We help corporations and organizations in the UK provide accessible websites. Whether it’s a one-person business or a complex team of developers, our comprehensive accessibility services allow you to meet the baseline of accessibility legislation set by EQA.
What do we offer?
Web Accessibility
Auditing
Our web accessibility experts perform website accessibility audits that prioritize manual testing and help you make your website in compliance with EQA 2010. During this first step to an inclusive, accessible website, we manually review each component of the website including
- Identifying accessibility barriers
- Providing descriptive explanations of each accessibility defect
- Providing personalized repair recommendations for each defect
Web Accessibility
Repair
Our accessibility trained developers will implement the repairs suggested in your audit to ensure accurate application and full defect removal. Our accessibility repair process is quick and keeps you from having to touch any code because we do it for you. Our repair process includes
- Manually performing accessibility repairs
- Repairs on WordPress, Shopify, Joomla!, and other custom platforms
- Accessibility verification in each phase and at the completion of the repair project
PDF / Document Accessibility
Remediation
We repair the PDF documents that you link from your website to ensure that they comply with UK web accessibility laws and are available to the broadest range of users. Our PDF repair service includes
- Manually performing accessibility repairs
- Adding an accessible tagging structure
- Verifying accessibility throughout and at the completion of the repair project
Web Accessibility
Training
We know web accessibility and are willing to share our knowledge. Our web accessibility training empowers developers and decision makers with the ability to create and maintain an accessible website. Our training includes
- Live instruction by an accessibility expert
- Personalized instruction according to the digital accessibility needs of your organisation
- Interacting to ensure understanding
In addition to the services listed here, Be Accessible offers website prototype reviews, website accessibility consulting, and document remediation training.
Benefits of an Equality Act 2010 compliant website
Inclusive website
An accessible website enables independence for disabled individuals to navigate, read, and understand web content. As a result, disabled individuals do not have to rely on others to complete daily tasks, perform business transactions, or enjoy entertainment. A UK website that is in compliance with the Equality Act 2010 ensures that everyone enjoys these same privileges.
An accessible website applies universal design which in turn provides your content and services equally to everyone regardless of ability.
Increase market share
An Equality Act complying website increases search engine optimization (SEO), and as a result, increases market share. The techniques used to create an accessible website experience directly correspond to the techniques used to increase SEO.
For example, elements such as page titles, headings, descriptive alt tags on images, and accessible links are used for both web accessibility and SEO. When you update your website to comply with accessibility standards, you enjoy the added benefits of increased SEO rankings.
Avoid non-compliance legal action
In addition to discriminating against users with disabilities, corporations/organisations who fail to comply with the UK non-discrimination laws are at risk of legal action.
The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) examines public sector websites and mobile apps each year to check accessibility. If the CDDO determines that your website is not accessible, they will publish the decision which may result in extensive legal fees and loss of reputation.
How we make your business comply with UK web accessibility regulations
As of 23 September 2018, UK public sector body websites and mobile apps are obliged by law to meet accessibility standards. This legal requirement applies to
- central government organisations
- local government organisations
- some charities
- other non-government organisations
Additionally, UK organisations offering public services and products and services provided by private businesses are also required to be accessible according to the Equality Act 2010.
An accessible website grants access to all of your web content and functionality to the broadest range of users including users with disabilities. A website meeting the Equality Act 2010 criteria for compliance allows assistive technology such as screen readers to read and present all of the content on each web page.
We test websites according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) which is required to ensure compliance and accessibility. Your web accessibility audit will let you know if you are in compliance with the Equality Act 2010, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), and Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
We understand that providing an accessible website is more than just including video captions and alternative (alt) text to images. The following are just a few of the elements that our accessibility team of expert auditors and developers test and repair to ensure that your UK website fully meets accessibility standards and laws.
Headings
A semantic heading structure ensures that all users, including screen reader users, understand the structure of the web page.
We will evaluate your heading structure to test for
- Presence of HTML headings
- Correct use of HTML headings
- Heading hierarchy
- Accurate descriptions
Colors
Website accessibility includes providing sufficient color contrast and correct use of color..
During your accessibility audit, sighted users will test all of the colors on the website to verify
- Sufficient color contrast
- Correct use of color
- Sufficient color contrast for interactive elements (UI controls)
Images
Images add visual aesthetics to a website. Images require alternatives such as alt text to describe their content to screen reader users.
We will view images to verify
- Presence of alt text
- Accuracy of alt text
- Misuse of images of text
- Decorative images
Documents
Many organisations provide information about their services via PDF documents. Our audit process includes
- Document review
- Feedback about the documents’ accessibility
If needed, Be Accessible will also repair your documents so that they include the accessible tagging structure needed for screen reader users to read the document.
UK Web Accessibility FAQs
What does a WCAG accessibility audit include?
Be Accessible’s website accessibility audits include
- Manual accessibility testing by an expert auditor
- Usability testing by disabled individuals
- Automated accessibility testing
- Audit report that includes an overall summary of results
-
Detailed spreadsheet that includes the following for each defect:
- Location
- WCAG criteria violated
- Expected result
- Cause of defect
- Custom repair recommendation
- Screenshots/Video shares
- Links to resources to help with repairs
- Virtual meeting to discuss findings
- Accessibility statement
- Repair verification
How can I make my website DDA compliant?
The first step is to obtain your UK website accessibility audit by an experienced auditor. Next, complete the recommended repairs and attend web accessibility training to ensure continued compliance.
You will also need to place an accessibility statement on your website that includes information about any part of your website that does not meet accessibility standards and why. Your accessibility statement should also include instructions on how users can access alternatives to inaccessible content and how to contact you (and the government) to report accessibility barriers.
What’s the difference between an Equality Act 2010 compliant website, a DDA compliant website, and a website that is in compliance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018?
Although there are different regulations that require accessible websites, providing a WCAG compliant website will allow you to comply with all of the requirements and standards UK laws require. WCAG compliance ensures that your website is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Following WCAG allows you to provide accessible content and reach the broadest range of users possible.
First, it is important to note that within the UK (with the exception of Northern Ireland), the EQA replaces the DDA and consolidates most equality laws into one Act.
EQA applies at work, in education, and in relation to services and public functions.Other organisations, whether public, private, or charitable, that carry out public functions or services must also comply with EQA.
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 applies to all UK public sector organisations except
- Non-government organizations (unless they provide essential services to the public, are aimed at disabled people, or are mostly financed by public funding)
- Public sector broadcasters and their subsidiaries
Primary and secondary schools or nurseries – except for the content people need in order to use their services, for example a form that lets you outline school meal preferences are partially exempt. Partially exempt organisations must publish an accessibility statement on their website or mobile app.
The Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations require websites to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Additionally, if there are any areas of the website that do not meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, the public sector body must include this in a published accessibility statement.
As of September 2020, all public sector bodies should have become compliant with the Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations.
Although there are different regulations that require accessible websites, providing a WCAG compliant website will allow you to comply with all of the requirements. WCAG compliance ensures that your website is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Following WCAG allows you to provide accessible content and reach the broadest range of users possible.
If a UK website is not EQA compliant, what barriers can a user encounter that prevent them from using the content?
Websites that are not compliant with web accessibility standards in the UK will exclude users from accessing content. A few of the barriers and an inaccessible website cause include
- Blocking keyboard users from accessing links and form controls
- Preventing hearing impaired users from accessing video content
- Causing confusion and lack of access to visually impaired users
- Preventing users with cognitive disabilities from finding and understanding content
Does Be Accessible perform automated accessibility scans?
Yes. In addition to our manual web accessibility audit process, we will also perform a full site automated accessibility scan using our web accessibility checker, ADARocket. While automated testing has its limits, ADARocket will perform the tests that can be automated. Defects reported by ADARocket are reviewed and incorporated into the final audit report.
To assist our clients with ongoing accessibility checking, Be Accessible will also provide clients with free access to ADARocket.
What our clients say
PDF Repair
Great service, fast turnaround. Very easy to work with and responsive to all questions promptly. Would use… Read full testimonial “PDF Repair”
Web Accessibility Audit
Great work, solid communication, a fair price, and a comprehensive final… Read full testimonial “Web Accessibility Audit”
PDF Remediation
Excellent customer service. Our rep, Lee, was very courteous, responsive, and diligent. Turn around was quick, and there was great communication. We also compared quotes, and their rates were very… Read full testimonial “PDF Remediation”
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