Website Accessibility – Digital Access for all

All public sector websites will need to meet website accessibility standards by 23 September 2020, so that people who use assistive technology or have additional needs can easily access services and information.

The regulations to date are not entirely clear about who constitutes a public sector operation. However, if your organisation receives public-funding, then you will be required to comply with these mandatory directives.

This new law, The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 applies to websites, downloadable documents, mobile apps, intranets and extranets, which means wide-ranging implications for councils, government agencies and the education sector.

Non-government organisations such as charities, schools or nurseries are exempt from the accessibility regulations, except for content that the public need to access their services. Public sector broadcasters and their subsidiaries are also exempt. Note: the above are only exempt if they do not provide services that are essential to the public or aimed at people with assisted needs.