepts and metrics that you should consider to make your website fully accessible. Each section below links to detailed pages, which delve into the specific topics that will help you understand the full scope of web accessibility and how to improve your site’s usability for all users. Key Areas of Website Accessibility Audits What is a Website Accessibility Audit? Understand the process and importance of conducting a thorough accessibility audit. We’ll explain the steps involved and how the results can help guide improvements to make your website more inclusive. Priority 4 Website Accessibility Errors for Screen Readers Learn how common accessibility errors can affect users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers. We also cover the importance of basic functions like keyboard navigation and how these can be improved. Automated Website Accessibility Testing Automated tools can quickly identify some accessibility issues on your website. Here, we explain what automated tests can (and cannot) do, and why manual testing is crucial to uncovering deeper accessibility issues. Website Coding Errors That Affect Search Engines Accessibility issues often... --- ### Accessibility > Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies that can be used by everyone. - Published: 2024-07-30 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/ Digital Accessibility Let Us Be Your Partner in Achieving Digital Accessibility Excellence Based in the UK and recognised worldwide, we stand at the forefront of web and digital accessibility. Operating globally, we offer unparalleled expertise in making digital content universally accessible. Our mission is to assist organisations in breaking down barriers within their websites, mobile applications, and broader digital services to ensure inclusivity, usability, and compliance with the most current international accessibility standards and regulations. Our Expertise at Your Service Our team consists of highly specialised consultants with extensive experience in digital accessibility. We are dedicated to helping your organisation navigate the complex landscape of accessibility laws and guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other global accessibility standards. By staying abreast of the latest developments and leveraging our deep understanding of accessibility requirements, we ensure that your digital platforms are not only compliant but also provide an outstanding user experience for everyone. Collaborative Engagement for End-to-End Solutions Recognising that digital accessibility is a dynamic and ongoing process, we offer to collaborate closely with your in-house digital teams from the outset of your project through to its completion and beyond. Our approach is to integrate seamlessly with your existing workflows, providing targeted insights, strategic advice, and hands-on support to address accessibility challenges at every project stage. Whether you are in the concept phase, design, development, or looking to audit and retrofit existing digital assets for greater accessibility, our team is equipped to... --- ### Keyboard Navigation > At Access By Audit, we're dedicated to enhancing web accessibility by focusing on keyboard navigation, a crucial aspect for many users, including those - Published: 2024-04-10 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/keyboard-navigation/ At Access By Audit, we're dedicated to enhancing web accessibility by focusing on keyboard navigation, a crucial aspect for many users, including those with motor disabilities, visual impairments, and preferences for keyboard use over traditional mouse interactions. Our aim is to ensure that every website is navigable and enjoyable for everyone, promoting a universally accessible digital landscape. Understanding Keyboard Accessibility Keyboard accessibility is vital for users with motor disabilities who might have tremors affecting fine muscle control, limited or no use of their hands, or for those who rely on alternative keyboards or devices emulating keyboard functionality. Blind users and those who prefer or find it more efficient to use a keyboard also benefit from enhanced keyboard navigation. Making web content accessible via keyboard is not just about inclusivity; it's about creating a seamless user experience for everyone. Common Challenges in Keyboard Navigation Focus Indicators: Essential for sighted keyboard users, these indicators such as borders or highlights around interactive elements signal which component is currently selectable or active. A lack of clear focus indicators can hinder navigation and interaction for keyboard users. Navigation Order: The sequence in which elements gain focus through keyboard navigation must be logical and intuitive, usually following the visual layout from left to right and top to bottom. Misalignment between visual order and navigation order can confuse users and detract from the usability of the site. Inaccessible Custom Widgets: When native HTML elements don't suffice, custom widgets must be fully accessible, requiring careful use of tabindex... --- ### Colour Contrast > Empowering Digital Inclusivity with Every Hue At Access By Audit, we believe in creating a digital world that is accessible, inclusive, and vibrant for - Published: 2024-04-10 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/issues/colour-contrast/ Empowering Digital Inclusivity with Every Hue At Access By Audit, we believe in creating a digital world that is accessible, inclusive, and vibrant for everyone. Our mission is to harness the power of colour contrast to enhance website accessibility, ensuring that content is perceivable, operable, and understandable for users of all abilities. Why Colour Contrast Matters Colour contrast is the backbone of accessible web design, critical for users with visual impairments, colour blindness, and elderly users who may have decreased sensitivity to colour. High contrast between text and background colours ensures that information is legible and that interactive elements are easy to identify, fostering an environment where all users can navigate with ease and confidence. Tools and Services Contrast Checker: Online free contrast checker tool analyses your website's colour schemes to ensure they meet or exceed WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for colour contrast. Design Guidance: Receive expert advice on choosing colour combinations that are both aesthetically pleasing and compliant with accessibility standards. Expert Consultancy: From full website audits to redesigns, we offer bespoke services tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your digital presence is accessible to everyone. How We Make a Difference Education and Awareness: Through workshops and resources, we educate designers, developers, and business owners about the importance of accessible design and how to implement it. Community Engagement: Join our community of passionate advocates for digital inclusivity. Share insights, ask questions, and stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in accessible design. Innovation: We constantly explore... --- ### What is WCAG? > The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have served as this critical framework, evolving over the years to meet the changing needs of the web and - Published: 2024-04-09 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/web-content-accessibility-guidelines-wcag/ The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have served as this critical framework, evolving over the years to meet the changing needs of the web and its users. The Foundational Standards: WCAG 1. 0 Introduced in 1999, Version 1 of the Priority A Website Accessibility Standards set the groundwork for web accessibility. According to the W3C, these standards were non-negotiable; a web content developer had to satisfy these checkpoints. Failure to do so meant that certain groups would find it impossible to access information on the web. This version was clear: satisfying these basic requirements was essential for enabling some groups to use web documents effectively. It underscored the importance of making web content accessible to everyone, establishing a baseline for accessibility that would shape future guidelines. The Latest Milestone: WCAG 2. 2 Fast forward to October 2023, and the release of WCAG 2. 2 marked a significant update to these standards. WCAG 2. 2 expanded upon the foundational principles of its predecessors, setting forth conformance requirements that further address the needs of individuals with disabilities. In the words of the WCAG, the requirements of version 2. 2 are designed to eliminate web elements that render a site inaccessible. Websites failing to meet at least the WCAG 2. 2 A standard become impossible or exceedingly difficult for people with disabilities to navigate and use. This evolution from WCAG 1. 0 to WCAG 2. 2 illustrates a profound shift in the approach to web accessibility, reflecting both technological advancements and a deeper... --- ### About > We have been working in the field of website accessibility since 2006 when my company, Access by Design, built its first accessible website. - Published: 2024-03-06 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/   Introduction to Website Accessibility & Our Approach At Access by Design, we believe that accessibility is key to creating an inclusive and effective online presence. Our mission is to ensure that your website is accessible to everyone—whether they are using a screen reader, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies. Accessibility isn't just about compliance; it’s about making your website a welcoming and usable experience for all visitors. This parent page provides an overview of the various aspects of website accessibility and the services we offer. From understanding the basics of digital accessibility to learning about our detailed audit process, we aim to guide you through the journey of making your website accessible. Each section links to more detailed pages, where we go deeper into specific areas like manual testing, client case studies, and how we work with you to improve your site. Key Areas of Website Accessibility Audits Our Company: Our Vision for Accessible Design Learn about the philosophy behind our work and how we approach accessible web design. Our company is built on the belief that everyone benefits when accessibility is prioritised. Our Clients: Unique Solutions for Every Website No two websites are the same, and we treat each project as an individual case. Discover how we work with clients at different stages of their accessibility journey, tailoring our approach to meet their specific needs. Case Studies: Real-Life Accessibility Audits See our success stories in action. These case studies showcase the real-world impact of our accessibility audits and... --- ### Training > Achieving digital accessibility can be complex, requiring an in depth understanding of guidelines, technologies, and user needs. This is where specialised - Published: 2024-03-06 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/training/ Achieving digital accessibility can be complex, requiring an in depth understanding of guidelines, technologies, and user needs. This is where specialised training and consultancy services for digital accessibility can help. Training Web Developers and Designers: Web developers and designers play a crucial role in ensuring that websites are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Training tailored to their needs can provide them with the knowledge and skills required to integrate accessibility principles into their workflows seamlessly. We can cover a range of topics, including: Understanding accessibility standards and guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Implementing accessible design practices, including colour contrast, typography, and layout considerations. Utilising assistive technologies and understanding how users with disabilities interact with websites. Conducting accessibility audits and testing techniques to identify and address accessibility barriers. Integrating accessibility into the development process, from initial design concepts to final implementation and testing. By equipping web developers and designers with the necessary training, businesses can ensure that their digital properties are not only accessible but also inclusive and welcoming to all users. Assisting Business Owners: For business owners, navigating the landscape of digital accessibility can be daunting. Not only is there a legal obligation to ensure accessibility, but there are also significant benefits to be gained from reaching a wider audience and improving user experience for all visitors. Accessibility training and consultancy services for business owners offer: Guidance on understanding legal requirements and compliance standards related to digital accessibility. Strategies for incorporating accessibility considerations into business... --- ### User Testing > Manual checking of a website is absolutely essential if you want to ensure that all your accessibility issues are picked up. - Published: 2024-03-06 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/ Introduction to Manual Accessibility Testing & Our Team When it comes to ensuring your website is truly accessible, automated tools can only take you so far. While they provide useful insights, the real test comes from manual accessibility testing by individuals who use assistive technologies every day. This approach uncovers deep-rooted issues that automated tools often miss, giving you a clear picture of how your site performs for users with disabilities. In this section, we introduce the importance of manual accessibility testing, share how our team of disabled testers brings a unique perspective, and explain how we go a step further with real-life testing and live audits. Each child page below dives deeper into these aspects, showing you why we believe this is the best way to improve accessibility and create a more inclusive website for all users. Key Areas of Manual Accessibility Testing Manual Accessibility Testing: Why It Matters Understand why automated tests only cover a fraction of the potential issues on your site. Learn how manual testing can uncover flaws that automated tools miss, and why this is crucial for protecting your website from accessibility lawsuits. Our Testing Team Meet the experts behind our testing process. Our team of disabled testers brings a wealth of experience and insight, using the assistive technologies they rely on daily to thoroughly assess your site’s accessibility. Our Team in Action See our team in action through real-life audit examples. Witness firsthand the challenges faced by disabled users when interacting with websites, and... --- ### What is Digital Accessibility? > Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies that can be used by everyone, including those - Published: 2024-03-06 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/what-is-digital-accessibility/ Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies that can be used by everyone, including those with disabilities. Just as buildings install wheelchair ramps and offer Braille as an alternative to printed materials to ensure physical accessibility, the digital world also requires similar considerations. This encompasses websites, mobile applications, documents, and multimedia content. By adhering to accessibility standards and best practices, organisations can create inclusive digital experiences that cater to diverse user needs. Why is it important? In today's digital age, users have diverse access needs and requirements and accessing information and services online has become an integral part of daily life. Therefore, ensuring digital accessibility is crucial to accommodate all users effectively. However, for millions of people worldwide, navigating digital platforms can pose significant challenges due to disabilities or impairments. We are committed to ensuring that digital content and services are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their abilities. One of the key principles of digital accessibility is ensuring that content is perceivable. This means providing alternatives for non-text content, such as images and videos, so that individuals who are blind or have low vision can access information through screen readers or other assistive technologies. It also involves designing interfaces that are easy to navigate and understand, regardless of a user's sensory or cognitive abilities. Another crucial aspect of digital accessibility is ensuring operability. This involves making sure that users can interact with digital content and functionalities using various input methods, such as... --- ### TEDTalk > Define accessibility on the World Wide Web through a compelling, easy-to-understand, TEDTalk by Clive Loseby. - Published: 2024-02-15 - Modified: 2024-07-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/tedtalk/ What's a TED Talk? TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. TEDTalks are opportunities given to public speakers to present a great idea to the world. They take place either at the main TED annual event or at one of their satellite events. They are all 18 minutes or less in length and are filmed, with the videos later published afterwards on TED. com, provided they have still adhered to TED's strict criteria. TEDxTalks (pronounced TEDex Talks) are ones that takes place anywhere around the world, TEDx meaning local to a particular community, rather than at one of the main TED events. A great deal of thought and preparation goes into both the overall event and into each individual presentation, sometimes for as long as a year in advance. What is accessibility? Dale Howath had been planning a TEDx event in Newport, on the Isle of Wight for some time. The theme of the TEDx event was "If not now, when? " and Dale approached our very own Clive Loseby and asked if he would give a presentation at the event. He had been reading many of Clive's posts on LinkedIn about the subject closest to his heart: how to test website accessibility and how to help people understand what it actually meant to the live experience of disabled people/ It was a great honour for Clive to be invited and he spent many months in preparation for the talk. Clive has spent 15 years, travelling across the South of... --- ### Our Clients > We work with companies within the Public and Private Sector, helping them, wherever they may be on their Digital Accessibility journey. - Published: 2023-12-12 - Modified: 2025-01-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/our-clients/ Each website we encounter is built differently, even if they use the same platform and even if they use the same templates. This has a profound effect on its digital accessibility. This is because websites are a combination of code, design and content. You can have beautifully WCAG 2. 2 compliant code but it could be full of images that have been uploaded after the website was built and each one of them may have a missing Alt Tag. You could also tick that box but your content may contain spelling mistakes that confuse people using screen readers. Each one has their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses and this is why we never make any assumptions before we start working with a new client. Whether it is a website, an eCommerce site or a client portal, they will all have accessibility issues that will need to be addressed. We find that each client will be on a different stage of their digital accessibility journey and we love working alongside them, taking them forward and ensuring that they feel confident about their direction of travel. Here are some of the clients we have had the privilege of working with, on an accessibility audit. --- ### Accessible PDFs > What are PDFs? PDFs, or Portable Document Formats, is a file format that was developed by Adobe in 1992 that revolutionised the way we share documents to - Published: 2023-02-02 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/accessible-pdfs/ What are PDFs? PDFs, or Portable Document Formats, is a file format that was developed by Adobe in 1992 that revolutionised the way we share documents to be accessed by anyone, regardless of the technology used to access them. Designed to maintain the integrity of document layouts and facilitate easy sharing across different platforms, PDFs quickly became ubiquitous in digital communication. It is always better to use this format for documents, as they do not require the user to have any other software installed than a PDF reader, of which there are many freely available. It is possible to create a PDF from any document, either directly within your computer’s operating system or using free software to do the same. Their widespread adoption was further propelled when Adobe released the format for free in 1993, ensuring anyone could create or view a PDF with basic software. The Accessibility Challenge with PDFs Despite their convenience and versatility, PDFs present significant accessibility challenges, particularly for individuals who rely on assistive technologies. Screen readers, voice dictation systems, and other tools are invaluable for users with disabilities, enabling navigation and interaction with digital content without traditional input methods like a mouse. However, the structure of many PDF documents does not naturally accommodate these technologies. Key issues include: Navigational Difficulties: For users navigating with keyboard commands or voice input, PDFs often lack a logical tab order, making it difficult to follow the document's flow or access specific content efficiently. Inaccessible Content: Elements such as images,... --- ### Consultancy Service > Welcome to Your Pathway to Web Accessibility Excellence At Access By Audit, we specialise in guiding businesses and organisations through the complexities - Published: 2022-10-12 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/consultancy-service/ Welcome to Your Pathway to Web Accessibility Excellence At Access By Audit, we specialise in guiding businesses and organisations through the complexities of web accessibility, ensuring your digital content is inclusive and compliant with the latest standards. Whether you're in the planning stages of a new project or looking to enhance the accessibility of your existing website, our consultancy service is designed to provide you with expert advice tailored to your specific needs. Book Your Consultation Today Ready to take the next step towards making your website accessible to all users? Book a one-hour consultation with our seasoned web accessibility consultants. During this session, we will dive deep into your project, offering personalised, actionable advice to help you navigate the intricacies of web accessibility. Consultation Fee: £150 plus VAT Booking and Payment: To secure your consultation, please book your session using our online calendar below and complete your payment at the time of booking. Our fees are charged upfront and are non-refundable. We understand that plans can change, so if you need to reschedule your meeting, we offer the flexibility to do so without any penalties, provided you give us at least 24 hours' notice. Preparing for Your Consultation To make the most out of our time together, we kindly ask that you send any relevant background information regarding your project to clive@accessbydesign. uk after scheduling your appointment. Rest assured, any information shared with us will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, ensuring your peace of mind. Terms and Conditions... --- ### Public Sector Websites > Public sector websites should adhere to WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines. We will help you achieve this through our accessibility testing. - Published: 2022-10-11 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/public-sector-websites/ Public Sector Websites WCAG 2. 2 Compliance If you work within the public sector, you will be aware that the UK Government has guidelines on the level of accessibility that Public Sector websites should achieve. Adhering to governmental guidelines for website accessibility isn’t just recommended—it’s imperative. These standards ensure that all users, regardless of ability, have equitable access to digital resources. Two critical considerations emerge when aiming for this inclusivity: deciding the optimal timing for an accessibility audit and understanding the scope of such an audit. Optimal Timing for Website Accessibility Audits A recent survey we conducted sheds light on industry perspectives regarding the ideal stage for integrating accessibility considerations into website development. Querying professionals on when accessibility should be prioritised, the responses from 143 participants were enlightening: Design Stage: 97% Build Stage: 2% Testing Stage: 0% Post Launch: 1% Despite this overwhelming consensus favouring early integration of accessibility considerations, our experience tells a different story. Among the multitude of public sector websites we've audited, nearly all sought our expertise only on the brink of launching. In one notable instance, our pre-launch audit identified critical accessibility issues, resulting in a launch delay to address these concerns effectively. The site ultimately met the necessary standards, but this scenario underscores a prevalent oversight in the sector. Regrettably, most sites come to us with already drafted accessibility statements outlining known issues but lack the budget for remediation. While we offer alternative solutions for accessing information, these are merely stopgaps. Early involvement, as the... --- ### Our Team in Action > Many accessibility audits only use automated tools; we go much further. Our disabled accessibility testing team provides real-world insights. - Published: 2022-09-12 - Modified: 2024-07-04 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/our-team-in-action/ Most other website accessibility audit companies typically rely on automated assessments and perhaps some simulated experiences of disabled users. While these methods can provide some insight, they fall short of truly understanding the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. It's akin to assuming that spending 30 minutes in a wheelchair gives a full comprehension of what life is like for someone who relies on it permanently. We firmly believe that the only reliable way to gauge your website's accessibility is through testing by individuals with disabilities, recording their experiences, and presenting the findings. That's precisely what we offer. If you're interested in witnessing the expertise of our website accessibility team, we have a compilation to share with you. These examples, drawn from recent audits, highlight common issues that can significantly impede disabled individuals' online experiences. Sadly, these challenges are far from uncommon, despite accessibility guidelines being in place since 1999. We recognise that ignorance of these issues often leads to unintentional exclusion. But we're here to bridge that gap. Understanding why your website is inaccessible is the first step toward making meaningful improvements for all users. We're committed to assisting you at every stage of this process. By involving us early on, you can mitigate costs and ensure accessibility is built into your website from the start. We invite you to enjoy the video and look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you on creating a more inclusive online environment.   Call us now on +44 (0)1243 776399 or... --- ### Our Testing Team > Need a website accessibility test? Have one by disabled people and raise accessibility standards, UK and Worldwide! - Published: 2022-02-20 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/our-team-disabled-testers/ Raising Accessibility Standards, UK and Worldwide! Our exceptional team of digital accessibility specialists possess unparalleled skills in website auditing. Rather than viewing disability as a limitation, we see it as a unique strength. This perspective allows us to truly assess the accessibility of your website. A website accessibilty test by real disabled people! Our disability testing team are skilled users of assistive technology, proficient in navigating various websites. They assess the audited site based on their daily interactions, ensuring impartiality. Moreover, they frequently offer valuable recommendations to enhance digital accessibility beyond standard testing, greatly benefiting web design and development teams. We go a step further by conducting live audits and meticulously documenting our findings in structured videos for easy reference. This is where we truly shine. If you haven't witnessed how individuals with disabilities engage with websites, we urge you to do so. We believe that firsthand experience will highlight the significance of accessibility in web design. Embrace a different perspective on access to the digital world! Who are they? Mede Superpower: Blindness Weapons: JAWS + Keyboard Mede has been blind since she developed a degenerative eye condition as a child. She completed her Master's Degree in Marketing at Sussex University this year. She also uses the screen reader JAWS, in conjunction with a keyboard, to interact with websites. She is passionate about disability. Accessibility in Marketing is something she is able to give a unique perspective on. Iona Superpower: Cannot use hands Weapons: Voice and Dragon Dictation Software Iona... --- ### Browser Compatibility > Web browsers vary across devices, making browser compatibility crucial. Relying only on one browser risks accessibility issues for diverse users. - Published: 2021-06-14 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/browser-compatibility/ There are many different web browsers available, depending on whether you are using a PC, a MAC. a tablet, a mobile or a TV. There are usually several versions of each browser in circulation at any one time. Chrome is the most popular, which is unsurprising, given that it is developed by Google, but you cannot predict which browser a visitor may be using when they come to your website. The visitor may be staying at a hotel that only has an older version of Internet Explorer on the computer that it has available for guests to use. I am sure you can think of many other examples where you might be on an older computer when visiting a website. If you only check your website in Chrome, you are running the risk that visitors on other browsers may not be able to use your website fully, or, in the worst cases, not at all. We have always used Firefox as our browser for development, as we believe it is the only browser that has been consistently standards-compliant but we also check it in all of the other major browsers as well. We still check our websites in Internet Explorer 8, even though that is 10 year old. Browser-compatibility is also a website accessibility issue as you cannot predict which browser a visitor with accessibility needs might be using. Interestingly, almost every website we have audited passes this test either completely or with very minor issues. This is actually very... --- ### What is a Website Accessibility Audit? > An Accessibility Audit will discover why your website is hard for disabled people to use and help you improve it for everyone. Get in touch. - Published: 2021-06-11 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/what-is-website-accessibility-audit/ You have come to this page because either you want to have an accessibility audit for your website or you want to find out more about what is involved. We hope the information here will help you make an informed decision about what is right for you. What a website accessibility audit is An accessibility audit of your website should tell you everything (and I mean everything) that could prove to be an issue to someone with a specific accessibility requirement. This information can then be conveyed to the web design team and a plan can then be developed to agree on the order of priority that the issues will be resolved. If resolving an issue is not practicable due to cost or other reasons then that is of course allowable, as long as it is documented. A full audit of a website may run to many pages, often in excess of 100 and it will highlight many imperfections if it is done thoroughly. This can be seen as a good thing and ideally, this audit should be made available to any visitor to the website, if they request it. The need for complete transparency overrules any discomfort the website owner may feel in making this audit available. No one could be reasonably expected to fix all the errors or issues with a website's accessibility but if they are not aware of them, they are being denied the opportunity to at least make a start. What a website accessibility audit... --- ### Automated Website Accessibility Testing > At Access By Audit, we believe in a web accessible to everyone. Our mission is to ensure that your digital products and services are not just compliant - Published: 2021-06-11 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/automated-accessibility-testing/ At Access By Audit, we believe in a web accessible to everyone. Our mission is to ensure that your digital products and services are not just compliant with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2), but also truly welcoming and usable for all users, including those with disabilities. There are 7 main areas that a website can be automatically tested for. They are extremely useful because they can give an indication of the build quality of a website and set the expectations of both Google and an individual who may be undertaking a website accessibility audit. There are at least 7 different metrics available The metrics that can be tested automatically are: Website Accessibility Errors Priority A (known as WCAG A) Website Accessibility Errors Priority AA (known as WCAG AA) Website Accessibility Errors Priority AAA (known as WCAG AAA) Website Accessibility Errors for Screen Readers (known as Section 4) Website Coding Errors that affect Search Engines Website Coding Errors (known W3C Standards) Usability and Navigation Issues (that can be picked up automatically) There are further pages on this website that go into more detail with each of these metrics. This is only the starting point There are a variety of automated tools, both free and commercial, which can highlight some of the accessibility issues with your website. Unfortunately, there are many accessibility issues that cannot be picked up by any such automated process, which is why further work is always required. They can be seen as an extremely... --- ### Blog > Latest news about web accessibility, accessible website design and web accessibility audits. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/our-blog/ --- ### Our Company > Enhance your website accessibility! Our expertise since 2006 means strong design and inclusivity. We will help you meet each visitor's needs. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2025-02-17 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/our-company/ If one person benefits, everyone does! Website accessibility, although a complex subject, is of fundamental importance as it relates directly to the experience of all visitors to the website. The reason I say all visitors is that when thought is given to the accommodation of the needs of visitors with assistive needs, everyone else will also benefit. I will illustrate this with the following example: Boots the Chemist store in Chichester, West Sussex. The photo was taken from Google Street View in 2016 and is used in accordance with their policy. Offer an alternative it is easy! As can be seen in the photo, the Boots store is in an old building that fortunately has level access leading up to it. There are three sets of doors. The door on the left is an automatic sliding door, the two doors on the right are manual, heavy doors. If the wheelchair user in the photograph wished to go into Boots, they would naturally choose the automatic door, as would someone with a walking frame or someone pushing a baby in a pram. Another parent person may walk into Boots via another door and come out with large packs of nappies under each arm and need to use the automatic door to exit as they do not have their hands free. All three doors give equal access to the store but not all of them are accessible to every person. This is perfectly acceptable, as there is at least one accessible entrance.... --- ### Contact > To find out what is involved with an accessibility audit or any other aspect of digital accessibility, book a free initial chat today - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2025-03-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/contact-us/ Contact Access by Audit If you would like to find out more about us working with you on your digital accessibility, please book a website accessibility consultation using any of the methods below.  +44 1243776399 (24 hours) help@accessibilityaudit. co. uk St John's House St Johns Street Chichester West Sussex PO19 1UU   Access by Audit is a trading name of 333 Media Services Ltd Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number: 16241789 Registered Address: St John's House, St John's St, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1UU --- ### Case Studies > Helping Clients with their Online Accessibility! - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/about/case-studies/ At Access by Design, we take pride in the work we do to improve the accessibility of websites for all users. Each accessibility audit is an opportunity to understand a website’s unique challenges and to make meaningful improvements that benefit everyone—not just those with specific needs. In this section, we share real-life case studies from previous audits we have conducted. These examples highlight common accessibility challenges we’ve encountered and the solutions we implemented to improve site usability for people with disabilities. While each case is different, they all share a common goal: creating a more inclusive digital experience. From eCommerce sites to client portals, every website we encounter has its own set of strengths and areas for improvement. Our case studies illustrate how we’ve worked alongside our clients to tackle these challenges and make their websites accessible to all users, regardless of ability. Each case study not only details the issues we found but also demonstrates the actionable steps taken to resolve them. By sharing these stories, we hope to give you a deeper understanding of the real-world impact of accessibility audits and how they can transform the way users engage with your website. If you're curious about how we can help your site, book an accessibility audit consultation today to learn how we can support your journey toward a fully accessible and inclusive online presence. --- ### Accessibility Statement > Learn how to create a comprehensive accessibility statement that communicates your commitment to digital inclusivity. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-08-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility/accessibility-statement/ What is a Website Accessibility Statement? If you received public funding, it is a legal requirement under UK Government legislation. Although it is not currently a legal requirement for private companies, we would say it is just as necessary because all websites fall under the Equality Act and therefore both the owner of the business and the website designer who built the website would both be liable if the website is found to be in breach of the Equality Act. A website Accessibility Statement has two main functions. Firstly, it is there to inform visitors to your website how accessible your website is for people with different accessibility needs. Everyone recognises that we live in an imperfect world and a website Accessibility Statement tells visitors what those imperfections are and what you will be doing to resolve them. If there are issues that cannot be resolved, it is also an excellent opportunity to inform visitors of the alternative provision you have made. Legal Protection The second function is that it is your legal protection. If someone visits your website and cannot access information or buy your products or services because you cannot accommodate their accessibility requirement, you are open to litigation under the Equality Act. However, if that person is made aware of the limitations of your website from the outset and they still attempt to use it, in the knowledge that it may not accommodate their needs, they will not be in a position to sue because they were... --- ### Manual Accessibility Testing > Manual checking is vital for addressing all accessibility issues, ensuring legal protection and projecting an honest, approachable image. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-03-06 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/user-testing/manual-accessibility-testing/ You might only be 25% of the way there You will have probably read the amount of automated website accessibility checks that may be used and you may be feeling rather daunted by them. This is understandable, but please remember that these guidelines are there primarily to form the basis for your website Accessibility Statement. This explains to a visitor what shortcomings there may be in your website, so that they are always aware of them. Automated checks, no matter how sophisticated, will only go so far, maybe even no more than 25% of the potential issues. To fully understand the true accessibility of a website, thorough manual checking is required. It is only at this point where deep flaws may be revealed. We have reviewed websites that appear to pass many, if not all, of the automated checks and yet are completely inaccessible to someone with an accessibility need. This not only undermines all the efforts they have made into making their website compliant, it lays them wide open to litigation. Caught in a loop! To give an example, we reviewed a website that passed nearly all the automated metrics and, on the face of it, looked to be perfectly acceptable. There was, unfortunately, a cookie banner and this cookie banner was placed at the bottom of the screen and would be ignored by most people anyway. However, to a visitor using a screen reader, tabbing through the website took them immediately to the Cookie Banner before anything else.... --- ### Usability and Navigation Issues > Website accessibility ensure a superior experience for all. Manual checks uncover issues, prioritising best practice in our audits. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/usability-navigation-issues/ Usability and Navigation Issues The US Government is considerably more advanced than the UK Government when it comes to website usability and navigation issues. It has put together a comprehensive set of guidelines that, whilst not perfect, are extremely thorough and offer detailed guidance on creating the best possible website experience for everyone, regardless of ability or disability. More on this may be found on their website, which you can reach by following this link. We always include these Guidelines in our accessibility audits because we are concerned with achieving best practice. Typical examples Although there are many things that can only be checked manually, applying these guidelines often brings up additional issues automatically. An example might be that the page does not have certain attributes defined and this means that different elements of the page jump about the screen as the page is loading. This can be very difficult for someone reading the text or clicking on a link whilst it is loading. Not everyone has a fast internet connection and if you are connected to a public Wifi network, the page load speed can be very slow indeed! Another example might be that the text of a link may be so long that it goes onto the next line of the webpage. The difficulty with that is that it can be seen as two separate links, which can be confusing. The more of these guidelines that are met, the better the experience will be for everyone, regardless of... --- ### W3C Coding Errors > W3C Coding Standards. Another essential element of digital accessibility, which is why we include it in each accessibility audit we undertake. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/w3c-coding-errors/ Website Coding Errors (W3C Standards) HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is the language that web pages are finally published in, regardless of the code that is used to generate them. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was founded by, amongst other, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Internet, in 1994. By 1999, the first agreed set of coding standards was published by W3C. In layman's terms, these laid out the coding standards that, if adhered to, would lead to websites displaying correctly on more devices, screen sizes and browsers and with fewer errors. Almost like building regs for websites, if you like. Any web page could be tested against these standards and, the fewer the number of coding errors and coding warnings, the more robust the web page would be and the more confident you would be that the website would perform well for everyone, regardless of the browser used. W3C is chiefly concerned with Coding Standards and is separate from the WCAG Guidelines, which are only concerned with website accessibility. There were times at which the first releases of each would contradict each other, although we have seen a more harmonic relationship develop over recent years. WCAG 2. 0 was first published in 2008 and WCAG 2. 1 was published in 2018. This is the latest set of standards. WCAG 3. 0 is in development but is some years off. Although not directly concerned with Accessibility, Coding Standards are still an Accessibility issue, anything that could affect the... --- ### Search Engines > Coding errors impact search engines. Poor rankings affect accessibility; less visibility hurts everyone, especially those with needs. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/search-engines/ Website Coding Errors that affect Search Engines You may find this somewhat strange, why would we include Search Engines when assessing the accessibility of a website? Well, the answer is straightforward. If a website is not friendly to search engines, it will have poorer rankings and less people will be able to find it, including those with accessibility needs, so it is therefore very much an accessibility issue! Search engines are, in effect, blind and they have to rely on the automated processes to assess the build quality (or otherwise) of a website. If their criteria are not met, it is to everyone's disadvantage. Let us illustrate this with a simple example: Meta Tags for images. There will be the ability within most Website Content Management Systems (known as CMS) to add alternative text, a caption and a description to each image on a website. The alternative text is read out by screen readers, the image description is what the search engines display when people perform image searches, so you can see how both search engines and accessibility are intertwined. It is worth noting that, unlike many areas of website accessibility where extensive recoding may be required, adding meta tags like alternative text, captions and descriptions is straightforward to do and requires no programming skill, just some time to complete. The time you spend doing this will bring you long term benefits that you could never imagine. The other point to remember is that, as far as search engines are... --- ### Priority 4 > Priority 4 Screen Reader Issues: Closing your eyes mimics the challenges faced by users. The Tab Test reveals over 96% website failures; - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/priority-4-screen-readers/ Priority 4 Website Accessibility Errors for Screen Readers If you a sighted visitor to this website, I would ask you to closer your eyes for a minute. How are you going to navigate through this website? A mouse is of no use because you cannot see what to select. What are you going to do? This is the problem that many people have to face every day. They have to rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. A screen reader is software that attempts to "read" the contents of a website through the audio output of your computer, using a computer-generated voice. As a mouse cannot be used, visitors relying on assistive technology will use a keyboard, in conjunction with screen reading software such as JAWS, NVDA or Voice Over. The Tab Test Many visitors are extremely adept at using assistive technology to navigate a website and usually will use the cursor keys to navigate through a website. However, there are some visitors who will have extremely limited movement and may be restricted to just being able to use the Tab key to navigate and the Enter key to select. If you look at this website and start pressing the tab key, you should see each page on the menu highlighted in turn, along with child pages under the Audit page and the grandchildren under the Metric child page. Once you get past the menu, you should see each child page highlighted in turn as you continue to press... --- ### WCAG Priority AAA > WCAG 2.2 Priority AAA for advanced website accessibility. Offering true alternatives, especially in media content. for a more inclusive experience - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-aaa/ Website Accessibility Standards 2. 2 Priority AAA This set of building regs for websites, according to the WCAG, are the standards a website could achieve. As they put it, "A Web content developer *may* satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it somewhat difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will improve access to Web documents. " (https://www. w3. org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist). This is Version 1 of the Priority A Website Accessibility Standards and it dates back to 1999. Version 2. 2 of this Standard was released in October 2023 and is described by WCAG in the following way: "This conformance level is used in most accessibility rules and regulations around the world, including the ADA. To meet WCAG 2. 0 Level AA conformance, the website is usable and understandable for the majority of people with or without disabilities. " What does AAA aim to achieve? Priority AAA standards can, for the main, be seen as demonstrating a true willingness to provide alternatives, particularly with media content such as video. For example, if there is a video which has background music, there might be an option to turn the background music off or reduce it to a certain level. There should be, for example, a way for the visitor to choose a different set of foreground/background colours that was easier for them to read. Text itself should be formatted in a certain way to ensure clear readability. Justified text, for example, is more difficult to read... --- ### WCAG Priority AA > WCAG 2.2 Priority AA Standards. An essential part of digital accessibility. Our accessibility testing achieves compliance. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-aa/ Website Accessibility Standards 2. 2 Priority AA This set of building regs for websites, according to the WCAG, are the standards a website should achieve. As they put it, "A Web content developer "should" satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing Web documents. " (https://www. w3. org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist). This is Version 1 of the Priority A Website Accessibility Standards and it dates back to 1999. Version 2. 2 of this Standard was released in October 2023 and is described by WCAG in the following way: This conformance level is used in most accessibility rules and regulations around the world, including the ADA. To meet WCAG 2. 2 Level AA conformance, the website is usable and understandable for the majority of people with or without disabilities. Priority AA Standards include audio descriptions for video content, captions for live audio content, sign language for all pre-recorded media, orientation not being restricted to a single display, contrast of text and images, ability to resize text, text flowing freely without required scrollbars in both directions, multiple ways of locating a particular webpage and so on. AA does not sit on its own! Level AA includes all Level A and AA requirements. This is clearly stated by WCAG. If you have 3 standards (must include, should include, could include) it is clear that each one is an increasing level of complexity from the previous and it... --- ### WCAG Priority A > Priority A in WCAG 2.2 sets the minimum standards for websites, including Alt Text, functionality with blocked scripts, and video captions. - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/audit/wcag/wcag-priority-a/ WCAG 2. 2 Priority A Standards This set of building regs for websites, according to the WCAG, are the absolute minimum a website must achieve. As they put it, "A Web content developer must satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it impossible to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint is a basic requirement for some groups to be able to use Web documents. " (https://www. w3. org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist). This is Version 1 of the Priority A Website Accessibility Standards and it dates back to 1999. Version 2. 2 of this Standard was released in October 2023 and is described by WCAG in the following way: "These conformance requirements essentially prohibit elements that would make the website inaccessible. Websites that do not at least meet WCAG 2. 2 A are impossible or exceedingly difficult for people with disabilities to use". What sort of areas fall under Priority A? Priority A covers the basic stuff, putting Alt Text with images, allowing websites to still load and function even with external scripts (such as animations) blocked, captions with videos and so on. Sadly, according to AIM, 97. 4% of the Home Pages from the 1 million most popular websites in the world (https://webaim. org/projects/million/) fail to meet this basic level. This may be shocking to read but it is not surprising. This means that nearly every one of the world's top 1 million websites are open to litigation. That is a sobering thought and I fear that this... --- ### Home > Is your website accessible to everyone? We will help you achieve the highest accessibility standards through our live testing - Published: 2021-06-08 - Modified: 2025-05-08 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ Accessibility Audit What is an accessibility audit and why do you need one now? The European Accessibility Act becomes enforceable on 28 June 2025. The live countdown above shows how much time is left to meet the legal requirements. On that date, every company whose website or digital service can be accessed from within the European Union must comply with accessibility legislation, including a compliant Accessibility Statement and evidence of progress towards fixing known issues. If your company operates in the UK, your website is already subject to the Equality Act 2010. Between these two pieces of legislation, there is no escaping the legal requirement to make your digital estate accessible. If you have a website, it is over 95% certain that it will not be accessible for disabled people. This is because, this year, over 95% of top 1 million websites failed basic accessibility checks. Now is the time to act—before legal risk becomes reality.   The best way to find out what those accessibility issues may be and how they should be resolved is through having a team of experts in website accessibility test your website. They will provide you with a detailed report of where it does not meet the WCAG Guidelines and how they can be resolved. What about WCAG Accessibility? WCAG stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and it provides a framework to help web designers create websites and other forms of digital content that meet the accessibility requirements of disabled people. If you... --- --- --- ## Posts ### Just 29 Days Left: Is Your Website Ready? > There are now only 29 weekdays left before the European Accessibility Act takes effect. From 28 June, private companies that serve users in the EU must - Published: 2025-05-30 - Modified: 2025-05-30 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-29-days-left-is-your-website-ready/ - Categories: Blog There are now only 29 weekdays left before the European Accessibility Act takes effect. From 28 June, private companies that serve users in the EU must meet strict digital accessibility standards. This includes having a valid accessibility statement in place. We specialise in real accessibility audits, using a team of disabled testers who identify barriers that automated tools miss. Most websites take many months to fix. That is why so many organisations start with an audit and a proper statement. It protects them while they work towards WCAG compliance. Without this, your business is left exposed to serious risk. We work with many public and private sector companies to ensure their websites are fully accessible and legally compliant. Our accessibility audit identifies the issues, explains what needs to change, and gives you the tools to take action. Now is the time to act. --- ### Why We Only Build EAA Compliant Websites > When it comes to compliance, there is no halfway point. The European Accessibility Act is bringing strict legal requirements for websites accessed in the - Published: 2025-05-29 - Modified: 2025-05-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-we-only-build-eaa-compliant-websites/ - Categories: Blog When it comes to compliance, there is no halfway point. The European Accessibility Act is bringing strict legal requirements for websites accessed in the EU. This applies to online shops, travel providers, finance platforms, and many more industries, whether B2B or B2C. We do not cut corners. We only help you build websites that are fully compliant with the European Accessibility Act. This means: Every site will be manually tested by our team of disabled testers All accessibility issues are identified and resolved A compliant Accessibility Statement is created The final build meets WCAG 2. 2 AA As part of our process, we conduct a thorough accessibility audit to ensure nothing is missed. This forms the foundation for our accessible web design work, helping clients meet legal obligations and deliver inclusive digital experiences. Accessible web design is not just about compliance it is about inclusion, reputation, and doing the right thing. That is why organisations across public and private sectors trust us. If your current site is not compliant, we can help you make it right. If you are planning a new build, start with an accessibility audit and get it right from day one. Why not book yourself in for a video call to find out more about how we can help you. --- ### The Truth About Accessibility Overlays: What Every Business Needs to Know > Accessibility overlays promise a quick solution to website compliance. They claim to fix accessibility issues instantly, with no need to make changes to - Published: 2025-05-28 - Modified: 2025-05-28 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-truth-about-accessibility-overlays-what-every-business-needs-to-know/ - Categories: Blog Accessibility overlays promise a quick solution to website compliance. They claim to fix accessibility issues instantly, with no need to make changes to your website. These tools are marketed as effortless compliance. This promise is misleading. Overlay tools do not deliver real accessibility. They often hide issues rather than solve them. More importantly, they expose businesses to legal and financial risk. AccessiBe has been ordered to pay one million dollars in fines by the FTC. UserWay is facing a class action lawsuit for false claims. These are not small companies. These are leading vendors in the overlay space. If they are in trouble, what does that mean for you? Our new video breaks down what overlays are, why they fail, and what action your business should take before 28 June 2025. If your website is used by people in the EU, the European Accessibility Act applies to you. An accessibility audit is the first step to protect your organisation. Our audits are led by disabled testers and followed by a valid accessibility statement. These are the essentials, not optional extras. Watch the video and see the truth behind the marketing. Links mentioned in the video: Book a free accessibility consultation: https://calendly. com/cliveloseby/accessibility-audit-free-initial-consultation Independent factsheet on overlays: https://overlayfactsheet. com/en/ AccessiBe fined $1M by the FTC: https://accessbydesign. uk/ftc-orders-ai-accessibility-startup-accessibe-to-pay-1m-for-misleading-advertising/ Class action lawsuit against UserWay: https://accessbydesign. uk/userway-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-false-accessibility-and-ada-compliance-claims/ Our full accessibility audit service: https://accessibilityaudit. co. uk --- ### Hitting Record Again After 11 Months > It has been nearly twelve months since I last uploaded a video to YouTube. This was not due to lack of interest. When you are running a business under - Published: 2025-05-27 - Modified: 2025-05-27 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/hitting-record-again-after-11-months/ - Categories: Blog It has been nearly twelve months since I last uploaded a video to YouTube. This was not due to lack of interest. When you are running a business under pressure, some things have to pause. For the past year, I have focused on supporting organisations as they navigate one of the most significant regulatory changes in digital accessibility: the European Accessibility Act. Today, I am back on the channel with a new video. The European Accessibility Act will come into force on 28 June 2025. If your digital platform can be accessed by users in the EU and it does not meet accessibility standards, your business is within scope of this law. In my 18 years of auditing websites, this is the most serious development I have seen in terms of legal enforcement around accessibility. This new video outlines what is changing, who it impacts, and how organisations can start addressing their exposure. The video is simple. It is direct. It is me, speaking honestly about what needs to happen next. There is no script, no production crew. Just clarity. You can watch it now on our YouTube channel. You will also find it embedded below. If you find it helpful, I would be truly grateful for your support. While we have over 11,000 followers on LinkedIn, our YouTube channel currently has just 64 subscribers. Most of those joined after a single campaign last year. I deeply appreciate every one of them who took the time to like, comment, share... --- ### No, B2B Websites Are Not Exempt From the European Accessibility Act > There is a common misconception floating around, one I hear far too often. “We are a B2B company, so the European Accessibility Act does not apply to us.” - Published: 2025-05-26 - Modified: 2025-05-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/no-b2b-websites-are-not-exempt-from-the-european-accessibility-act/ - Categories: Blog There is a common misconception floating around, one I hear far too often. “We are a B2B company, so the European Accessibility Act does not apply to us. ” Let us clear this up once and for all. If your website is commercial and can be accessed by users in the EU, then yes, the EAA applies to you, regardless of whether you sell to businesses or consumers. What the Law Actually Says The EAA (Directive (EU) 2019/882) covers digital products and services that are “made available to consumers. ” The word “consumer” is not limited to individuals buying a new pair of trainers. It broadly includes any end-user of a service, including professionals and business users. If your site: Offers services or information online Promotes or sells to customers within the EU Is public-facing and not strictly internal then you are in scope. This includes e-commerce, transport, banking, tech platforms, and B2B logistics, SaaS, and data providers. Why B2B Is Not a Loophole The assumption that B2B sites are exempt is based on a narrow and outdated view of accessibility. In reality, the EAA is about ensuring that all users, including disabled people, can access the digital services they need to work, live, and participate fully in society. Disabled professionals use business websites. They attend conferences. They buy services. They make procurement decisions. Your B2B site must be accessible to them. What This Means for Your Business From 28 June 2025, if your commercial website is not accessible and... --- ### Ever had this response? > A Familiar Reply You reach out to a company about their accessibility issues and the risks posed by the European Accessibility Act. They thank you for the - Published: 2025-05-23 - Modified: 2025-05-22 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ever-had-this-response/ - Categories: Blog A Familiar Reply You reach out to a company about their accessibility issues and the risks posed by the European Accessibility Act. They thank you for the message. They pass it on internally. They say they will get back to you if they need anything. That sounds professional. Courteous. Efficient. It is also the reason many companies will be caught completely off guard. From 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act becomes enforceable. It applies to all digital products and services offered to customers in the EU. It does not matter where your company is based. If your website is not accessible, and you do not have a compliant Accessibility Statement in place, your business is exposed to fines from any EU member state that chooses to act. That is not just theory. It is law. We help companies take the first step to compliance. We begin with a full accessibility audit of your website, carried out by skilled auditors and disabled testers. We produce a compliant Accessibility Statement that protects you from the moment it is published. And we give you a clear, prioritised list of everything that needs fixing. It is not too late to act. But if you are waiting to hear back from someone first, it might already be too late. --- ### When Brand Reputation Matters More Than Money > You can talk about the financial risk of non-compliance. You can even point to legal penalties and regulatory crackdowns. But for many corporate - Published: 2025-05-22 - Modified: 2025-05-21 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/when-brand-reputation-matters-more-than-money/ - Categories: Blog You can talk about the financial risk of non-compliance. You can even point to legal penalties and regulatory crackdowns. But for many corporate organisations, there is something they value even more than money: Their brand. Some years ago, we were asked to build a standalone site for a major global company. The project came to us through one of our premium agency partners, and it involved building a site that followed the company branding guidelines exactly. Our developer followed those branding documents with great care. Or so we thought. One tiny visual detail had changed. Instead of a sharp corner on a panel, the design featured a soft curve. It turned out the curve had been taken from early drafts of a future rebrand. Branding that had not been officially released. The result? The UK Head of the organisation had to fly to the Corporate Headquarters in Europe to explain how this anomaly had occurred. Not a phone call. Not a video conference. A physical meeting across borders, because the brand had been seen in public before it was ready. And it was just a corner. Now Imagine What Happens When Your Brand Gets Fined If a premature curve can trigger that kind of escalation, imagine what happens when a website is found to be non-compliant under the European Accessibility Act. Imagine a journalist, a blogger, or a disabled user highlighting your site and tagging your brand. Imagine a regulator issuing a public fine that puts your organisation in the... --- ### Accessibility Is Not Just for GAAD. It Is for Every Day. > Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) came and went last Thursday, as it does each year on the third Thursday in May. Once again, we missed it. Here’s - Published: 2025-05-20 - Modified: 2025-05-20 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-is-not-just-for-gaad-it-is-for-every-day/ - Categories: Blog Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) came and went last Thursday, as it does each year on the third Thursday in May. Once again, we missed it. Here’s the thing: we don’t mind. Not because GAAD isn’t important — it absolutely is. It shines a vital spotlight on digital inclusion and encourages conversations that need to happen. However, for us, accessibility is not a single day in the calendar. It is our daily focus. Accessibility is in every accessibility audit we carry out. It is in the code we check, the screen reader testing we run, and the honest reports we deliver. It’s in the feedback sessions we hold with clients. It’s in the conversations we have with organisations that want to do better and sometimes those that aren’t sure how. A compliant website isn’t just a technical exercise. It’s a signal of integrity. It says: we see you. We welcome you. You belong here. The truth is, you can miss GAAD and still make a difference. You can skip the hashtags and still prioritise inclusive design. This is because accessibility isn’t a moment — it is a mindset. When you’ve carried out countless accessibility audits, as we do day in and day out, you know that it is not a checkbox or a deadline. It’s a process. A responsibility. A culture. As we approach 28 June 2025 and the enforcement of the European Accessibility Act, it is more important than ever to embed this thinking into every digital touchpoint. The... --- ### For Web Agencies: Your Clients' Risk Could Be Yours Too > The European Accessibility Act takes effect on 28 June 2025, just 44 days from today.It will apply to any business offering digital products or services - Published: 2025-05-15 - Modified: 2025-05-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/for-web-agencies-your-clients-risk-could-be-yours-too/ - Categories: Blog The European Accessibility Act takes effect on 28 June 2025, just 44 days from today. It will apply to any business offering digital products or services to customers in the EU. That includes your clients, and by extension, you. If a site you built or manage is not accessible, your agency could share legal responsibility. Especially if the client relies on you for compliance guidance, or if there is no valid Accessibility Statement in place. We work with agencies like yours to deliver independent accessibility audits. Our testers are disabled people who know exactly what barriers look like in the real world. We explain what needs to change and provide a legally compliant Accessibility Statement to reduce your clients' exposure, and yours. Talk to us today to make sure your agency is covered. --- ### Most Accessibility Statements Are Not Compliant. Here Is What We Found > We recently reviewed 110 websites to see how ready they were for the European Accessibility Act. We were not expecting perfection, but what we found was - Published: 2025-05-15 - Modified: 2025-05-14 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/most-accessibility-statements-are-not-compliant-here-is-what-we-found/ - Categories: Blog We recently reviewed 110 websites to see how ready they were for the European Accessibility Act. We were not expecting perfection, but what we found was far worse than expected. Out of 110 websites: 64 had no Accessibility Statement at all 26 had one, but it was non-compliant 6 were unclear. We could not even tell what they were trying to say Only 14 websites had statements that appeared to be compliant In other words, 91 percent of the websites we looked at are at risk. Either because their statement fails to meet basic legal requirements or because it is missing entirely. What This Means From 28 June 2025, any company providing digital services in the EU must comply with strict accessibility standards. That includes having an Accessibility Statement that meets legal requirements. Failing to do so could result in enforcement action and reputational damage that no business wants. Even if your business is based in the UK, if EU users can access your services, the regulations still apply. Ireland, for example, is a key territory many UK businesses overlook at their peril. Compliance Is Not Just a Checkbox We understand that accessibility can feel overwhelming, especially when it is not your area of expertise. But this is not something you can outsource to an automated checker or bury in your footer. A compliant Accessibility Statement: Must be easy to find Must clearly state the site current level of accessibility Must acknowledge known issues and explain how they are being... --- ### 45 Days Left: If Your Client’s Website Is Not Accessible, You Could Be Held Liable > The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025. Any organisation offering digital products or services in the EU must meet accessibility - Published: 2025-05-14 - Modified: 2025-05-12 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/45-days-left-if-your-clients-website-is-not-accessible-you-could-be-held-liable/ - Categories: Blog The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025. Any organisation offering digital products or services in the EU must meet accessibility standards — and that includes many of your clients. What most web agencies do not realise is that you can be held responsible too. If you built or maintain a website that fails to meet accessibility requirements, you may share legal liability with your client. That includes failing to provide a valid Accessibility Statement. This is no longer about best practice — it is about compliance and risk. We carry out detailed accessibility audits using disabled testers, supported by clear reports and compliant Accessibility Statements. We work directly with agencies to help you protect your clients — and your business. There are now just 45 days left to prepare. Talk to us today to find out how we can help you stay ahead. --- ### 46 Days To Go: How Ready Is Your Website For The European Accessibility Act? > The countdown continues — with just 46 days to go, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is fast approaching. From 28 June 2025, organisations providing - Published: 2025-05-13 - Modified: 2025-05-12 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/46-days-to-go-how-ready-is-your-website-for-the-european-accessibility-act/ - Categories: Blog The countdown continues — with just 46 days to go, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is fast approaching. From 28 June 2025, organisations providing digital services to EU users must meet strict accessibility requirements. This includes: Complying with WCAG 2. 1 or above Providing a clear, legally valid Accessibility Statement Demonstrating that you are identifying and addressing any issues If your website does not meet these requirements, you may be at risk of: Legal consequences Lost trust from partners and clients Reputational harm that can be hard to undo We specialise in accessibility audits that are conducted by disabled people, giving you real-world insight — not just what a machine detects. We help you understand what needs to change and supply a compliant Accessibility Statement to reduce your legal exposure. There is still time but not much. If your website serves any EU users, now is the time to act. Talk to us today to begin your compliance journey. --- ### 47 Days To Go: Is Your Website Compliant With The European Accessibility Act? > The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025 — and the countdown is on. If your organisation provides digital products or services to - Published: 2025-05-12 - Modified: 2025-05-12 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/47-days-to-go-is-your-website-compliant-with-the-european-accessibility-act/ - Categories: Blog The European Accessibility Act comes into force on 28 June 2025 — and the countdown is on. If your organisation provides digital products or services to customers in the EU, your website must meet accessibility requirements. This includes having a compliant Accessibility Statement. Without it, you may be at risk of: Legal challenges Lost contracts and funding Long-term damage to your reputation We specialise in accessibility audits that are led by disabled testers. That means no assumptions, no overreliance on automated tools, and no jargon. Just clear, actionable insight into where your website stands — and what needs to be done. As part of our service, we also create a custom Accessibility Statement that shows your business is aware of the issues and actively working to address them. This step alone can reduce your legal exposure. You still have time but not much. If your organisation has customers or stakeholders in the EU, now is the time to act. Contact us today and we’ll help you get started. --- ### Case Study: Working with Giant Digital on British Wireless for the Blind > Background When Giant Digital were commissioned to redevelop the website for British Wireless for the Blind (BW), they knew from the outset that - Published: 2025-05-07 - Modified: 2025-05-07 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/case-study-working-with-giant-digital-on-british-wireless-for-the-blind/ - Categories: Case Studies Background When Giant Digital were commissioned to redevelop the website for British Wireless for the Blind (BW), they knew from the outset that accessibility needed to be at the heart of the project. BW is a charity that provides radios and other audio devices to blind and partially sighted people, their website simply had to be inclusive. That is why Giant got in touch with us. They openly acknowledged that they did not have the internal expertise to deliver a website that would meet the needs of all users, especially those with disabilities. What they did have was a genuine willingness to learn and a commitment to getting it right. That made them an ideal client. Starting with the donation page Most of the time, I begin with an accessibility audit of an existing site. In this case, the new site was being built from scratch, but the donation page was being kept. So we started there. Our team audited the payment page, which included a third-party Stripe integration. It worked well for screen reader users in our team, Mede, Krista, and Lleona, but not for Iona, who has a hand disability and uses voice recognition software. A feature that allowed card details to be saved across websites actually prevented her from completing the transaction. These are the kinds of real-world issues you only find through lived experience and proper testing. Changes were made to improve this, and then we turned our attention to the rest of the website. Accessibility... --- ### The European Accessibility Act - you have only 65 days > What is the Act? The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes new rules regarding accessibility, comparable to the impact GDPR has had on Data - Published: 2025-04-24 - Modified: 2025-04-24 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-european-accessibility-act-you-have-only-65-days/ - Categories: Blog What is the Act? The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes new rules regarding accessibility, comparable to the impact GDPR has had on Data Protection, which imposed major fines for non-compliance. The European Accessibility Act has applied to the public sector within the EU since 2019 and requires that digital platforms, including websites and apps, are accessible for every user. A WCAG compliance audit will be critical to meeting these new standards. All private companies with EU presence must comply with the EAA when this law becomes enforceable on June 28th, 2025. Your business must ensure its accessible website and other digital platforms meet these requirements since the EAA applies to any company with a digital presence in Europe. Why does this matter to your business? The financial consequences of non-compliance can be severe. Many major corporations face GDPR fines that have established a strong precedent for similar penalties from the EAA: Google: €50 million WhatsApp: €225 million TikTok: €345 million Amazon: €746 million Meta: €1. 2 billion The EAA will start imposing penalties soon, and businesses should avoid becoming its initial targets. Failing to address accessibility now will lead to financial losses in multiple aspects. You will still need an accessibility audit in the future, but you can avoid costly penalties by starting compliance work before they enforce it. An accessibility statement can help mitigate legal risks by showing your commitment to addressing these issues. Who are we? At Access by Audit, we have been at the forefront of website... --- ### 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 - Published: 2025-04-23 - Modified: 2025-04-23 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/great-ormond-street-hospital/ - Categories: Case Studies 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... --- ### Boost Your ROI: Importance of Including Disabled Users in WCAG Audits > This is because, apart from being the right thing to do, making the website accessible is not only a legal requirement but also means that the website is - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/boost-your-roi-importance-of-including-disabled-users-in-wcag-audits/ - Categories: Blog This is because, apart from being the right thing to do, making the website accessible is not only a legal requirement but also means that the website is accessible to all users. This is because organizations that incorporate the insights from disabled users in their WCAG compliance audits are more likely to comprehend the various challenges that such users face. This approach, in addition to helping organizations comply with standards, also helps in creating a more accessible digital space with real user in mind. This feedback is important and can be used by businesses to identify barriers that they have not seen before and therefore create better solutions to them thus creating a more inclusive online space for the users and businesses. The Use of Real User Feedback for Accessibility Testing Real user feedback is critical when conducting accessibility testing to develop products that meet the needs of people with disabilities. Auditing with disabled participants provides valuable unique insights which reveal hidden barriers ensuring that the WCAG 2. 1 standards are met. Among the benefits of the approach is the fact that it conforms to web accessibility best practices and provides improved user experience that leads to enhanced customer loyalty and increased ROI, as well as extended market reach. The proposed approach is advantageous in that it enhances the web accessibility efforts and the search engine optimization strategy because it incorporates accessible and inclusive design principles. Thus, the integration of the feedback from users with disabilities helps to create a... --- ### Today I celebrate the return of plain text emails! > Why is this something to celebrate? I hope this will lead, one day, to the eventual elimination of HTML emails altogether. I am not a fan of HTML emails. - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/today-i-celebrate-the-return-of-plain-text-emails/ - Categories: Blog Why is this something to celebrate? I hope this will lead, one day, to the eventual elimination of HTML emails altogether. I am not a fan of HTML emails. These are emails that have styling applied to them, like simple web pages. They often have columns that are impossible to see on a mobile phone, coloured backgrounds, lots of red x’s where the images have been blocked, text in tiny fonts and so on. You end up having to zoom in with your mobile device, sometimes they have banner images that create a horizontal bar because they are so wide and, when you reply to it, all that messy styling gets included in the bottom, causing that dreaded horizontal bar to remain for as long as the email thread does! HTML emails generated by an online store I undertook an audit for a large ecommerce store last year. One of the aspects I looked at was the emails that were sent automatically to the customer. This would include when creating an account, signup up for special offers, placing an order and so on. Each one was a styled HTML email. It had lots of tiny images that were all blocked, the disclaimer text that was so small it was completely unreadable and it just looked messy. It was also completely inaccessible, as HTML emails usually are. However, when I received an email from one of the customer support team, it was a different story. A clean email with a logo... --- ### Userway faces class action lawsuit over alleged false accessibility and ADA compliance claims > Lawsuit over accessibility widget This article originally appeared on TechStart-ups on 23/12/2024. Userway is facing a class action lawsuit filed by - Published: 2025-01-30 - Modified: 2025-01-27 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/userway-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-false-accessibility-and-ada-compliance-claims/ - Categories: Blog Lawsuit over accessibility widget This article originally appeared on TechStart-ups on 23/12/2024. Userway is facing a class action lawsuit filed by Bloomsybox. com, LLC, accusing the company of making misleading claims about its accessibility widget. The lawsuit, filed at Delaware District Court, alleges that Userway promoted its product as a simple, foolproof solution for achieving ADA compliance but failed to deliver on its promises, leaving businesses vulnerable to legal action. According to the court documents, Userway promoted its widget as an easy fix for making websites ADA-compliant and aligning with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Businesses were assured that a single line of code would not only ensure compliance but also shield them from lawsuits, with the added promise of legal support if disputes arose. The lawsuit claims these assurances were exaggerated. Bloomsybox alleges that the widget didn’t ensure compliance and, in some cases, made websites harder to use for people with disabilities. Rather than reducing legal risks, businesses using the widget were reportedly more likely to face lawsuits. “Plaintiff brings this action seeking damages caused by Userway’s misleading and false representations in its advertising, its direct marketing, its standard form correspondences with customers, and in its standard form contract regarding its “overlay” products that purport to adjust any website’s underlying code to ensure that the website meets all legal and regulatory standards needed to comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Plaintiff further seeks injunctive relief that would require Userway to discontinue its deceptive practices,”... --- ### FTC orders AI accessibility startup accessiBe to pay $1M for misleading advertising > Reposting this article from the TechCrunch website:  The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has fined accessiBe, a startup that claims to make websites - Published: 2025-01-27 - Modified: 2025-01-27 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ftc-orders-ai-accessibility-startup-accessibe-to-pay-1m-for-misleading-advertising/ - Categories: Blog Reposting this article from the TechCrunch website: The U. S. Federal Trade Commission has fined accessiBe, a startup that claims to make websites more compatible with the screen readers blind people rely on to access the internet, for false advertising and compensating reviewers without disclosing that it sponsored the reviews. In a proposed order, the FTC would require accessiBe to pay $1 million that may be used to refund the company’s customers, and prohibit accessiBe from overstating the capabilities of its tools. The order would also mandate that accessiBe “clearly and conspicuously” highlight connections to endorsers of its services. “Companies looking for help making their websites compliant must be able to trust that products do what they are advertised to do,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection, said in a statement. “Overstating a product’s ... capabilities without adequate evidence is deceptive, and the FTC will act to stop it. ” New York-based accessiBe sells an AI-powered plug-in that it says can make any website compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of technical criteria used to assess website accessibility. The company pitches its services as a shield against lawsuits for noncompliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Dekel Skoop, Gal Vizel, and Shir Ekerling, accessiBe has managed to raise $58. 5 million in venture capital from investors, including Los Angeles-based private equity firm K1. At... --- ### Here’s a novel experience, an invisible Accessibility Statement! > Should you have an accessibility statement? One of the first things I check when I am working on a website audit is the existing accessibility statement, - Published: 2024-11-28 - Modified: 2024-11-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/heres-a-novel-experience-an-invisible-accessibility-statement/ - Categories: Blog Should you have an accessibility statement? One of the first things I check when I am working on a website audit is the existing accessibility statement, if there is one. If your organisation is within the public sector, you are required by law to have an accessibility statement on your website. It must comply with Government legislation, meaning it should be structured in a certain way. If your organisation is within the private or charity sectors, you are not currently required to have an accessibility statement, however, by not having one, you are more vulnerable to legal action under the Equality Act, if your website is inaccessible for disabled people. Given that 95% of the top 1 million websites tested this year fail basic accessibility checks, it is highly likely that your website will not be accessible and, by having not a statement at all, it suggests that you have no interest in making your website accessible for disabled people or that you simply have not thought of them. Ironically, this contradicts your statement on diversity, equity and inclusion, which may well be present! What types of accessibility statements are there? Anyway, the accessibility statements that I do come across, used to fall into one of 3 categories. They have already had an accessibility audit of their website and the statement is an honest reflection of the shortcomings of the website and when those shortcomings will be resolved They have not had an audit of their website, they do not... --- ### Oh you mean ten ENGLISH pounds??? > Testing a donation page during an accessibility audit Iona and I had fun recently on the Donation Page of a Charity that we were testing. We had a choice - Published: 2024-11-25 - Modified: 2024-11-25 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/oh-you-mean-ten-english-pounds/ - Categories: Blog Testing a donation page during an accessibility audit Iona and I had fun recently on the Donation Page of a Charity that we were testing. We had a choice of options: £5, £10, £50, Other. The web page was clear and easy to understand. Iona wanted to see if she could donate £10. Iona uses voice recognition software because of her hand disability. She tried the following: “Click Ten Pounds” Nothing happened. “Click Link” (hoping they would all have handy little numbers appear by them so she could then choose the correct option) Nothing happened. “Click Button” (again hoping they would all have handy little numbers appear by them so she could then choose the correct option) Nothing happened. She tried these a few times, just in case the problem was the voice recognition software. No joy. Fall back to Tab She then resorted to the Tab fallback, which usually works. This is where Iona repeatedly says the word Tab. You may then see each element outlined as she works her way through them from the top of the page. As you can imagine, this is never ideal. It becomes tiring very quickly and she can only speak at a rate that that voice recognition software can run at. If you have not seen her videos before, say the word Tab out loud followed by two and three in your head ie Tab (two three) Tab (two three) Tab (two three) You get the idea, it is rather slow! What... --- ### Clive is a keynote speaker at brightonSEO 2025! > Clive is delighted to announce that they will be a Keynote Speaker at brightonSEO next April! Passionate about improving digital accessibility, Clive - Published: 2024-11-22 - Modified: 2024-11-22 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/clive-is-a-keynote-speaker-at-brightonseo-2025/ - Categories: Blog Clive is delighted to announce that they will be a Keynote Speaker at brightonSEO next April! Passionate about improving digital accessibility, Clive loves collaborating with agencies to help them create more inclusive digital experiences. In this keynote, they will share practical examples of best practices and explore how established marketing techniques (even those infamous overlays! ) can be adapted to prioritise accessibility. It’s an exciting opportunity to inspire change and champion accessibility in the digital marketing world! Changing the World, one Website at a Time. --- ### Accessibility overlays don't work! > What is an accessibility overlay? This is one of the most confusing aspects of website accessibility. It is also one of the most important, as this can - Published: 2024-11-21 - Modified: 2024-11-21 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-overlays-dont-work/ - Categories: Blog What is an accessibility overlay? This is one of the most confusing aspects of website accessibility. It is also one of the most important, as this can have a detrimental effect on the accessibility of your website. It can also be extremely beneficial, which is where the confusion sets in! Let us begin by defining what an accessibility overlay is. To do that, we first need to understand what an overlay is. What is an overlay? An overlay is an element on a webpage that allows for additional content to be displayed without affecting the existing design. For example, on the bottom right-hand corner of many websites, you will see a Chat Widget, which usually consists of a speech bubble next to the words “Chat with us”. If you open that, you will see a form appear asking you for a few basic details like your name, email address and what your enquiry is about. Once that has been filled in and you hit the “Start Chatting” button, you will be able to chat with the business in real-time. This Live Chat will carry on for as long as necessary, without affecting the page behind it. This is an overlay. If it is closed off, you can see the rest of the web page behind it. Are there other overlays? Another example of an overlay commonly used is a shopping basket with eCommerce websites. Selecting the shopping basket icon will open it up but it may only cover part of... --- ### Do you know if your SAAS Platform is accessible? > Is Your SaaS Platform WCAG 2.2 Compliant? Or, to put it simply—can disabled people effectively use your digital products? I’ve been receiving a growing - Published: 2024-11-19 - Modified: 2024-11-19 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/do-you-know-if-your-saas-platform-is-accessible/ - Categories: Blog Is Your SaaS Platform WCAG 2. 2 Compliant? Or, to put it simply—can disabled people effectively use your digital products? I’ve been receiving a growing number of enquiries from SaaS vendors regarding this very question. Often, these enquiries are sparked by a prospective client asking them about the accessibility of their platform. The vendors' honest responses are often along the lines of: *“Er, we’re not sure, but we’ll get back to you. ”* This uncertainty is precisely why they reach out to me and my team for support. Ideally, these vendors would already know the answer and be able to confidently respond. A swift and affirmative response avoids delays in the decision-making process. In competitive scenarios, if Vendor A can say “Yes, we are fully compliant,” while Vendors B and C cannot, Vendor A is far more likely to win the business. That said, we understand the world isn’t perfect. Accessibility compliance may not always be at the forefront of every business’s priorities. However, in today’s demand-driven market, it’s not just about ticking a legislative box—it’s about meeting the needs of your prospective clients. The demand for accessible digital products is real, and it’s growing rapidly. Forward-thinking SaaS vendors who prioritise accessibility are not only doing the right thing ethically but also gaining a significant competitive edge. So, here’s a suggestion: the next time you’re considering a SaaS product for your organisation, ask this important question about accessibility. By doing so, you’re not only contributing to a more inclusive digital... --- ### Just Pay, Mede! > If you are blind, using Websites can be tricky at the best of times, especially when it comes to making online payments. Mede is blind and uses a screen - Published: 2024-07-16 - Modified: 2024-07-19 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-pay-mede/ - Categories: Blog, YouTube If you are blind, using Websites can be tricky at the best of times, especially when it comes to making online payments. Mede is blind and uses a screen reader. Her challenge today is to make a card payment at the final stage of a long application form that actually ran to 10 pages long! How do you think she got on? https://youtu. be/0EX_fQFVlCU Transcript: Hello Making payments on websites can sometimes be difficult If you are disabled, it can be very difficult, if not impossible In this video, I'm going to show you why This is Mede She has a master's degree in Communication and Media Studies When she was nine, she developed a degenerative eye condition It ultimately left her blind, and she uses a screen reader to browse websites She is part of my website accessibility testing team Her challenge today is to make a card payment Let's see how she got on By the way, you will also a voice of JAWS Her screen reader JAWS is telling her what is on the page and how she can interact with it However, what JAWS thinks is on a web page is not always the same as what is showing on the web page As we are about to find out, what happened? That's opened the help page I thought if said choose your payment method Yeah, it's actually opened the payment page help Oh my God I can't go back Why can't I go back? Mede... --- ### Just Start Iona! > In this video, Iona is testing an online portal. To begin the process, she needs to press a big start button in the centre of the screen! This would not - Published: 2024-07-11 - Modified: 2024-07-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/just-start-iona/ - Categories: Blog, YouTube In this video, Iona is testing an online portal. To begin the process, she needs to press a big start button in the centre of the screen! This would not normally seem to be a big challenge, however in this case, you will get to see the many strategies Iona employs in just trying to press it. "Hello. This is a start button And this is Iona. " "Her task today is to test an online training program. " The start button is "used to start the program, and we're about to see how she gets on. " "Before we do, let me tell you a bit about Iona. " She is a photographer. "She has photographed many famous rock bands. " "Her work has appeared in magazines like Kerrang! " And Metal Hammer. She also speaks languages. "A few years ago, she suffered a brain injury. " "It left her with very limited use of her hands. " What was her response? "She decided to take a degree in physiotherapy" "and she currently works at the Chartered Institute of Physiotherapy. " "She's also part of my team and helps me test websites for accessibility. " "So today's challenge is about starting this online training course. " There's a big stop button in the middle. "All Iona has to do is click that start button. " Let's see how she gets on. Click start. Nothing's happening. Click start. Still nothing's happening. "It looks like a button and it has the... --- ### Helping ACRO with their Online Accessibility! > What does ACRO (The Criminal Records Office) do? ACRO perform many important functions for the public, dealing with Subject Access Requests, Applications - Published: 2024-07-08 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/helping-acro-raise-their-online-accessibility-standard/ - Categories: Blog, Case Studies What does ACRO (The Criminal Records Office) do? ACRO perform many important functions for the public, dealing with Subject Access Requests, Applications for Police Certificates and International Child Protection Certificates, as well as Record Deletion requests. All these required interactive forms, with the ability to upload images and documentation to support each application. We have been working with ACRO for the last two years, helping them raise the standard of their online accessibility. This Case Study is an excellent example of how high accessibility standards can be achieved, regardless of the constraints that may exist. Our initial findings The original ACRO website was several years old and had basic functionality. A new website had been developed with integrated online forms and we were invited to audit the website, prior to launch, in 2022. The design of the website itself was contemporary. Unfortunately, it also contained a substantial number of errors which meant that navigation within the website was difficult. Some of the applications ran to 10 pages, ending in a payment page. There was no facility to save progress and return at another time. There was also a fixed time limit of 60 minutes to complete any of the forms. This meant that the forms had to be completed within a single session and were simply not possible for my Team do achieve without significant assistance from me. The errors we initially uncovered included my Team members not being able to upload documents or photos themselves, as well as many... --- ### Krista's Wish List! > Here's a video highlighting the difficulty Krista has just trying to close off a box! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcUKPM-Q0w Video Transcript Hello. - Published: 2024-07-04 - Modified: 2024-07-04 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/kristas-wish-list/ - Categories: Blog, YouTube Here's a video highlighting the difficulty Krista has just trying to close off a box! https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=gzcUKPM-Q0w Video Transcript Hello. This is Krista. She is a ghost writer and a blogger. "She has a degree in communication arts and psychology. " She loves to ski, and she is blind. And never. "She uses a screen reader to browse websites," "and she helps me test websites for accessibility. " Her challenge today is a simple one. She's been testing a library website. "It allows you to add books to your book list and take them off. " Krista had been able to do this. "All she then had to do to complete the task. " Is close off the book list altogether. "As you can see, there is a nice little button marked x. " Hit that and it goes away. Easy. Let's see how she got on. I'm trying to figure out how to close it. Yeah, you've actually back on it now. "So the text that you just highlighted I think was probably unlabelled that. " "This one, it says void left parentheses, zero. " right parentheses. "The close button is labelled as void bracket zero bracket. " There's no way to know. This is the close button. "If you can't see the screen. that's the close button. " Void zero. I wonder what that means though. A simple label would fix this anyway. Now Krista has found the close button. Is she able to close it?... --- ### Enhancing Wicked with Accessibility Services! > I had the pleasure of watching Wicked The Musical last night at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. Having seen it before in the West End, this time the - Published: 2024-06-14 - Modified: 2024-06-13 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/enhancing-wicked-with-accessibility-services/ - Categories: Blog I had the pleasure of watching Wicked The Musical last night at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. Having seen it before in the West End, this time the experience was even more enjoyable! Why, you ask? Captions were provided on each side of the stage! I have some hearing loss, mostly due to my misspent youth playing in a rock band and attending too many gigs without ear protection. While it is not severe enough to need a hearing aid, I often struggle to catch all the lyrics, especially when the entire ensemble is singing and some of the words are made up. The captions at the side of the stage (which also offered excellent audio descriptions between the spoken lines) were a revelation for me. They allowed me to fully grasp every word, something I missed during my first viewing. There were signs around the theatre asking for feedback about the captions, and I made sure to let them know how fantastic these accessibility services were! As far as I know, every performance during the run is captioned. I did not find the captions intrusive; in fact, they enhanced my enjoyment of the performance. Anyone else with hearing loss would have benefitted just as much. When you make your offerings more accessible, everyone gains! Accessibility services come in many forms, so a big thumbs up to the Mayflower Theatre for their efforts! Caption: the interior of a grand theatre, focusing on the stage where a musical is in full... --- ### A colour check is just as important in the real world! > An elderly parent and his credit card My elderly father has been hospitalised for some time but will be coming home on Monday. This news brings immense - Published: 2024-05-31 - Modified: 2024-11-13 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-colour-check-is-just-as-important-in-the-real-world-as-it-is-on-a-website/ - Categories: Blog An elderly parent and his credit card My elderly father has been hospitalised for some time but will be coming home on Monday. This news brings immense relief and joy to our family. However, in preparation for his return, we have encountered some unexpected challenges that highlight a critical issue: accessibility in design. Just the other day, we were trying to top up his mobile phone. It seemed like a simple task—call the mobile phone company, provide the necessary details, and voila! But, as life would have it, things are rarely that straightforward. My father wanted to use his credit card for the transaction. As I was on the phone with the customer service representative, ready to read out his card details, I hit an unexpected roadblock. The credit card numbers were printed in a colour that was exactly the same as the background. Imagine trying to read something that is virtually invisible. It was a nightmare, especially since I did not have my assistive technology (glasses) with me. Squinting and straining my eyes, I tried to make out the numbers, but it was almost impossible. Our accessible alternative? His other card! After several frustrating minutes, we eventually sorted it out by using his other card, which thankfully had a strong, contrasting background that made the numbers easy to read. While this solved our immediate problem, it made me realise, once again, how vital it is to consider accessibility in any form of design. This was not just a minor... --- ### Celebrating 25 Years of WCAG Accessibility > What is WCAG Accessibility? Twenty-five years ago, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0. - Published: 2024-05-23 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/celebrating-25-years-of-wcag-accessibility-a-reflection/ - Categories: Blog What is WCAG Accessibility? Twenty-five years ago, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1. 0. These guidelines were established with the clear intention of helping web designers create more accessible websites. To quote directly from their abstract: “The primary goal of these guidelines is to promote accessibility. However, following them will also make Web content more available to all users, whatever user agent they are using (e. g. , desktop browser, voice browser, mobile phone, automobile-based personal computer, etc. ) or constraints they may be operating under (e. g. , noisy surroundings, under- or over-illuminated rooms, in a hands-free environment, etc. ). Following these guidelines will also help people find information on the Web more quickly. These guidelines do not discourage content developers from using images, video, etc. , but rather explain how to make multimedia content more accessible to a wide audience. ” This statement encapsulates the essence of WCAG 1. 0 perfectly: how to make your website more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Where are we now? Despite this, a quarter of a century later, a staggering 95. 9% of the top 1 million websites still fail to meet basic accessibility standards. This raises a critical question: why? It is not that web designers and developers do not care about accessibility. On the contrary, many are passionate about creating inclusive digital experiences. However, there are myriad reasons why accessibility remains an elusive goal for so many. The fast-paced evolution of web... --- ### Unveiling WCAG 2.2: A New Chapter in Web Accessibility > The digital world is ever-evolving, and with it, the standards that ensure it remains accessible to all. The release of the Web Content Accessibility - Published: 2024-04-30 - Modified: 2024-05-22 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unveiling-wcag-2-2-a-new-chapter-in-web-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog The digital world is ever-evolving, and with it, the standards that ensure it remains accessible to all. The release of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. 2 on October 5, 2023, marked a significant milestone in the journey towards a more inclusive online space. Spearheaded by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG 2. 2 embodies the latest efforts to make web content universally accessible, particularly benefitting individuals with disabilities. This blog post delves into the details of WCAG 2. 2, its impact, and guidance on adherence to its standards. The Heart of WCAG 2. 2: Enhancing Accessibility WCAG 2. 2 builds on its predecessors, refining the blueprint for creating web content that's accessible to a wider audience, including those with cognitive, learning, or mobility disabilities, and users with low vision. The upgrade introduces six new success criteria at Levels A and AA (with an additional three at Level AAA), each designed to navigate the complex landscape of web accessibility. Noteworthy Changes in WCAG 2. 2 Focus Not Obscured: This criterion ensures that interactive elements, like buttons or links, remain visible during keyboard navigation, enhancing accessibility for sighted users who depend on keyboard shortcuts. Dragging Movements: Recognising the challenges faced by individuals with motor disabilities, this update eliminates the necessity for dragging actions, thereby accommodating users who find such movements difficult. Target Size: This change addresses the need for larger interactive elements, making it easier for users with motor skill challenges to navigate web content without the risk of... --- ### Navigating the Internet: Overcoming the Accessibility Challenge of Keyboard Navigation > A Website Accessibility Audit will show you where disabled people will find challenges if they cannot use a mouse. Often it is simple to fix! - Published: 2024-02-15 - Modified: 2024-05-22 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-accessibility-challenge-of-keyboard-navigation/ - Categories: Blog In today's digital age, it's not just morally right but legally mandated to ensure website accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities. Yet, many websites still fall short in providing essential accessibility features, such as keyboard navigation, creating unintentional barriers to inclusivity in web design. Understanding Accessibility Audits, Website Accessibility Testing, and the Requirements for Website Accessibility WCAG Compliance sheds light on why neglecting keyboard navigation is such a prevalent issue and its profound impact on web accessibility. Disregarding the Needs of Users with Disabilities A lack of awareness or consideration for users with disabilities often leads to websites neglecting keyboard navigation. Those who cannot use a mouse due to physical impairments rely heavily on keyboard navigation to access content. Designing websites without considering these users creates unintended barriers, contradicting the fundamental goals of web design. Misinterpreting Web Accessibility Requirements Misunderstandings among web designers and developers regarding web accessibility requirements contribute to the problem. Despite clear guidelines emphasising the importance of keyboard navigability in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), these guidelines are frequently disregarded. Consequently, visually appealing websites may fail to accommodate users who rely on keyboard navigation, reflecting a gap in the industry's understanding and implementation of accessibility standards. Challenges in Implementing Keyboard Navigation Implementing effective keyboard navigation can be technically challenging for websites with dynamic content and complex structures. It necessitates meticulous design and development practices to ensure all interactive elements are accessible and usable via keyboard. Without prioritising accessibility, these complexities often result in incomplete... --- ### Unveiling the Secrets of Website Accessibility Auditing: Behind the Scenes > Website accessibility audits serve as essential tools in achieving this goal, offering insights into how well a site adheres to established accessibility standards. - Published: 2024-02-14 - Modified: 2024-05-16 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unveiling-the-secrets-of-website-accessibility-auditing/ - Categories: Blog In today's interconnected world, ensuring website accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities, is crucial for fostering inclusivity online. Website accessibility audits serve as essential tools in achieving this goal, offering insights into how well a site adheres to established accessibility standards. Let's delve into the intricacies of accessibility auditing, exploring the methods and practices that create an inclusive online space for everyone. Understanding the Essence of Accessibility Auditing At its core, an accessibility audit evaluates a website's adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), internationally recognized standards for web accessibility. These guidelines aim to make web content accessible to individuals with various disabilities, including impairments, hearing or visual impairments, physical disabilities, speech difficulties, cognitive challenges, or neurological conditions. The Framework of an Accessibility Audit Starting with Planning: The initial stage involves defining the audit's scope and objectives, determining which website pages or components to examine, and setting criteria for success in improving accessibility. Automated Testing Tools: Automated tools help identify accessibility issues efficiently, such as missing image attributes, form labels, or inadequate colour contrast. While these tools provide a starting point, they only catch a fraction of accessibility problems. Manual Testing and Expert Review: The core of accessibility auditing lies in manual testing and expert review. Experts simulate the user experience for individuals with disabilities, uncovering issues that automated tools might miss, including problems with structure, keyboard traps, and dynamic content accessibility. Involving Real Users: Incorporating users with disabilities in the auditing process provides valuable insights into... --- ### Poor Colour Contrast Fails Accessibility > Colour contrast is a critical factor in a Website Accessibility Audit. Getting this right is fundamental to having an Accessible Website! - Published: 2024-02-13 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-most-websites-fail-accessibility-through-poor-colour-contrast/ - Categories: Blog The Challenge of Colour Contrast Ensuring inclusivity in today's world is extremely important. Despite the growing awareness and implementation of guidelines, many websites still do not make their content accessible to all users. One significant issue that contributes to this problem is the neglect of colour contrast in web design. This often leads to websites that are challenging or even impossible for many users to navigate and comprehend. In this blog post, we will delve into why inadequate colour contrast poses such a problem and how it affects website accessibility. Our focus will be on Accessibility Audits, Website Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Testing, and Website Accessibility WCAG Compliance. Underestimating the Impact on Users with Visual Impairments One of the reasons why websites fail to meet accessibility standards regarding colour contrast is because designers underestimate how these choices impact impaired users. Visual impairments like colour blindness and low vision greatly affect how content is perceived. Having a contrast between text and background is essential for readability. However, designers often prioritize aesthetics over accessibility, leaving users struggling to comprehend the content. Lack of Awareness and Understanding A major obstacle in achieving colour contrast in web design lies in the lack of knowledge and understanding among designers and developers regarding accessibility guidelines. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) establish standards for ensuring that text is easily distinguishable from its background by specifying colour contrast ratios. However, designers who lack an understanding of these guidelines and the importance of compliance may unintentionally choose colour schemes... --- ### A Step-by-Step Guide to Website Accessibility Audits > A WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit by disabled website accessibility testers is a must to achieve compliance, let us help! - Published: 2024-02-12 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-step-by-step-guide-to-website-accessibility-audits/ - Categories: Blog The Path, to Embracing Digital Inclusivity In todays age having an online presence is vital for success. It's not just an obligation but a moral duty to ensure that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. One effective way to evaluate the inclusiveness of your content is by conducting a thorough website accessibility audit. This guide will provide you with step by step instructions on how to perform an accessibility audit and focus on measures to ensure that your website conforms to WCAG 2. 2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). By doing you can make sure that your site is user friendly, understandable and navigable for everyone. Recognizing the Significance of Accessibility Audits Accessibility audits play a role in identifying any obstacles that may hinder people with disabilities from using your website. These assessments involve comparing the content and design of your website against standards, the WCAG. An internationally recognized benchmark for web accessibility. By conducting these audits businesses can create experiences that appeal to a wider audience while also adhering to legal requirements. Preparing for Your Accessibility Audit Before embarking on the audit process it's essential to define its scope and objectives. Determine which specific pages or sections of your website will be audited and establish defined goals, for improving accessibility. Preparing for an audit is crucial to ensure an effective process. Choosing the Right Tools There are tools to aid in accessibility testing ranging from automated web checkers to screen reader software. Automated tools can... --- ### Alt Text in Web Accessibility > With a Website Accessibility Audit, we help you get the fundamentals right and help you achieve having an accessible website. - Published: 2024-02-11 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-critical-oversight-of-alt-text-in-web-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog Avoiding Common Mistakes When it comes to ensuring inclusivity, the role of text, in accessible web design cannot be overstated. However many websites fail to use text leading to widespread issues with accessibility. This not affects users with disabilities. Also impacts a websites compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). In this discussion we delve into Accessibility Audits, Website Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Testing and the nuances of Website Accessibility WCAG Compliance. By doing we uncover the reasons behind the neglect of proper alt text usage and its implications for web accessibility. Underestimating the Importance of Alt Text One reason for use of alt text is a general underestimation of its significance. Alt text serves as an alternative for content allowing screen readers to convey information to users with visual impairments. Unfortunately many web designers and developers overlook this necessity. View text as an optional enhancement rather, than an essential component of accessible web design. Lack of Awareness and Understanding Another contributing factor to incorrect text usage is a lack of awareness and understanding regarding web accessibility guidelines. While the WCAG provides guidelines, for text including the importance of relevance and descriptive accuracy many web developers lack a complete understanding of these guidelines. This knowledge gap often results in alt text being neglected or implemented incorrectly which ultimately hampers the accessibility and usability of websites for users relying on technologies. Dealing with Complex Content As websites continue to evolve and incorporate dynamic and complex content ensuring that all visual elements... --- ### Why an Accessibility Audit is Nothing to Fear > In the paced world we live in today it's crucial to ensure that your website is accessible, to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This not - Published: 2024-02-10 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-a-website-accessibility-audit-is-nothing-to-be-fearful-of/ - Categories: Blog In the paced world we live in today it's crucial to ensure that your website is accessible, to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This not only fulfills an obligation but also reflects a moral responsibility. However for organizations, the idea of conducting a website accessibility audit can be intimidating. The fear often stems from concerns about uncovering issues the costs involved in addressing them and the technical challenges that may arise. . There's no need to approach an accessibility audit with trepidation. In fact it should be seen as a step towards inclusivity than something to fear. Understanding what an Accessibility Audit entails An accessibility audit is an evaluation of how your website adheres to various accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). It aims to identify areas where your site may fall short in providing access for all users, including those with impairments hearing difficulties, motor limitations or cognitive disabilities. By conducting this audit you'll gain insights into how you can enhance your website and make it more inclusive for an audience. Overcoming Apprehension One of the reasons organizations feel apprehensive about undergoing an accessibility audit is due, to uncertainty surrounding the process itself. Many people believe that conducting an audit to assess website accessibility will uncover problems, necessitating changes. However an audit is essentially a tool that provides a roadmap of actionable steps prioritized based on their impact, on accessibility. This structured approach helps demystify the process. Makes it more manageable allowing for improvements. Concerns... --- ### Common Hurdle in Web Accessibility: Mislabelled Forms > Our Website Accessibility Audits will help you undserstand where there are errors in your foms and how you can resolve them. We want to help! - Published: 2024-02-09 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-common-hurdle-in-web-accessibility-mislabelled-forms/ - Categories: Blog What is a Form Label? We encounter this issue often in our accessibility audits. It is crucial to ensure that websites are accessible, to all users. However despite the increasing awareness and efforts towards web design, many websites still fall short in this regard: accurately labeling forms. This not only affects the user experience for individuals with disabilities, it also undermines the broader objective of website accessibility. By exploring Accessibility Audits, Website Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Testing and Website Accessibility WCAG Compliance we can gain insights into why mislabeled forms are a problem and how they impact web accessibility. Underestimating the Importance of Form Labels One of the reasons websites struggle with accessibility is due to underestimating the significance of form labels in user interaction. Form labels are not merely indicators; they serve as navigation tools for users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers to interact with web content. Labeled forms provide a path guiding users through the process of entering data. When these labels are missing, incorrect or improperly linked to form fields it creates obstacles that can hinder users from completing tasks such, as signing up for services or making purchases. The Neglect, in Design and Development When it comes to building a website the design and development stages play a role. However it is quite common for the importance of form labelling to be overlooked in favor of pleasing aesthetics or fast development timelines. This oversight can arise from a lack of awareness about accessibility guidelines... --- ### Why Automated Website Accessibility Testing Tools Do Not Go Far Enough > The significance of website accessibility In today's age, where the majority of information and services are accessed online it is crucial to recognize - Published: 2024-02-08 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-automated-website-accessibility-testing-tools-do-not-go-far-enough/ - Categories: Blog The significance of website accessibility In today's age, where the majority of information and services are accessed online it is crucial to recognize the importance of website accessibility. An accessible website ensures that all users, including those, with disabilities can easily navigate, understand and engage with web content. However, achieving this level of accessibility comes with its set of challenges. Many developers and organizations have turned to automated testing tools as a choice for ensuring websites meet accessibility standards. These tools are designed to review websites based on established guidelines like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance in order to identify and address any barriers to accessibility. While these tools are useful relying on them for a website's accessibility audit may not be sufficient. This article explores the limitations of automated tools. Emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach towards achieving website accessibility. The Role of Automated Accessibility Testing Tools Automated accessibility testing tools are software applications that scan websites in order to detect issues related to accessibility. They play a role during the stages of an accessibility audit by quickly identifying technical problems such as missing alternative text, for images improper use of headings and lack of keyboard navigation. These tools are incredibly valuable, for developers during the development phase. They help address accessibility issues while building or updating web content. They also prove beneficial for maintenance allowing checks against WCAG compliance standards. Limitations of Automated Testing Inability to Understand Context and Meaning One significant limitation of automated testing... --- ### Accessibility Testing is essential when you have a Website Accessibility Audit > WCAG Compliance is only part of the journey. For a full website accessibility audit, the lived experience of disabled people is key. - Published: 2024-02-07 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-testing-is-essential-when-you-have-a-website-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Blog The practical implementation of inclusivity Website accessibility audits rely on accessibility testing to thoroughly assess how well a website follows accessibility standards and guidelines. This crucial process ensures that websites can be accessed by everyone regardless of their abilities promoting access, to information and services. Lets delve into the importance of accessibility testing and its essential role in website accessibility audits. Evaluating adherence to accessibility standards Accessibility testing examines a websites compliance with recognized accessibility standards and guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG offers principles, guidelines and success criteria for creating web content that caters to disabilities and user needs. Through accessibility testing auditors determine if a website meets WCAGs criteria identifying areas where it falls short and prioritizing efforts to rectify any compliance issues. Ensuring the effectiveness of accessibility features Accessibility testing also verifies how well implemented accessibility features, on a website function. These features include providing text for images supporting keyboard navigation managing focus properly and enhancing color contrast. By conducting tests, on browsers, devices and assistive technologies auditors guarantee that individuals with disabilities can effectively access and engage with website content. Accessibility testing plays a role in identifying usability issues, functional limitations and compatibility challenges. This enables organizations to refine and optimize accessibility features for effectiveness. Detecting Barriers to Accessibility and Usability Accessibility testing reveals barriers to accessibility and usability that could hinder access for users with disabilities. Auditors employ testing tools, manual... --- ### How an Accessibility Audit can help your business website > Ouir disabled accessibility testing team will help you ensure that all visitors to your website are able to do business with you! - Published: 2024-02-06 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-an-accessibility-audit-can-help-your-business-website/ - Categories: Blog In todays age it is crucial to prioritize accessibility. One important step, in this process is to conduct an accessibility audit for your business website. This audit helps ensure that your website is inclusive and accessible to people with all abilities. By evaluating aspects like navigation, content structure, multimedia elements, forms and interactive components using automated tools, manual testing methods and assistive technologies accessibility auditors can identify any barriers or issues that may hinder access for users with disabilities. These barriers could include things like missing text for images inadequate keyboard navigation support, low color contrast ratios, inaccessible forms or non compliant multimedia content. The goal of an accessibility audit is to make sure that your website complies with recognized accessibility standards and guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG 2. 2 provides a framework with principles, guidelines and success criteria for creating web content that's accessible, to everyone. By conducting audits to ensure accessibility you can evaluate whether your website meets the requirements of WCAG and prioritize efforts to fix any issues aiming for compliance, with accessibility standards and regulations. Improving User Experience and Engagement Designing websites with accessibility in mind directly correlates with enhancing user experience (UX) and increasing user engagement. By addressing any identified barriers to accessibility through audits you can enhance the usability, functionality and overall experience of your business website. Implementing features such as navigation structures, descriptive headings, keyboard accessibility and improvements in color... --- ### The Importance of Using Disabled People in Website Accessibility Audits > Need a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit? We work with disabled people with each one we do! Call us now on 01243 776399 to find out more! - Published: 2024-02-03 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-importance-of-using-disabled-people-in-website-accessibility-audits/ - Categories: Blog We are fortunate to have a team dedicated to website accessibility testing. They collaborate with us on all our WCAG 2. 2 Website Accessibility Audits. This blog post delves into the importance of their role, in our work. Website accessibility audits play a role in ensuring that digital platforms are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. While automated tools and expert evaluations are commonly used to assess accessibility, involving individuals in the audit process offers invaluable insights and perspectives. In this article we discuss why it is crucial to include individuals in website accessibility audits and the benefits it brings. Insights from Real World User Experience One of the advantages of involving individuals in website accessibility audits is gaining first hand insights into their user experience. While automated tools can detect issues they often fail to capture the nuanced challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when navigating websites. By involving individuals in the audit process website owners and developers gain valuable insights into how usable their platforms are from the perspective of those who rely on assistive technologies or have specific accessibility needs. Uncovering Hidden Barriers individuals possess an ability to identify hidden barriers that may not be apparent through automated testing or expert evaluations alone. These barriers can range from navigation challenges to issues, with form fields, multimedia content or interactive elements. By involving individuals, with disabilities in the evaluation of website accessibility organizations can. Address any overlooked accessibility issues ensuring that their platforms are truly inclusive and... --- ### A fully accessible website and a unicorn - what they have in common > A WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit by real disabled people is what you will need to understand how you can get closer to that goal! - Published: 2024-02-02 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-a-fully-accessible-website-is-like-a-unicorn/ - Categories: Blog The Myth of Unicorns and the Challenge of Web Accessibility Unicorns those enchanting creatures that have fascinated humans for centuries, with their horns and mystical aura represent purity and magic. However when we delve beyond the realm of imagination the reality is far from certain; unicorns may not actually exist. From a standpoint the anatomy of unicorns poses a challenge to our understanding of mammalian evolution. While there are animals with horn structures none resemble the unicorn. The lack of evidence further undermines their plausibility in the world. In addition to implausibility unicorns face hurdles as well. To survive and thrive as a species they would require a habitat with food sources and a balanced ecosystem. . Historical records or contemporary evidence offer no support for their existence in environments. Shifting gears to the landscape achieving accessibility on websites seems akin to chasing after mythical creatures – noble yet elusive. A accessible website aims to provide participation for all individuals regardless of their abilities. However attaining this ideal remains a challenge. The concept of web accessibility encompasses user needs and preferences. People with disabilities spanning from impairments, to conditions require tailored accommodations that cater to their specific requirements. Designing for the needs of users requires an understanding of accessibility requirements. Dealing with Technological Complexity The changing landscape of web technologies adds to the challenge of ensuring accessibility. As websites become more interactive and include multimedia content it becomes increasingly complex to ensure compatibility, with technologies. Issues often arise due to... --- ### How a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit Empowers All > Do you need a WCAG 2.2 Website Accessibility Audit? We use disabled people with each one we do. Call us now! - Published: 2024-02-01 - Modified: 2024-04-10 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-a-wcag-2-2-website-accessibility-audit-empowers-all/ - Categories: Blog Overcoming Obstacles Faced, by Disabled Individuals In todays era websites play a role in facilitating communication, commerce and community engagement. However individuals with disabilities often encounter difficulties when navigating the world due to inaccessible web design. Conducting a website accessibility audit following WCAG 2. 2 guidelines is a step in identifying and resolving these barriers to ensure that everyone can fully participate in the sphere. This article delves into the significance of engaging a disabled website accessibility testing team for conducting audits and how their expertise contributes to fostering an inclusive online environment. Understanding WCAG 2. 2 Website Accessibility Audits A comprehensive evaluation known as a WCAG 2. 2 website accessibility audit is conducted by website accessibility testing teams or specialized software tools. This assessment examines aspects of a websites design, content and functionality to determine its compliance with established accessibility standards and guidelines. Through this process barriers preventing users with disabilities from accessing and interacting with content are identified. These barriers can range from alternative text descriptions for images to navigation structures that create challenges for those using screen readers. Identifying Obstacles to Access The primary objective of conducting a WCAG 2. 2 website accessibility audit is to identify obstacles faced by users, with disabilities when accessing websites. By conducting an examination of the websites code, design elements and user interface components auditors evaluate factors such, as the readability of text ease of keyboard navigation, color contrast and accessibility to multimedia. They specifically identify areas where the website does... --- ### Insights and Tactics from Website Accessibility Audits > Having a Website Accessibility Audit with disabled accessibility testing will give you truly unique insights you will not find elsewhere! - Published: 2024-01-31 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/insights-and-tactics-from-website-accessibility-audits/ - Categories: Blog Promoting Inclusion, in the Digital Era In todays world it is not a responsibility but also a moral obligation to ensure that websites are accessible to everyone. As online interactions continue to grow it becomes increasingly important to cater to the needs of users with abilities. Conducting audits of website accessibility plays a role in identifying barriers and advocating for inclusivity. These audits offer insights. Assist organizations in developing strategies for creating digital spaces that are inclusive and accommodating. This article will delve into the strategies and findings derived from a website accessibility audit shedding light on the journey towards an experience. Understanding the Digital Landscape Website accessibility audits begin by comprehending accessibility guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2). Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) these guidelines provide a framework for crafting web content. Auditors meticulously evaluate websites based on these standards pinpointing areas of compliance and devising measures. Our team specializes in testing accessibility offering insights that go beyond what individuals without disabilities or those solely experienced, in website accessibility can provide. Revealing Key Findings Audits uncover issues related to website accessibility ranging from interface glitches, to fundamental design flaws. Here are some common issues that auditors often find in terms of website accessibility; Lack of Alternative Text; When images, on a website don't have alternative text it creates difficulties for users who rely on screen readers. Auditors identify these instances. Suggest providing alt text descriptions. 2. Complex Navigation Structures; Websites with... --- ### Deciphering a Website Accessibility Audit > A Website Accessibility Audit with a disabled accessibility testing team gives you unique insights not found anywhere else! - Published: 2024-01-30 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/deciphering-a-website-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Blog Exploring the World of Digital Accessibility In the realm of creating a landscape ensuring website accessibility is crucial to enable seamless navigation and interaction, for all individuals regardless of disabilities. A key aspect of achieving this goal is conducting a website accessibility audit, which involves assessing platforms to identify and address any potential barriers to access. Although the audit process may seem complex breaking it down reveals an approach that aims to foster an inclusive online environment. Understanding the Website Accessibility Audit Process Essentially a website accessibility audit involves an evaluation that assesses adherence to established accessibility standards and guidelines. Guided by frameworks like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2) these audits scrutinize aspects of web design, functionality and content to ensure they align with best practices for accessibility. Code Analysis; An Essential Component One fundamental aspect of the audit entails examining the details of a websites code. By reviewing elements such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript auditors determine whether the codebase enables accessibility features like keyboard navigation, semantic markup and compatibility with assistive technologies. This analysis helps stakeholders understand what measures are necessary to achieve WCAG 2. 2 compliance. Assessing Visual Design; The Role of Aesthetics aesthetics play a role, in shaping user experiences across digital platforms. Website accessibility audits involve assessing design elements, such, as color schemes, font sizes and layout structures. The goal is to ensure that these elements are readable and perceptible for users with impairments. Apart from reviewing the code these audits also... --- ### Breaking Barriers in Digital Accessibility > From inclusive design tips to navigating legal requirements, our blog post explores fostering inclusivity online for everyone. - Published: 2024-01-29 - Modified: 2024-11-13 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/breaking-barriers-a-comprehensive-guide-to-digital-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog Promoting Inclusivity in the Digital Era In today's digitally-driven world, ensuring accessibility is paramount to cultivating inclusive experiences for all individuals. "Overcoming Obstacles in Digital Accessibility" isn't just a manual; it's like a friendly guide helping us build a more inclusive digital world. It's all about making sure everyone, no matter their abilities, can easily use digital stuff without any hassle. It serves as a compass for nurturing inclusivity, dismantling barriers, and fostering an environment where individuals of diverse abilities can seamlessly navigate the digital landscape with dignity and ease. The Significance of Digital Accessibility Digital accessibility embodies fundamental principles of equity and inclusivity rather than mere convenience. In a society reliant on digital interfaces, websites, and applications, ensuring accessibility is not only ethically imperative but also legally mandated. It involves crafting content that enables everyone, including those with disabilities, to perceive, comprehend, navigate, and interact with digital content effectively. Acknowledging the Challenges The challenges surrounding accessibility are multifaceted and plentiful, ranging from auditory impairments to motor limitations and cognitive obstacles. Each barrier presents unique challenges that demand innovative design solutions and inclusive practices. By acknowledging these challenges upfront, we can take proactive steps toward dismantling barriers and fostering a more inclusive digital environment. The Role of Design and Development Designers and developers play a pivotal role in the accessibility movement, tasked with creating experiences accessible to all. Prioritising user experience and inclusivity from the outset is crucial when designing for accessibility. Every design element, from navigation to customisable interfaces,... --- ### Can you Answer the Question Before Last? > Only by website accessibility testing by blind people can you truly understand the issues disabled people face. Here is one example. - Published: 2024-01-28 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/answering-the-question-before-last/ - Categories: Blog Imagine this Let's delve into an intriguing scenario where questions and answers take an amusing detour. Imagine being asked a series of questions, but the catch is that the answers you must provide are actually intended for the previous question. For instance: Q: What day is it today? Q: What is your name? A: Friday Q: Give me the name of a fruit A: Clive Q: Name a famous artist A: Orange Q: Who is the singer in U2? A: Van Gogh Guess what? Believe it or not, this entertaining twist happened with my team during a recent accessibility audit! This whimsical experience became a reality for our trio of blind testers – Mede, Krista, and Lleona – as they navigated through a seemingly straightforward series of questions. Forms have always presented challenges for them, but this specific one initially appeared visually flawless. Each field was seemingly correctly labelled – "Title" for the title field, "First Name" for the first name field, and so on. Everything looked perfectly aligned during the live accessibility testing. However, despite the initial appearance of correctness, our blind testers faced challenges while filling out the form. Upon closer inspection of the code, I discovered that the labels were not correctly associated with the form fields. Instead, they were separate and appeared in the next line of code. This caused their screen readers to read out the labels after the corresponding field, leading our testers to assume that the subsequent field was the one being referred... --- ### Understanding the Challenges Faced by Screen Readers > Screen readers face website accessibility challenges due to lack of structure, inaccessible multimedia, complex elements, inconsistent navigation - Published: 2024-01-27 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/understanding-the-challenges-faced-by-screen-readers/ - Categories: Blog Screen readers are tools, for individuals who have impairments as they encounter various obstacles while navigating through the extensive array of websites. These challenges arise due to the nature of web design, technological limitations and the evolving digital landscape. It is essential for developers and designers to comprehend these hurdles in order to create experiences. Our exceptional team includes three individuals who're blind and rely on screen readers. Krista and Mede use JAWS, while Lleona uses NVDA. Their contributions during website accessibility audits are truly invaluable. Now lets delve into the challenges confronted by screen readers; Insufficient Semantic Structure Websites often lack a structure and proper HTML markup, which makes navigation challenging for screen readers. When websites do not adhere to accessibility standards, crucial elements like headings, landmarks and labels may be missing. Without HTML tags such, as `` `` `` and `` screen readers struggle to interpret the organization of content. This absence of structure hampers users ability to navigate web pages efficiently resulting in frustration and difficulty accessing information. When multimedia content, such, as images, videos and audio doesn't have text or transcripts it creates difficulties for screen readers. These assistive technologies rely on alternative text descriptions to convey information to users. Without text important information or context provided by multimedia content can be missed by users. Similarly videos and audio lacking transcripts or captions become inaccessible to individuals who depend on screen readers. This hampers their ability to fully comprehend and engage with the content. Modern websites... --- ### Your accessibility statement is like an MOT Certificate > Website accessibility is about meeting the standards required to show the "road worthiness" of your website. Let us help you with yours. - Published: 2024-01-26 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/your-accessibility-statement-is-like-an-mot-certificate/ - Categories: Blog There is a shared objective, between website accessibility and an MOT test certificate for cars. Ensuring that both products meet standards for usability, safety and inclusivity. While the MOT test certificate verifies a cars compliance with safety and performance standards a website accessibility audit demonstrates a commitment to making digital content usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. The MOT test certificate in the world and a website accessibility audit follow regulations. The MOT test certificate confirms that a vehicle complies with safety and environmental regulations assuring consumers that it has undergone testing and meets criteria for safe operation on the road. Similarly a website accessibility audit measures how well a site adheres to established standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2). These guidelines provide recommendations for creating web content and ensuring access, for individuals. Just as the MOT test certificate guarantees safety and performance on the road a website accessibility audit indicates the usability and inclusivity of content. An accessible website is designed to be easy to navigate and understand for all users regardless of their abilities or disabilities. It's, like making sure a car has safety features such as airbags and seat belts so it can be used by a range of drivers and passengers. Similar to how a MOT car test certificate builds trust among consumers website accessibility helps establish trust with users. When people visit a website and find it accessible they are more likely to engage with the content trust the information... --- ### Navigating Challenges: Designers and the Complex Landscape of Website Accessibility > Designers face diverse challenges: understanding user needs, evolving standards, aesthetics, accessibility, education, integration and website testing. - Published: 2024-01-25 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/navigating-challenges-designers-and-the-complex-landscape-of-website-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog Introduction Making platforms to people of all abilities is an important aspect of design. Designers face challenges in their quest to create spaces, for everyone. This article explores the difficulties designers encounter when striving for website accessibility and the evolving landscape that emphasizes inclusivity. Understanding the Needs of a Diverse User Base Designers must address the requirements of users with disabilities, who may have motor impairments. Finding a balance between meeting these needs and maintaining an user experience can be quite challenging. Keeping Pace with Evolving Standards Accessibility standards and guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are constantly evolving to adapt to emerging technologies and user expectations. Designers need to stay updated with these standards to ensure that their websites remain accessible which can be demanding while also focusing on maintaining a user interface. Striking the Right Balance between Aesthetics and Accessibility Achieving harmony, between creating appealing websites and ensuring accessibility can be quite intricate. Some design choices that enhance a websites appeal may unintentionally compromise its accessibility. Striking this balance calls for design solutions. Educating Stakeholders Convincing stakeholders, including clients and development teams about the importance of making websites accessible can pose challenges. Advocating for design practices that prioritize the audiences reach positive user experience and legal compliance associated with websites is crucial, for designers. Incorporating Accessibility in the Design Process Addressing accessibility from the start of the design process is essential than treating it as an afterthought. Making adjustments to meet accessibility standards later can... --- ### The Imperative of Website Accessibility Testing: A User-Centric Approach > Website accessibility affects so many more people than you may think. Only by testing with disabled people can you truly understand why. - Published: 2024-01-24 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-imperative-of-website-accessibility-testing-a-user-centric-approach/ - Categories: Blog In todays age the importance of making websites accessible cannot be overstated. As the internet becomes a part of our lives it becomes crucial to ensure that all individuals, including those, with disabilities can easily access and navigate websites. Website accessibility involves designing and developing websites in a way that allows users with abilities or disabilities to access and interact with the content without any difficulties. People with auditory, motor or cognitive impairments may face challenges so it is vital for websites to cater to their diverse needs. Conducting accessibility testing goes beyond compliance. It involves involving individuals in the testing process to gain a genuine understanding of their user experience and the barriers they may encounter. By doing developers can gain insights into the real challenges faced by users and develop a deeper empathy and comprehension of their diverse needs. Apart, from being morally imperative there are also ethical obligations for websites to prioritize accessibility. Many countries have established standards and guidelines to ensure content is accessible such, as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2. 2). It is not a matter of consequences but also reflects on the commitment of a business or organization towards social responsibility. Improving User Experience When disabled individuals participate in website accessibility testing it significantly contributes to enhancing the user experience. By addressing barriers faced by users with disabilities websites can create an interface that's more intuitive and friendly for everyone. Having a website not caters to the needs of disabled individuals but... --- ### Opening links in a new window - is this a good idea or not? > Link behaviour is one of the most misunderstood components of website accessibility. Let us show you how important it is to digital inclusivity! - Published: 2024-01-15 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/opening-links-in-a-new-window-is-this-a-good-idea-or-not/ - Categories: Blog A common challenge! Link behaviour is one of the greatest challenges that my Website Accessibility Testing Team encounters. When you follow a link on a web page that takes you to another page, it will generally do one of two things. It will either open the link in the same window tab or open the link in a new window. Our experience is that the most common behaviour is to open a link in a new window (or tab), especially if it leads to another website. Although this is perhaps the most obvious choice, is it the best one? Why is it important? I would often have discussions about this with my clients when training them to manage their own websites. They did not like the idea of people leaving their website to go to another website, as they felt that they would be less likely to return. I always explained that opening links in the same window was good practice because it benefited disabled people. There are several reasons for this. One is that if you are blind, you may not be aware that the link has opened in a new window, making it more difficult to find the website you were on previously, as the browser's back button would not work. After realising what had happened, you would, of course, be able to open the other browser again and continue, but that takes extra time. The Cumulative Effect You can also imagine how much more challenging this could... --- ### Buttons and Links - commonly misunderstood > Buttons and Links are a confusing website accessibilty issue for many people. Only through live testing can you truly understand the problems. - Published: 2024-01-14 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/buttons-and-links-commonly-misunderstood/ - Categories: Blog Exploring the Maze In the world of website accessibility there is a recurring challenge that stands out—the misunderstandings surrounding buttons and links. Unfortunately this issue is something I encounter frequently in my line of work as I navigate through website accessibility audits during my testing process. Buttons, which are designed to trigger actions or events, like submitting a form or opening a dialog box are elements according to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They play a role in user interactions. However problems arise when buttons that visually appear as such are coded as links or vice versa. Although it may seem like an inconsistency its impact on users— those with unique needs—can be significant. The Dance of Differentiation; How Coded Buttons and Links Disrupt User Experience In the dance between buttons and links differentiation is key. Buttons are specifically designed for actions providing users with a path to submit forms or initiate events. On the hand links usually guide users to pages or resources on websites. When these elements are coded incorrectly it disrupts the flow of navigation and usability. This disruption has an effect, on accessibility. This brings me to a situation I often come across during my accessibility audits. There are picture buttons that look like buttons and have a design and purpose. However upon examination they are often coded as links This not goes against the expected functionality. Also causes confusion, for users who rely on assistive technologies. Real Life Challenges; Ionas Journey with Misaligned Buttons... --- ### Website Accessibility: Its Significance for Your Organisation in 2024 > An opportunity to go deeper into website accessibilty with TED Speaker Clive Loseby. Digital Inclusivity is at the heart of everything he does! - Published: 2024-01-11 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-its-significance-for-your-organisation-in-2024/ - Categories: Blog My TED Talk in 2022 Almost two years ago, I had the honour of delivering a TED Talk on website accessibility. Tailored for individuals with limited or no knowledge of website accessibility, the talk aimed to elucidate the meaning of this crucial concept and offer general guidance on how to address it. Rather than delving into specifics, I opted for illustrative examples to facilitate a better understanding of digital accessibility. The talk has proven instrumental in providing people with a foundational grasp of the subject before engaging in discussions about conducting website accessibility audits. However, this was just the initiation of the digital accessibility journey, and I've always harboured the desire to delve deeper into the topic. I am thrilled to announce that the opportunity to deliver a more detailed talk has presented itself! A Deeper Exploration of Website Accessibility I have been invited to speak at the West Sussex Business Expo scheduled for April. During my presentation, I will delve into the practical considerations individuals should be mindful of, including the requisites for both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, I will cast a glance towards 2025, discussing the implications of the European Accessibility Act. We are also exploring the possibility of recording the talk for online accessibility post-event. Attendance is free. Learn more about the event. Why you should come Understanding and prioritising website accessibility is of utmost importance in today's digital landscape. As the internet continues to be an integral part of our daily lives, ensuring that... --- ### A stairway and a ramp are both perfectly fine! > A website accessibility audit is crucial to understanding what accessible alternatives you can provide, often for low cost. Call us today. - Published: 2024-01-08 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-stairway-and-a-ramp-are-both-perfectly-fine/ - Categories: Blog An ideal world? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all lived in a world where every website or web portal was fully accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities? Unfortunately, it's not always possible and it is only often uncovered during accessibility testing. A recent evaluation We've recently completed an evaluation of a web portal. A questionnaire needed to be filled out before any of the modules could be accessed. The number of questions varied, ranging from 16 to over 80, with five possible responses for each question. The interface was designed so that the current question was displayed in an appealing box, with the previous question above and the next question below, both shown in a more translucent manner. After answering one question, it visually moved up, and the next question became active. It looked really nice. Regrettably, not accessible. The issue was that it was not accessible. Iona, who uses a screen reader, couldn't operate it at all. Mede, Krista, and Lleona, all using screen readers, could use it to some extent, but each question had six responses instead of five. One of them was empty and hidden because it was necessary for the system to operate, but it became quite tiresome with a screen reader after a while. Additionally, the screen reader didn't read out the question to be answered in the first place. If I hadn't informed them, they wouldn't have known what the question was. Eventually, they figured it out, but it was... --- ### Ensuring Accessibility: A Friendly Reminder on Alt Text Best Practices > Alt Text is a fundamental principle with website accessibilty, find out why. Contact us today if need an accessibilty audit of your website. - Published: 2024-01-08 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/ensuring-accessibility-a-friendly-reminder-on-alt-text-best-practices/ - Categories: Blog What is Alt Text? Today, let's dive into a topic that might sound a bit techy but is crucial for making our online spaces welcoming to everyone – Alt Text. So, grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's chat about why filenames shouldn't moonlight as Alt Text. Firstly, Alt Text is like a friendly tour guide for images on websites. It provides a description, making it possible for our friends using screen readers to grasp the essence of what's happening in a picture. It's pretty nifty and, as we'll soon discover, incredibly easy to get right. How do Filenames get used? Now, on to a little quirk that often pops up during my website accessibility audits – the use of filenames as Alt Text. We all know how automated tools love to give us a thumbs up for merely having Alt Text present, but here's the catch: they don't really care what that Alt Text says and that's where the hiccup occurs. Picture this: You've got a delightful image on your website – say, a happy cartoon monkey swinging from a vine. Now, you're excited to share this visual joy, but when you upload it, the platform, in its eagerness, grabs the filename and slaps it on as Alt Text. Result? Something like "mky4653. jpg" ends up as the description. Not very helpful, right? Sure, it might slip through a quick automated check, but here's the thing – it falls short of the Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For someone relying on... --- ### An annoying start to the week turns into a Web Odyssey! > It is only through real experiences that you can truly uncover what accessibilty issues there may be, here is one unlikely example! - Published: 2024-01-05 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/an-annoying-start-to-the-week-turns-into-a-web-odyssey/ - Categories: Blog Sometimes I end up accessibility testing in the most unlikely of circumstances! Monday mornings can be quite the challenge, and six months ago, mine started with a hiccup that threw a spanner in the works. As I prepared for the day, my trusty 22-year-old Volvo decided it wasn't quite ready for action. A familiar issue with the immobiliser cropped up, but usually, a quick fix involving disconnecting the battery for a few minutes did the trick. Not this time. Five minutes passed, then ten, and my car remained unresponsive. With a one-hour drive home ahead of me, I knew I needed a solution fast. The logical next step – seek assistance from the Automobile Association (AA). With a quick visit to the AA's website, I initiated a request for help. While waiting for the cavalry to arrive, I decided to give the battery trick another shot. This time, a 15-minute wait did the trick, and my beloved Volvo sprang back to life. Hooray! Crisis averted, or so I thought. The AA, in their usual fashion, notified me that their arrival was scheduled for another hour. Realising I no longer required their assistance, I attempted to cancel the request, thinking it would be a straightforward process. Here's where the plot thickens. Glancing at the website, the cancellation link was nowhere in sight. Frustration kicked in until, as if by magic, I pulled the screen up and, lo and behold, the elusive cancel link appeared. A peculiar dance with my phone screen,... --- ### Imitation: A Flattering Approach to Web Accessibility > We are leading the Web in digital inclusivity with our accessible web design techniques. Let us help you on your digital accessibily journey! - Published: 2024-01-03 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/imitation-a-flattering-approach-to-web-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog Navigating through the digital landscape has become an integral part of our daily lives, and ensuring that this virtual realm is accessible to all is a responsibility that often falls by the wayside. However, my recent experience with the Scottish Parliament in developing their MSP Expenses Tool presented a refreshing departure from the norm. In this instance, accessibility took centre stage right from the project's inception, marking a rare and positive departure from the usual course. The Unusual Path of Accessibility Traditionally, accessibility tends to be an afterthought in web development, pushed to the back burner due to perceived costs. The prevailing misconception is that integrating accessibility from the start might be an expensive endeavour. But is this cost truly prohibitive when compared to the expenses incurred in rectifying an inaccessible website after the fact? I'd be hard-pressed to find an example where the latter approach proves more economical. Unveiling the Diversity of Accessibility Toolbars Consider the realm of accessibility toolbars, often designed by third-party products that promise solutions but frequently introduce more problems than they solve. However, it's crucial to recognize that not all accessibility toolbars are created equal. In the case of the Scottish Parliament's Expenses Tool, the delightful revelation was that our own accessibility toolbar was seamlessly integrated. This is no small feat, as our toolbar is designed to be an integral part of the website's underlying code, sidestepping the complications associated with third-party solutions. "Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery" Upon pointing out this integration,... --- ### Assisting the Scottish Parliament with Digital Accessibility > We were proud to help the Scottish Parliament on its digital accessibility journey, through a website accessibility audit with our disabled testers. - Published: 2024-01-02 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/assisting-the-scottish-parliament-with-digital-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog A Rather Unique Experience Normally, we're brought in to collaborate with an organization after they've launched their website, often a year down the line. Occasionally, we get involved earlier, like just before a website is about to be launched. In all these cases, the costs of fixing things are usually quite substantial. However, our recent engagement with the Scottish Parliament was refreshingly different.   The Scottish Parliament wanted to enhance its Member’s Expenses tool. Each of the UK Parliaments has its own tool, enabling the public to check how much an elected politician claims in expenses. This could cover a specific period, certain categories (like hotel accommodation, travel, and dining), and include various politicians, not just one individual. Involved from the Start The agency tasked with developing the new tool had a clear brief: make accessibility a core aspect. They reached out to us last year, seeking our involvement from the very beginning. This was quite satisfying and meant that the necessary remedial work should be much less than usual, given our early involvement. Website design is quite subjective, but when it comes to digital accessibility, we make it clear that we're not here to make subjective comments on designs unless it directly impacts our accessibility testing. Our focus is always on ensuring that it functions for as many people as possible. Reviewing Existing Tools Our first meeting with the agency involved examining the existing members’ expense tools on all four UK parliament websites. We discussed each one, highlighting the... --- ### Logical Reading Order: Bridging Accessibility in Digital Documents > Creating an Accessible PDF and PDF Remediation are both difficult issues. We can remediate your documents and provide compliance certificates! - Published: 2023-12-20 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/logical-reading-order-bridging-accessibility-in-digital-documents/ - Categories: Blog Why is a Logical Reading Order important? In the world of content having a reading order is crucial, for making information accessible and easily understandable. Whether its in a document or on a web page the main purpose of this arrangement is to create an meaningful reading experience for users. The primary objective is to ensure that the content follows a flow allowing readers to navigate through information smoothly while maintaining its intended structure and hierarchy. A key aspect of the reading order is its significance for individuals who rely on technologies like screen readers. These technologies cater to people with impairments by presenting content in a manner based on the logical reading order. By adhering to this order screen readers can accurately convey information thereby improving the accessibility of documents for people with disabilities. The logical reading order encompasses elements within the content such, as headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, images and other visual components. It carefully organizes these elements based on their relationships and hierarchy to ensure that readers can effortlessly follow along. This structured approach not benefits those using technologies but also enhances the overall user experience by creating an organized and user friendly reading environment. How does one come into existence? Ensuring an logical reading order involves taking important factors into account. Authors need to structure the document by using heading levels providing text for images to convey meaning using semantic markup, for lists and tables and carefully planning the natural flow of information. When it comes... --- ### Navigating the Challenges of Inconsistent Links > Introduction In the dynamic landscape of website accessibility, a recent audit conducted for an NHS Health Trust revealed a commendable standard overall. - Published: 2023-12-08 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/unraveling-the-web-navigating-the-challenges-of-inconsistent-links-in-website-accessibility/ - Categories: Blog Introduction In the dynamic landscape of website accessibility, a recent audit conducted for an NHS Health Trust revealed a commendable standard overall. However, as our team delved deeper, we unearthed a common stumbling block: inconsistency, particularly in link behaviour. This discrepancy not only poses challenges for disabled individuals but also impacts the user experience for everyone. Let's dissect this issue and understand why consistency in link design matters. Unveiling Inconsistency A prevalent issue identified in the audit was the inconsistency in link behaviour. Traditionally, links are underlined to signify their clickable nature. However, the audit revealed instances where words like "Contact" and "More" were underlined but lacked the expected link functionality. On the contrary, links on the right-hand side displayed the underlining, which disappeared upon mouse hover, and a faint box appeared when tabbed through with a keyboard. At the bottom left, three links stood unadorned—devoid of underlining and resistant to visual changes upon mouse interaction. Again, a faint box emerged when tabbed through, signaling an active link. This inconsistency in link presentation can sow confusion among visitors, a concern that extends beyond the disabled community. The Significance of Consistency Consistency in link design is not merely an aesthetic consideration; it plays a pivotal role in enhancing user experience for all visitors. When links behave disparately, it can be disconcerting, especially for individuals who are neurodivergent. The visual cues associated with standard link behaviour—underlining or visual changes on interaction—serve as navigational aids for users across the spectrum of abilities. In... --- ### This is what an Accessibility Toolbar should be like > Website Accessibility goes far beyong a simple set of rules, if you want to understand it properly, look at what we do ourselves. - Published: 2023-10-09 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/this-is-what-an-accessibility-toolbar-should-be-like/ - Categories: Blog We make this our standard practice! Since 2006, when we pioneered our first fully accessible website, we've consistently implemented an accessibility toolbar alongside our fully WCAG-compliant coding techniques. Initially, this toolbar was quite straightforward, featuring just four buttons. Each button enabled users to alter the way they viewed the page content, offering them four distinct options: Standard Layout Large Text, catering to individuals with visual impairments High Contrast, designed for neurodivergent visitors Plain Text, serving both neurodivergent visitors and others seeking simplicity This commitment to choice ensured that every website we developed from the outset offered these options to every visitor. It allowed users to make these changes instantly, with a simple click, rather than having to navigate their own browser settings. Our accessibility toolbar has evolved over time, now offering a wider array of options. Importantly, it's integrated directly into our code, eliminating the need for any third-party software. We've steered clear of software overlays that can inadvertently diminish website accessibility. If you'd like to learn more, watch the video! Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery! We find immense satisfaction when others choose to follow our lead and adopt similar practices. We've observed our techniques being emulated and implemented on other websites, and for that, we are genuinely appreciative. It's the simple yet correct measures like these that can profoundly enhance a website's accessibility. Remember, website accessibility is not limited to accommodating people with disabilities; it also benefits a wider audience. For instance, older adults who may experience... --- ### The Moment of Truth > Accessible Web Design can be challenging but, by working with us, your websites will be far more accessible to so many more people! - Published: 2023-09-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-moment-of-truth/ - Categories: Blog Navigating Web Accessibility Challenges In today's digital age, the role of a web designer extends far beyond the aesthetic appeal of a website. It involves creating online spaces that are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The moment of truth for a web designer often comes when they discover that the website they've built is not accessible for disabled people. This revelation can be both disheartening and transformative, as it prompts designers to reevaluate their work and strive for a more inclusive web. Understanding Web Accessibility Before delving into the moment of truth, let's first understand what web accessibility means. Web accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites and web applications that can be used by people with disabilities. This includes individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. Accessibility is not just a legal requirement in many countries but also a moral obligation to ensure that the digital world is open to all. The Creative Journey Web designers are inherently creative individuals who take pride in crafting visually stunning and functional websites. They invest countless hours selecting colour palettes, choosing fonts, and arranging elements to create a seamless user experience. In the pursuit of perfection, it's easy to overlook the critical aspect of accessibility. The Moment of Truth The moment of truth often arrives when a web designer receives feedback, perhaps from a user with disabilities or a colleague with expertise in accessibility. They may discover that their meticulously designed website... --- ### Allow me to pose a question > With a website accessibilty audit, it is important to consider the credentials of the company you are enaging. We are proud of our track record! - Published: 2023-09-20 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/allow-me-to-pose-a-question/ - Categories: Blog The answer might be obvious if you think about it If your genuine aim is to assess the accessibility of your website for individuals with disabilities, does it not make sense to involve individuals with disabilities in the evaluation process? If your response is yes, then you already possess the initial criterion for selecting a collaborator to enhance your digital accessibility! My credentials I have dedicated 15 years to the field of accessible web design. My company accomplished the remarkable feat of creating the first fully accessible, mobile, and tablet-friendly website 12 years ago. However, I must emphasize that I cannot comprehensively evaluate a website's accessibility on my own. The reason for this limitation is that my own disabilities do not impact my ability to interact with websites in any manner. Their credentials Conversely, my team members have disabilities that do affect their online experiences: Visual Impairment: Some team members rely on screen readers to navigate the web. Physical Challenges: One team member is unable to use a mouse or keyboard and utilizes dictation software instead. Cognitive Variability: Another team member faces significant challenges due to extreme ADHD and dyspraxia. This individual encounters difficulties with screen contrast and the language used on websites. An immersive experience During our evaluations, they share their screens with me, and I diligently record both their screen interactions and their insightful commentary. This approach provides me with the closest approximation of their lived experiences. When I share these recorded sessions with our clients, they, too,... --- ### The European Accessibility Act > The European Accessibility Act is coming in 2025 and it will affect every website, inside and outside of the European Union. Find out why then call us. - Published: 2023-09-13 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-european-accessibility-act/ - Categories: Blog The train is coming In a world where digital technology and the internet have become an integral part of our daily lives, ensuring accessibility for everyone is paramount. The European Accessibility Act, a groundbreaking legislation introduced by the European Union, is a significant step forward in this direction. This act addresses the need for inclusivity in various sectors, and it is imperative that everyone is aware of its significance. Understanding the European Accessibility Act The European Accessibility Act, often abbreviated as EAA, is a piece of legislation that was adopted by the European Union in 2019. Its primary objective is to promote accessibility and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities across the EU. The EAA specifically targets key sectors, including information and communication technology, transport, banking, e-commerce, and public services. By doing so, it aims to remove barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society. Promoting Digital Inclusion One of the most critical aspects of the European Accessibility Act is its focus on digital accessibility. In today's interconnected world, digital services and information are ubiquitous. Therefore, making digital content accessible to all is paramount. The EAA mandates that websites, mobile applications, and other digital services provided by public entities must be accessible to people with disabilities. This ensures that no one is left behind in the digital age. Enhancing Accessible Transportation The act also addresses accessibility in the transport sector. Accessible public transport is not only a matter of convenience but also a fundamental... --- ### Which investment would you prefer for the same website accessibility audit? > The accessibilty of your website is a vital one with legal ramifications. It is much cheaper to get your issues addressed prior to a lawsuit! - Published: 2023-09-10 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/which-investment-would-you-prefer-for-the-same-website-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Blog Legal actions are already underway Recently, I've had the privilege of collaborating with a client, conducting an in-depth accessibility audit of their website. Regrettably, they find themselves entangled in a legal dispute due to the inaccessibility of their website to disabled individuals. They've enlisted my expertise to not only discern the issues but also to chart a path toward rectifying them. This comprehensive audit meticulously documents the website's shortcomings while presenting viable alternatives during the process of achieving accessibility. The insights from this audit have been woven into the accessibility statement I've crafted for them. They are now protected from future action Upon the implementation of my accessibility statement on their website, they will find themselves shielded from any potential future legal actions. It stands as an open acknowledgement of the challenges disabled individuals might face and offers constructive pathways to assistance. However, it's essential to note that the current legal claim remains unaffected by these measures. The settlement, inclusive of legal expenses, is projected to be nearly four times the cost of the initial audit. And that audit cost is an additional expenditure. In essence, the ultimate outcome—website accessibility—is constant, but the financial implications have soared to fivefold the initial expenditure. The question then becomes, which option would you prefer? : The infographic presents two options. Option A features a single bag of money, while Option B showcases five bags of money. Beneath it reads the phrase "You choose. " For more insights, you can explore my TED Talk... --- ### An accessibility statement with a difference! > With digital accessibility, it is often the small things that makes a big difference to your visitors. Here is a real-world example of just that! - Published: 2023-09-07 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/an-accessibility-statement-with-a-difference/ - Categories: Blog An Exceptional Accessibility Example I absolutely admire this accessibility initiative! During my morning stroll along the seafront, I stumbled upon something quite remarkable. It's a collection of eight outdoor tables and accompanying seating right in front of a café. Each of the four tables in the front row features a sign that reads: "Polite Notice Please prioritize these tables for disabled users. " How often do you come across tables like these, only to find them surrounded by fixed benches that leave no room for a wheelchair (or a stroller, or a walker)? What's truly commendable here is that every single table is designed this way, ensuring there's wheelchair access at each one. The sign simply serves as a gentle reminder to customers without disabilities that it's much more convenient for them to choose seating further away, as it might be less straightforward for someone with a disability. An accessibility statement isn't just a checkbox item; it's a declaration of care. That's precisely why I'm so impressed by this setup—it speaks volumes about the café owner's ethos. If you're interested, you can also watch my TED Talk by following this link If you'd like to discuss having an audit for your own website, please feel free to connect with me   --- ### What occurs when you stumble at the initial obstacle? > Colleges and schools fall under Governemnt requirements for website accessibilty. Here is one such example of how we help! - Published: 2023-09-06 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/what-occurs-when-you-stumble-at-the-initial-obstacle/ - Categories: Blog Conducting an Accessibility Evaluation for a Sixth-Form College Recently, I conducted a comprehensive website accessibility assessment for a college. Much like other educational institutions, they enroll a portion of disabled students each year. The impetus behind this audit was the UK Government's Digital Service requirement. However, given their ongoing and potential enrollment of disabled students, it was equally essential for them to gain insight into potential accessibility challenges. The website featured a Cookie Banner To comply with GDPR regulations, every website using analytics tracking code is mandated to incorporate a Cookie Banner. Nevertheless, Cookie Banners typically pose accessibility challenges for disabled individuals. They range from being an annoyance to rendering the entire website inaccessible. If a Cookie Banner obstructs a disabled individual's access to a website, it constitutes a violation of the Equality Act. It was impossible to close This particular website had a link to close the Cookie Banner, as is customary. However, this link could not be activated by someone using a screen reader, whether on a computer or a mobile device. Consequently, every time a user accessed any page on the website, they were subjected to the repeated announcement: "Our website uses cookies. By continuing, we assume your permission to deploy cookies, as detailed in our cookie policy. " Furthermore, attempting to navigate to different sections of the page triggered the repetition of this message. Can you fathom the frustration experienced by someone relying on a screen reader? How many other websites suffer from this issue? This... --- ### Are you solely interested in checking off boxes? > What are you looking for in an accessibility audit? Even if you just want to tick some WCAG boxes, you would be surprised at how many more there are! - Published: 2023-09-04 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/are-you-solely-interested-in-checking-off-boxes/ - Categories: Blog What exactly are your objectives? When addressing the accessibility of your websites, is your intention primarily to meet specific criteria? How many criteria are you aiming to satisfy? This isn't meant to be a loaded question, but it's typically one of the first I pose. I frequently receive inquiries from organizations and businesses seeking assistance with their digital accessibility, often concerning their websites, although occasionally it pertains to other digital assets like customer portals or online training platforms. Let's start tallying... The initial benchmark typically revolves around achieving WCAG AA compliance. In case you're unfamiliar, this is widely recognized as the baseline standard websites should strive to meet and is the minimum requirement set by the UK government for public sector websites. That counts as 1 criterion. However, in order to attain WCAG AA compliance, you must also meet the criteria for WCAG A. So that's 2 criteria. What about a specific assessment for screen reader compatibility? After all, individuals who rely on screen readers require websites to be accessible to them. So, that's 3 criteria, but can we add 2 more? Consider coding standards as well. If your website doesn't adhere to a well-defined, measurable coding standard, it can impact its functionality on various devices and browsers. This, too, is an accessibility concern. That's 4 criteria. There are also standards that search engines anticipate. If your website doesn't meet these standards, it might not be as discoverable. This, in turn, is also an accessibility issue. We're now at 5... --- ### Why would a small business need a website accessibility audit? > A website accessibility audit is a subject that people find difficult. We are here to help you on your jouurney in a clear and straightforward manner. - Published: 2023-07-19 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-would-a-small-business-need-a-website-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Blog A small business may need a website accessibility audit for several reasons Here are some of them. Legal Compliance In many countries, including the United Kingdom, there are laws and regulations that require websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. For instance, the Equality Act, in the UK, mandates equal access to goods, services, and accommodations, including websites. By conducting an accessibility audit, a small business can identify and address any potential violations, reducing the risk of legal action. Inclusivity and User Experience A website accessibility audit helps ensure that people with disabilities can access and use the website effectively. Making your website accessible improves the user experience for all visitors, regardless of their abilities. It demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and can enhance your brand reputation. Expanded Audience Reach By optimizing your website for accessibility, you can reach a broader audience. Approximately 15% of the world's population experiences some form of disability, and they often rely on accessible websites to engage with businesses and access information. By making your website accessible, you can tap into this market segment and potentially attract more customers. SEO Benefits An accessible website can also improve your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Search engines value websites that are user-friendly and provide a positive experience for all visitors. By following accessibility best practices, such as providing alternative text for images and properly structuring your content, you can improve your website's visibility in search engine results. Competitive Advantage In many industries, businesses are investing in... --- ### Why is website accessibility important? > The importance of website accessibilty cannot be understated. We will help you understand what is needed in a straightforward way. - Published: 2023-07-03 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-is-website-accessibility-important/ - Categories: Blog Website accessibility is important for several reasons, primarily to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, can access and use the information and services provided on a website. Here are some key reasons why website accessibility is crucial: Inclusivity and Equal Access: Web accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can equally participate in and benefit from the digital world. This includes individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. Making websites accessible means providing everyone with an equal opportunity to access information, products, and services. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: In many countries, there are laws and regulations that require websites to be accessible. For example, the Equality Act in the UK, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set forth by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) are essential guidelines for ensuring website accessibility. Expanded Audience Reach: By making a website accessible, you open it up to a broader audience. This includes not just people with disabilities, but also elderly individuals, people using older technology, or those with temporary impairments due to injuries or illnesses. Better User Experience: Website accessibility often leads to an improved user experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. For instance, implementing clear navigation and logical page structures benefits everyone. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Some accessibility practices align with SEO best practices. Search engines often reward websites that are well-organized and provide valuable content, which can lead to better search engine rankings.... --- ### How do I know if my website needs to be accessible? > The accessibility of your website is important for many reeasons, Contact us today if you need help with making yours more accessible. - Published: 2023-03-16 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/how-do-i-know-if-my-website-needs-to-be-accessible/ - Categories: Blog Let me break it down for you In the UK and many other countries around the world, website legislation falls into two categories: Websites within the Public Sector, such as local and national governments, schools, colleges, hospitals etc. . Every other website With the Public Sector, the Government issued specific guidelines about the standards required, in 2018. However, along with every other website, these websites also fall under the Equality Act, which came into force in 2010. This means that every website that can be accessed from within the UK should be accessible to disabled people. If your website is not accessible, this means that some disabled people will find it difficult to use and in some cases, they may not be able to use it all. If your website is within the public sector, you could face sanctions from the Government. If disabled people cannot use your website, they will not become your customer. They could also sue you, under the Equality Act. So instead of spending money with you, they could receive money from you in a legal settlement. You will still have to make your website accessible but you now have a lot of extra costs on top. I hope you will find that this answers the question. Caption: A Weimaraner, a large and sleek grey dog, is in the foreground looking confused. There is a busy office in the background. Would you like to find out more about website accessibility? If you would like to find... --- ### What does an Accessible Website actually mean? > Understanding website accessibilty can be challenging. However, we break it down for you in easy to undersdtand langauge. Calll us today. - Published: 2023-03-13 - Modified: 2024-11-13 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/what-does-an-accessible-website-actually-mean/ - Categories: Blog, FAQ How do you define what an accessible website is? When you read about an accessible website, what does that mean to you? For us, having worked in website accessibility since 2006, it means being accessible for disabled people. This usually means that disabled people use extra software or hardware to help them in browsing websites. This is known as assistive technology. An accessible website is one that has been coded to work correctly with assistive technology. Examples of different disabilities For example, someone who is blind would not be able to use a mouse, so they would use a keyboard instead, in combination with what is called a screen reader. A screen reader is usually a piece of software that is installed on a computer that “reads out” what is on a web page so that a blind person is able to make sense of it. Having a visual disability is often what most people would think of if they were thinking about what disabilities could make it difficult to use a website. However, there are many other disabilities that can affect how well someone can navigate a website. Someone else may be able to see a screen perfectly well but be unable to use either a mouse or a keyboard. They would then use software that enables them to dictate instead, such as Dragon Dictation, or they may use the dictation facilities that come with their computer or device. You may have people who are neurodivergent. They may be... --- ### A simple analogy > A website accessibility audit may often reveal inexpensive ways of making your website more accessible quickly. Call us today on 01243 776399. - Published: 2022-12-05 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/a-simple-analogy/ - Categories: Blog Imagine your entire business is represented by this building. Caption: A photo of an old building in a London High Street. It has steps in front of it. The street itself is on a gradient and the pavement is sloping down from left to right. The steps themselves are old and uneven. There are steps to get into your business, but you are not aware that the steps are there. If your customer is in a wheelchair, they are unable to come in. They will go away and spend their money elsewhere. What could you offer? However, if you are aware that the steps are there but you are not able to replace them, for whatever reason, there are still things that you can do, to allow your customer in wheelchairs to spend money with you. You could have a portable ramp on hand You could have a sign next to an easy-to-reach bell, for assistance You could perhaps have another, wheelchair-accessible, entrance at the rear of your building. None of these things alters the fact that the steps are still there but at least you are able to provide an alternative to allow disabled customers to spend money with you. Our audits provide an alternative This is what we do with our accessibility audits. If we find something that prevents disabled people from being able to access your website, we provide you with a "ramp", an immediate alternative, as fixing the problems may take a long time. Nobody expects... --- ### If you widen your doorway, everyone benefits! > Digital inclusivity can be measured through a website accessibility audit. Having one with our team of disabled testers will be enlightening! - Published: 2022-10-24 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/if-you-widen-your-doorway-everyone-benefits/ - Categories: Blog If you have a narrow door, someone in a wheelchair may not be able to get through it. If you have a wide doorway, someone in a wheelchair will get through it easily. So will someone with a pushchair. So will someone carrying lots of bags of shopping. If you make your website accessible, you make life easier for everyone! Start the journey today! If you would like specific advice, please follow this link to make an appointment: https://accessbydesign. uk/services/consultancy/   If you would like to find out about having an audit of your website, please follow this link to make an appointment: https://calendly. com/cliveloseby/accessibility-audit-free-initial-consultation         --- ### Allow me to introduce my amazing Website Accessibility Audit Team! > Having disabled people test your website is the only way to truly understand what the issues may be with your website. Let us help you! - Published: 2022-09-13 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/allow-me-to-introduce-my-amazing-website-accessibility-audit-team/ - Categories: Blog This is my amazing Team! Did you know they all have superpowers? These superpowers give them the most incredible abilities. They can find issues with websites that are not found by other people, including myself. This is despite my working in accessible website design for 15 years and my agency, Access by Design having built the web’s first truly accessible, mobile and tablet-friendly back in 2011. I would always be the first to admit I am always learning but the learning curve I have been on since these amazing superheroes joined me is vertical! I always produce a written audit with lots of technical info for the design agency to work through but the automated stuff is of much less importance. That is where many audits stop. I know this because I have seen them. Simulated tests? ? ? Like that is going to work... Some audits include references to simulated tests. Simulated tests? ? ? Yeah right, like sitting in a wheelchair for 30 minutes is going to give you the slightest clue about what it is like to use one, every day for the rest of your life! My team know what it is really like because they have to use their superpowers every time they go onto a website. They each have their weapon of choice and when I record our live sessions, our clients get an understanding of what it is like that is truly unique. Sometimes it is heartbreaking, to witness, first-hand, the frustrations my... --- ### Website Accessibility Audit for Arun District Council > A large website with a lot of functionality! We have recently completed an audit for Arun District Council. Their website contained a large amount of - Published: 2022-09-07 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-audit-for-a-district-council/ - Categories: Case Studies A large website with a lot of functionality! We have recently completed an audit for Arun District Council. Their website contained a large amount of information and had been revamped a year ago. There was a lot of functionality to test, including: Payment Portal Refuse Collection enquiry Planning enquiries Council Meetings, some of whom were live-streamed Booking appointments Webchat Residents Survey Some of this functionality was outsourced to 3rd party applications, and some of it was developed by the Council’s Website Development Team. Our Team’s feedback was generally very positive! Our team (Iona, Krista, Mede and Sara) each had a series of tasks I had set for them. Given the experiences they often have with our audits, where a lot of basic functionality just does not work, their feedback was generally very positive. They were able to make card payments, find out which day their bins would be collected and complete the resident’s survey without too much difficulty. We were very pleased to see how much thought had already gone into the website. Some challenges began to arise Unfortunately, it was not possible to book an appointment using assistive technology such as a screen reader or voice navigation. The appointment days and times were all clearly presented but it was just not possible to select a date or time slot without using a mouse and was difficult to do with dictation software. This was a great pity, as the previous areas of the website functioned very well with a screen... --- ### Online Learning Platform Accessibility Audit > Website accessibilty applies to web portals just as much as it does to standard websites and requires a specific skillset. Let us help you! - Published: 2022-07-20 - Modified: 2024-01-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/online-learning-platform-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Case Studies Learning platforms do not follow the conventions We recently were asked to perform an accessibility audit on an online learning platform. These platforms are usually accessed through a web portal and require an account to log in. The platforms, of course, fall under the Equality Act, just like a regular website, and they often present their own sets of challenges. Learning platforms are usually simplistic in design, and it would be reasonable to assume that there could be far less that could cause accessibility problems. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case and often it is more challenging. The reason for this is because a website has to follow certain basic rules that pretty much all web designers follow, but with a portal, it is possible to create something freely. The Learning Platform itself had no colour contrast options. This meant that the white background that it had would be particularly tiring for neurodivergent users. There were no options to change the text size either. The online courses looked very straightforward. They consisted of a series of slides similar to what you may come across in a PowerPoint presentation. If you could not use a mouse, you were in trouble! The first slide was the Course Objectives, broken down into three areas. This was represented by 3 boxes with text in each one. They were each covered up with a graphic containing the numbers 1,2 and 3 respectively. You must click on each one in turn, to reveal the text... --- ### Why the Tabbing Order is Important > Website accessibility is so important and it can be boiled down to some simple prinicples. Here is one that everyone can understand. - Published: 2022-07-19 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/why-the-tabbing-order-is-important/ - Categories: Blog Why do we use the tab key? If you are disabled, you will sometimes have to resort to using the tab key to navigate through a web page. It can a long time but sometimes you have to resort to doing it. Screen readers and dictation software are usually quite good at allowing you to shortcut this process and jump to specific parts directly, provided the web page has been marked up correctly, but if a web page has been poorly coded, you have to resort to the basics. This is why the order that the tab key follows is really important, it must flow in a logical way otherwise it can be very confusing for the user. Usually, you would expect to be able to follow the order in which the elements of a page are laid out. You can test this for yourself. I talked about the Tab Test at the end of my TEDx Talk and it involves nothing more complicated than going to your website and pressing the tab key repeatedly. Ideally, you should be able to select every element on the screen: logo, navigation, social media links etc. . before you go onto the main website. If you are lucky, the very first things you may see are what are known as Skip Links. These links allow you to jump past the navigation and go straight to the main content of the page or to something else equally important, such as your accessibility statement or... --- ### 3 things to consider when commissioning an accessibility audit of your website > We use Disabled People with every website accessibility audit we do. It is the best way to truly understand your digital accessibility. - Published: 2022-06-21 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/3-things-to-consider-when-commissioning-an-accessibilty-audit-of-your-website/ - Categories: Blog There are a lot of agencies and individuals who offer website accessibility audits. It can be confusing to know which one to choose, especially as you may not understand a lot of the terminology that is used. Here are 3 simple questions you should ask that will give you some helpful insights. 1) Do you use disabled people when auditing a website? That is the first and most obvious one. How can you state whether a website is accessible for disabled people or not unless you have also had it audited by disabled people? A common response you may get back is something like "we do the manual checking ourselves". The problem is that you can only "simulate" being disabled to a certain extent. You may work in accessible website design but if you do not get real feedback from real, disabled people, how can you really know? If disabled people are used in the audits that is fantastic, of course! That is how it should be. This leads onto the next question. 2) Do you provide documented videos of the audits carried out by disabled people? Again the obvious answer is yes, after all, why wouldn't you? By all means generate a long report going into the code, line by line, but the impact of actually watching a blind person using a screen reader, unable to carry out a basic function on a website, is far greater and ensures it gets resolved far more quickly. This could be, for... --- ### Accessibility Audit for a Travel Company > Understanding what digital accessibily issues there may be with your website is a crucial first step on your digital accessibility journey. - Published: 2022-03-28 - Modified: 2024-11-11 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-audit-for-a-travel-company/ - Categories: Case Studies Analysing the customer journeys A large travel company contacted us because they wanted an accessibility audit of some of the different customer journeys through their website. They were keen to ensure that disabled people were able to use the website effectively and most importantly, book tickets for their journeys. We have a fab team of testers! Our team of testers have different disabilities. Mede is blind and uses a screen-reader (software which ‘reads’ out loud the content of the website and a standard computer keyboard. Iona has no visual impairment but is unable to use either a keyboard or a mouse, using dictation software instead. Sara has extreme ADHD and dyspraxia and struggles with website with popups and do not have contrast options. Our testers share their screens with us and we record their comments. The videos of these live audits certainly offer some fascinating insights for our clients, highlighting a range of issues with a differing range of severity. Challenges with making a simple booking! The booking facility on the website used a date-picker. It was a clear table of dates for the month, laid out in a box, the leaving date was in a box on the left and the return date was in a box on the right. Visually, it was very easy to use. Unfortunately it was the complete opposite for both Mede and Iona. The date picker forced them to go through each date in turn. Once they had selected their correct date, they page... --- ### Accessibility Audit for a Help Portal > Not all Websites are visible to the public! Websites are usually public-facing and more straightforward to audit. If you can find a website and it does - Published: 2022-02-23 - Modified: 2024-10-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/help-portal-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Case Studies Not all Websites are visible to the public! Websites are usually public-facing and more straightforward to audit. If you can find a website and it does not require you to log in to access it, it is clearly designated as publicly accessible. Therefore, falling under the Government Guidelines on Website Accessibility (if it is publicly funded in any way) and under the Equality Act are factors that must be taken into consideration However, even in the case of a website requiring a login, the rules still apply. Many websites we use every day fall into this category, such as Tesco, Facebook, Amazon, LinkedIn and so on. They are just a little more involved when performing an audit because they are not built in the same way as a conventional website might be. However, if someone with a disability could potentially log in to such a website, it is just as important that it is as accessible as a conventional website! Website Accessibility is just as important though! Auditing private websites is always interesting because they do not follow the conventional rules of web design, although they can still be tested against the standard metrics. In this case, we not only had to login with supplied credentials, access to the help portal was also locked to specific IP addresses only. I personally have a static IP address but the vast majority of individuals do not, which means that, on test day, we had to get the IP addresses of our disabled... --- ### Website Accessibility Workshop > A full day to deep dive into all aspects of website accessbiilty, led by CLive Loseby, a TED speaker and expert on the subject. - Published: 2021-07-30 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-workshop-4th-august-2021-at-4pm/ - Categories: Blog We are hosting another website accessibility workshop on Weds 4th August at 4pm, there is limited availability so book now. Registration is free. you have not heard before and you will get some pointers that will protect your business/organisation. https://www. linkedin. com/events/websiteaccessibiltyworkshop6818836734726426625/ This workshop is being managed through LinkedIn, so you will need an active LinkedIn account before you can register for this event. Getting a LinkedIn account is free of charge. If you have any difficulties booking yourself in, please follow this link to send us an email and we will add you to the event ourselves. --- ### Everything you need to know in one video! > A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough interviewed by the wonderful Jill Wilson from the Equality Practice. She had heard that Website Accessibility was - Published: 2021-07-15 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/everything-you-need-to-know-in-one-video/ - Categories: Blog A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough interviewed by the wonderful Jill Wilson from the Equality Practice. She had heard that Website Accessibility was a subject close to my heart and she wanted to find out more about it. I really appreciated the opportunity Jill gave me to explain, in straightforward language, what Website Accessibility means and why it is important. I am very grateful to Jill for her support and interest. In this video I also cover what an Accessibility Statement is and why it is extremely important that every website has one. If you have any questions after watching this video, why not come along to my next Website Accessibility Workshop. Please follow this link to find out more. --- ### The thing about film critics > If you work in accessibile web design, you truly understand the challenges that designers face. This is why we are uniquely placed to help you. - Published: 2021-06-30 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/the-thing-about-film-critics/ - Categories: Blog How many film critics are there who have actually made a movie? Film critics are generally respected and their views on a film can make the difference as to whether a film is a box office smash or withers away, losing a pile of cash in the bargain. Of course this isn’t always the case but have you ever stopped to consider how many film critics there are who have actually made a movie themselves? Going to a film school might give you a lot of academic knowledge on the subject but unless you can actually make a movie yourself, I would would argue that your opinion carries less weight because, unless you have experienced the blood, sweat and tears that go into the creative process of filmmaking, you cannot be considered a deep expert on the subject. What about music critics? Can you think of any music critics who are actually musicians? If you are not a musician, if you do not understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into this creative process, you are just expressing opinions based on what? It is certainly not based on experiential knowledge! What about book reviewers? How many of them have actually written a novel? They may well have studied literature to a high academic level but if they haven’t actually experienced the creative process themselves, truly knowing the blood, sweat and tears that go into creative writing, their opinion is just that. An opinion. What about restaurant critics? How many... --- ### Website accessibility audit for a publicly-funded body > If you work witihn the public sector, you need to comply with Government guidlines regarding the accessibilty of your website. We can help you. - Published: 2021-06-15 - Modified: 2024-05-16 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/website-accessibility-audit-for-a-publicly-funded-body/ - Categories: Case Studies We have been working recently with an organisation that had launched a new website last year. They had been asked by the UK Government to have their website audited and we were invited to put a proposal together. The website itself was large, over 1,000 pages in total and was in fact an amalgamation of 4 previously-existing websites. The people in the organisation were very keen to not just meet the minimum UK Government requirements but to actually make their website as accessible as possible. They felt that many of the users of the website would perhaps be of a poorer educational standard and the clients wanted to make it as easy as possible for such people to use. The costs of auditing every page on this website were prohibitive and, instead, the clients had chosen 20 pages which they felt were representative of the website as a whole. I performed an initial audit of the home page, using a combination of automated metrics (follow this link) to find out more about automated metrics) and manual checking (follow this link) to find out more about manual checking, which I then presented to the client before moving onto the individual pages audits. When we first reviewed the website, it appeared to pass most of the metrics with flying colours, with no more than 1 or occasionally 2 errors on each page. It appeared that the website would be able to satisfy the Government requirements reasonably easily. The website already had an... --- ### NHS Website Accessibility Audit > We love working with our clients witihin the NHS, helping them with their website accessibilty through our live testing with disabled people! - Published: 2021-06-15 - Modified: 2024-05-16 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/nhs-website-accessibility-audit/ - Categories: Case Studies We have been working with a clinical commissioning group in the NHS. They approached us because they were aware that their website had some limitations and were concerned about how accessible it was for visitors with accessibility needs. The website was built in WordPress and the template was used by several hospitals that fell under their remit. The idea was that if they were able to improve the accessibility of this website, the template could be rolled out across the other hospitals, allowing each one to benefit. To complicate matters, the website itself had been built by another agency. The agency we worked with had secured the contract to maintain and improve the existing website. Every web designer tends to have their own particular way of coding and it can be challenging to pick up and develop someone else's code, particularly if there is little or no documentation. When it comes to a website accessibility audit however, we are not concerned with how a website is built or with which coding language. Websites generate code that is displayed in a browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) and it is this generated code that we audit. Our process always begins with an evaluation of the home page and an overview of the website. We always run the site through the automated metrics to see how it performs. Follow this link if you would like to learn more about automated metrics. There were 13 accessibility errors on the home page. An example... --- ### When is an audit not an audit > Consider the credntials of your website accessibilty audit supplier carefully. Here are some simnple questions to ask that will be a massive help! - Published: 2021-06-13 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/when-is-an-audit-not-an-audit/ - Categories: Blog When you hear the word audit, what do you think of? What are the words that come to mind? Detailed? Thorough? Comprehensive? You might imagine that an accessibility audit of your website would be any or all of these at once, with a hefty price tag to boot! One of the reasons we set up this website is to be able to inform and educate website owners so that they will have a better understanding of what a website accessibility audit should consist of. Unfortunately, it is a completely unregulated industry: anyone could put up a website and call themselves an expert on website accessibility and most people would be none the wiser. This is why it is in your own interests to talk to anyone that you might be considering to engage for a website accessibility audit and find out from them exactly what they are going to do and how much they are likely to charge. If you read through our pages on Metrics (follow this link to go to the Metrics pages) and Manual Testing (follow this link to go to the Manual Testing page), you will have a better idea of what should be involved, if it is done correctly. As with websites, there is little or no correlation between the price of an audit and how comprehensive it is, so here are a few questions for you to consider. Has the company any first-hand knowledge of accessible website design? Can they provide you with examples... --- ### Accessiblity Audit for a Parish Council > If you are a Parish, District or County Council, your website will need to comply with Government Accessibility Guidelines. We can help you. - Published: 2021-06-11 - Modified: 2024-03-07 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessiblity-audit-for-a-parish-council/ - Categories: Case Studies We have recently worked with a Parish Council. They had contacted us because Parish Councils fall under a Government Directive which requires them to achieve a certain level of accessibility, as a publicly-funded body. They had actually already paid for a website audit but had felt it was very poor value for money and was completely lacking in information. There are different levels of audits that we do, each one involves a certain level of work and cost. After their initial enquiry, a quick look at the website told us straightaway that the build quality was so poor that paying for a detailed audit would not be necessary and we suggested they chose to have a basic audit instead. A basic accessibility audit consists of the automated metrics followed by initial manual checks on the home page. The issues with the website were as follows: There were 5 Priority A errors but no Priority AA errors. If you have read our page about Priority AA, you will be aware that we have discovered that may well-meaning web designers have followed the UK Government guidance to the letter and ensured that there were no Priority AA errors whilst not resolving the Priority A issues at the same time. The need to do this is clearly stated in the guidelines but unfortunately, it is too easy to overlook this if you lack sufficient knowledge of building accessible websites. Other issues picked up by the automated metrics included: The font size was too... --- ### Inclusion means different things to different people > Educating the world in website accessibilty is our mission and we make the most of every opportunity to talk about digital inclusivity! - Published: 2021-05-19 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/inclusion-means-different-things-to-different-people/ - Categories: Blog What does inclusivity mean to you? Including everyone? Of course, what else could it mean? Recently I attended a webinar on inclusivity. There were several speakers on the subject from different backgrounds. They had all battled with discrimination on the grounds of their gender, race, sexuality or disability. The person talking about disability was a successful London GP who was now completely blind following a brain seizure. He was now using his story to promote the cause of equal access for disabled people and spoke with great passion and conviction, as did everyone else. They all had their own personal story and I found them very moving. Three of them remained for the Q&A afterwards, but unfortunately, the Doctor was not one of them. I had submitted the following question in advance: "What are the views of the panel with regard to website accessibility". The question was put to the panel and the first two people were somewhat hesitant in their response and then started talking about how the majority of visitors to their website were women or from an ethnic background and how important it was that the language used on the website was welcoming and inclusive so that no-one felt left out. They had a live chat facility so I used it to gently point out that I was talking about the accessibility of their website for people with disabilities. Nobody answered. It was clear that the notion of website accessibility for disabled people was something that had... --- ### Terms of Website Use > These are the terms of use with our website dedicated to Website Accessibility Audits. We would be delighted to help you, call us today. - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2024-01-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/terms-of-website-use/ - Categories: Legal PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE This terms of use (together with the documents referred to in it) tells you the terms of use on which you may make use of our website, whether as a guest or a registered user. Use of our site includes accessing, browsing, or registering to use our site. Please read these terms of use carefully before you start to use our site, as these will apply to your use of our site. We recommend that you print a copy of this for future reference. By using our site, you confirm that you accept these terms of use and that you agree to comply with them. If you do not agree to these terms of use, you must not use our site. Other applicable terms These terms of use refer to the following additional terms, which also apply to your use of our site: Our Privacy Policy (available on this website under the Legal section), which sets out the terms on which we process any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us. By using our site, you consent to such processing and you warrant that all data provided by you is accurate. Our Acceptable Use Policy (available on this website under the Legal section), which sets out the permitted uses and prohibited uses of our site. When using our site, you must comply with this Acceptable Use Policy. Our Cookie Policy (available on this website... --- ### Privacy Policy > This is privacy notice of 333 Media Services Ltd Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number: 16241789 Registered Address: St John's House, St - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2025-03-05 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/privacy-policy/ - Categories: Legal This is privacy notice of 333 Media Services Ltd Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number: 16241789 Registered Address: St John's House, St John's St, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1UU We respect your privacy and are determined to protect your personal data. The purpose of this privacy notice is to inform you as to how we look after your personal data when you visit our website, regardless of where you visit it from. We’ll also tell you about your privacy rights and how the data protection law protects you. What is the purpose of this privacy notice? This privacy notice aims to give you information on how we collect and process your personal data through your use of this website, including any data you may provide through this website when you sign up to our newsletter, purchase a product or service or take part in a competition. This website is not intended for children and we do not knowingly collect data relating to children. You must read this privacy notice together with any other privacy notice we may provide on specific occasions when we are collecting or processing personal data about you so that you are fully aware of how and why we are using your data. This privacy notice supplements the other notices and is not intended to override them. Data controller Clive Loseby is the controller and is responsible for your personal data (collectively referred to as 333 Media Services Limited, "we", "us" or "our" in this privacy... --- ### Cookie Policy > Our Cookie Policy explains the cookies we use on our website. We do not have a Cookie Banner as they break website accessibility. - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2024-01-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/cookie-policy/ - Categories: Legal Information about our use of cookies Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive. We use the following cookies: Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services. Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily. Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region). Targeting cookies. These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed.... --- ### Accessibility Information > We, at Access by Audit, really care that our website is accessible to everyone, regardless of your ability or disability, your race, religion or gender. - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2025-02-17 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/accessibility-information/ - Categories: Legal We, at Access by Audit, really care that our website is accessible to everyone, regardless of your ability or disability, your race, religion or gender. We have working in website accessibility since 2006 and make every effort to ensure our website is as accessible as possible. However, if you find any problems with using the website, please accept our apologies and allow us to put it right. Please call us on +44-1243-776399 or send us an email so we can resolve it for you. This statement is to give you more information on what we have done to make your experience as accessible as possible. Using this website The main areas of each web page are defined by Landmarks There is a structured use of Headings Jump menus are provided to allow you to navigate directly to the main content of the page, the Site Map and this Accessibility Statement. These can be reached by using the Tab key after the page has loaded. The Site Map on this website contains links to all the pages on this website in a clean, structured list, which may be easier to use. We have developed a set of accessibility tools that do not rely on 3rd party plugins or overlays, as these make websites less accessible. We believe that the only way to truly make our websites accessible for all of our visitors is to include such tools within our code.   If you wish to change the text sizes or the screen contrast, please... --- ### Acceptable Use Policy > Read our policy explaining the terms under which we provide out content regarding website accessibility and digital accessibilty in general. - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2024-01-29 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/acceptable-use-policy/ - Categories: Legal This acceptable use policy sets out the terms between you and us under which you may access our website. This acceptable use policy applies to all users of, and visitors to, our site. Your use of our site means that you accept, and agree to abide by, all the policies in this acceptable use policy, which supplement our terms of website use (available on this website under the Legal section). This website is a site operated by the company named on this website. All relevant company details and regulatory authorities are on this website. Prohibited uses You may use our site only for lawful purposes. You may not use our site: In any way that breaches any applicable local, national or international law or regulation. In any way that is unlawful or fraudulent, or has any unlawful or fraudulent purpose or effect. For the purpose of harming or attempting to harm minors in any way. To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use or re-use any material which does not comply with our content standards below. To transmit, or procure the sending of, any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising or promotional material or any other form of similar solicitation (spam). To knowingly transmit any data, send or upload any material that contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time-bombs, keystroke loggers, spyware, adware or any other harmful programs or similar computer code designed to adversely affect the operation of any computer software or hardware. You also agree: Not to reproduce, duplicate, copy or re-sell... --- ### Site Map > List of pages of a our access by audit website - Published: 2018-05-23 - Modified: 2024-02-09 - URL: https://accessibilityaudit.co.uk/site-map/ - Categories: Legal --- ---