Web Design Blog
Inclusive Web Design: How To Embrace Accessibility
Accessibility isn’t just nice to have anymore. With 16 million people in the UK registered as having a disability, digital inclusion is a must-have. If your website isn’t inclusive, then you risk excluding 1 in 5 people. If that wasn’t enough, you also run the risk of being discriminatory, which can really impact your business and the way your audience perceives your brand.
Digital Accessibility Explained
Digital accessibility involves making websites, tools, and other digital services accessible and usable for everyone. Those who have visual impairments, motor difficulties, or even cognitive impairments deserve a good experience and reasonable accommodations when browsing the web. Public and private sectors share this responsibility as well. After all, accessibility isn’t just about including people; it’s about creating a world that works for everyone, without discrimination.
What are the Current Laws in the UK?
The current laws in the UK include the Equality Act 2010. This requires every business in the UK to make reasonable adjustments so that those who have disabilities can be accommodated. Showing any kind of discrimination against someone who has a disability is against the law. There’s also the Public Sector Bodies Act. This requires all public sector websites to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standard. They also have to publish accessibility statements and identify any areas that may be non-compliant.
Laws like this tend to be based on international standards and include WCAG guidelines. In 2025, some updates were made as well. The European Accessibility Act came into force in June 2025, and even though it is not a law that is specific to the UK, it does apply to those who sell products or provide services to the EU. This will affect your website if you happen to run an e-commerce store that sells internationally. The EEA works by standardiasing digital accessibility. It also covers websites as well as mobile apps. Each EU country publishes its own methods, so you need to meet the regulations set out if you want to continue trading within those markets.
Complying with Current Laws
If you want to make sure that you are doing your bit and complying with current laws, then you need to make sure that you are meeting WCAG standards. Businesses can start by conducting a simple website accessibility audit, which will help you identify areas where your site falls short. You can also implement improvements as time goes on, as this will help you along the way. Some of the best practices you can follow include:
- Clear and readable text
- Text alternatives for images used
- Keyboard navigation
- Screen reader optimisation, along with other assistive tech
- Captions or transcriptions for media
- Colour contrasting for additional readability
If you happen to be building a new website, then it is a good idea to choose a developer who is experienced in things like accessibility. Building inclusion from the ground up is one of the best things you can do, because if you try and retrofit, then this will not only be more costly, but also more complex in the long run.
Supporting Compliance
If you need some help supporting compliance as a whole, there are some things you can do. Some tools are designed to help you access and improve accessibility across the board. WAVE, for example, highlights issues on website pages. Lighthouse is also an open-source Chrome app that audits performance, while ensuring accessibility. AudioEye is another one to keep in mind if you need some help ensuring accessibility. It uses automation to detect any issues that could be present on your site. Lastly, colour contrast tools and analysers can be used to ensure that there is enough contrast on the pages of your site, which is a great way for you to meet the needs of your audience.
Is your Website Compliant?
Accessibility is not a one-time task. As technology and regulations evolve, audits and updates are essential. Using a web design service that understands how to be compliant is more important than ever. A reliable web design agency can help you to avoid falling behind while giving you the foundation you need to meet both local and international requirements. They can also future-proof your site by taking the necessary steps to make sure that your site is designed with accessibility in mind.
If you want to find out more about accessible web design Sutton Coldfield, then get in touch with us today.
