What is the British standard for accessibility?
Website accessibility in the UK is primarily governed by two sets of regulations: The Equality Act 2010 and The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/852 or S.I. 2018/952).
The Equality Act 2010 applies to public organizations and most private businesses that provide public services, while The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 set clear accessibility requirements, specifically for public-sector websites and mobile applications.
Compliance with UK Web Accessibility Laws is mandatory
By referencing the EN 301 549 standard, implementing the EU Web Accessibility Directive (WAD), and aligning with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the UK web accessibility law enables millions of users to access online content and digital services – regardless of their disability. For affected organizations, compliance with these requirements is mandatory (except where specific exemptions apply), and includes:
- Mandate for reasonable adjustments: All UK service providers, including website operators, are required to make “reasonable adjustments” so as to ensure their products, services, and information are easily accessible to individuals with disabilities.
- Compliance standard: Websites and mobile apps must conform to the international standard WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
- Accessibility statement requirement: Public sector bodies are legally required to publish an accessibility statement on their websites and mobile apps, outlining compliance status, known accessibility barriers, and improvement plans.
- Scope of application (public sector): The Public Sector Bodies Regulations apply to public websites, mobile apps, intranets, and extranets used by disabled employees working in or with the public sector.
- Accessibility by design: Organizations building IT infrastructure and digital services must consider accessibility from the start of the development.
- Auditing & review: Accessibility audits should be performed upon entering Private (Closed) Beta and again upon entering Public (Open) Beta, and repeated regularly to ensure lasting compliance in the ever-evolving digital setting.
Main Areas of Focus: The P.O.U.R. Principle
Perceivable
UK web accessibility laws mandate that content must be easily accessible to individuals with different disabilities, such as hearing or vision impairments. This may involve providing alternatives for content, such as text for images.
Operable
All users should be able to navigate and interact with the content with ease, which can be achieved in a variety of ways (e.g., keyboard-friendly menus or integration for screen readers).
Understandable
The information on the website (both for digital content and the user interface) should be clear and consistent, which can entail using plain language and/or adding multi-lingual support.
Robust
Content must be compatible with a wide range of devices and assistive technologies, such as screen reading, magnification, speech recognition, and similar software.
Adherence to UK Web Accessibility Law is Critical
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01
Mitigate legal & enforcement risks
Non-compliance exposes your organization to unnecessary investigations and legal proceedings, enforcement actions, and significant financial penalties, as well as being publicly named by the CDDO, which can stain your reputation.
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02
Avoid customer & public loss
With 1 in 5 people in the UK having a long-term disability, failing to ensure inclusivity means you’re losing 16 million potential customers/users. Worse, you risk damaging your reputation for social responsibility and losing the trust of the public who rely on your services.
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03
Reap strategic & operational benefits
Websites that comply with the UK accessibility law work better for all users, not just people with disabilities. They’re generally faster, more intuitive to use, and the content is easier to understand – all of which can help them rank higher in search results, improving your online visibility.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Who does the UK Accessibility Law apply to?
Based on the nature of the organization (public vs. private) and the services it provides, the UK web accessibility law applies to:
Entities covered by the Equality Act 2010 (general obligation):
- All UK service providers,
- All public sector organizations,
- Private businesses that provide services to the public,
- Individuals who provide public services.
Entities Covered by the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (specific digital mandate):
- Public sector bodies (central and local government organizations),
- Digital assets (websites and mobile apps; public-facing portals, intranets, and extranets used by disabled employees in public sectors; documents, images, videos, and other digital content),
- Business-to-Government (B2G) organizations (indirectly impacted – the organization purchasing the service is legally responsible for the product meeting compliance requirements).
Who monitors accessibility regulations in the UK?
Public sector compliance monitoring falls under the Government Digital Service (GDS) jurisdiction, which can carry out audits, publish reports, and order organizations to fix compliance issues.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) enforces compliance in England, Scotland, and Wales, while the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) oversees the enforcement in Northern Ireland. Both institutions can impose investigations, issue notices of unlawful acts, and initiate legal proceedings against organizations that do not comply with the website accessibility law in the UK.
What is the UK equivalent of ADA?
The Equality Act 2010 is widely considered to be the UK law’s equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as it protects people with disabilities from discrimination and calls for “reasonable adjustments” to make (digital) services, products, and content accessible.
What is the law on reasonable adjustments UK?
The concept of “reasonable adjustment” is the key feature of the Equality Act 2010 and, by extension, the UK website accessibility law. It states that organizations must make changes to make sure they avoid putting individuals with disabilities at a disadvantage, whether they be users, customers, or employees.
The “reasonable” part means that the adjustments must be practical and proportionate to the affected organization’s capacities, taking into account the factors such as:
- The effectiveness of changes (i.e., will they actually remove or reduce the barrier);
- The cost of implementing changes compared to the organization’s resources;
- Size of the organization (bigger ones are expected to do more);
- How disruptive will it be to implement the changes;
- Availability of simpler alternatives (both in terms of implementation and effectiveness).
Who can help my organization achieve compliance with the UK web accessibility law?
includeUs is here to help your organisation ensure full compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, positioning you as the paragon of inclusivity in your industry and beyond.
Reach out to us today for a free consultation, and discover how you can make your websites and apps accessible, reduce legal liability, and deliver enjoyable experiences to all your users – all while improving your online presence!