Did you know that in the UK, 1 in 5 people live with a disability? Add to that the many who face temporary conditions that impact how they navigate websites, and you begin to see the why accessibility considerations are so crucial.
As a business, ensuring your website is accessible isn’t just the right thing to do- it’s also a legal requirement. An inaccessible site could mean missed opportunities, a limited audience, and even potential legal risks. At Swan Creative, our expert website design and build team is here to help you create a website that is both legally compliant and user-friendly, ensuring you reach the broadest audience possible while avoiding legal pitfalls.
What is website accessibility?
At its core, website accessibility means designing your site so that everyone, including people with disabilities (whether permanent or temporary), can use it without barriers. For example, someone with visual impairments might rely on a screen reader, while someone recovering from a broken arm may need to navigate via keyboard instead of a mouse.
Why does accessibility matter?
Simply put, making your website accessible ensures you’re not leaving anyone behind.
A website that isn’t accessible isn’t just a missed opportunity, it can drive away potential customers who cannot access the information, make purchases, or fully engage with your services.
The POUR Principles of Compliance
To stay compliant, UK websites should adhere to the WCAG web accessibility principles, often remembered by the acronym POUR:
- Perceivable: All users should be able to perceive and interact with your website content. This means making sure your site accommodates people with vision, hearing, and other sensory impairments.
- Operable: Your site should be navigable by all users, including those who rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse.
- Understandable: Your website’s interface should be intuitive and its content easy to understand, no matter the user’s background or ability.
- Robust: Your website should be compatible with a wide range of technologies, including assistive tools like screen readers.
Simple ways to improve your website’s accessibility
Here are some practical ways we can help make your site more accessible:
- Alternative Text: We add descriptive alt text to images so they can be understood by screen readers.
- Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring that all users, including those who rely on keyboards, can access every part of your site.
- Descriptive Links: Instead of vague phrases like “Click here,” we use descriptive link texts that tell users exactly where they’ll go.
- Accessible Forms: We make sure your forms are properly labelled and easy to navigate for all users, including those using assistive technologies.
- Multimedia: We provide captions for videos and transcripts for audio, ensuring everyone can enjoy your content.
These are just a few ways we can help. Get in touch to discover more improvements we can make to enhance your site’s accessibility.
How Swan Creative can help
At Swan Creative, we believe accessibility is the foundation of a better, more inclusive web. Our team of designers and developers specialises in creating websites that are not only visually appealing and functional but also accessible to all users. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance an existing site, we’ll ensure that your website meets all the necessary accessibility standards.
Contact us today to begin the conversation about how we can improve your websites accessibility.
Real life results
How Swan Creative helped Elize Partners create and accessible website
Recently, we helped Elize Partners, a leading Swiss-based talent solutions firm, to design and build a new, accessible website that not only met legal standards but also reflected their commitment to inclusivity. For Elize, accessibility was more than just a legal necessity, it was an essential feature that aligned with their mission to reach a diverse audience.
Our web design team focused on delivering an intuitive, user-friendly experience that adhered to accessibility guidelines. This included adding alt text, enabling keyboard navigation, and more. But we didn’t stop there. We also integrated UserWay software to provide additional accessibility features such as dyslexia-friendly fonts, adjustable contrast, enlarged cursors, and the ability to easily highlight links, ensuring an inclusive and seamless experience for all users.
Let’s make your website work for everyone!
Don’t let accessibility be a barrier to your success. With Swan Creative, you can build a website that not only looks great but also works for everyone. Get in touch with us today, and let’s create a more inclusive, accessible website that reaches and resonates with all users.
