From September 2019, all public sector websites in the UK will be legally obliged to comply with new accessibility standards.
Each organisation must also publish an Accessibility Statement, detailing alternative ways to find inaccessible information and providing contact details for the website owner.
The new accessibility regulations are called ‘The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018’. This new law enforces the EU Directive on the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile applications.
The regulations are not totally new: they are an extension of the existing Government Digital Service (GDS) guidelines on accessibility. The aim of the regulations is to make public sector websites accessible for all users, especially those with disabilities.
The most notable change is the requirement for each website to publish an Accessibility Statement. Primarily, the statement will guide users on alternative ways to access information. Like a Privacy Policy, the statement must also include contact information for users to get in touch with the website owner if an issue arises.
Any websites published since September 2018 will need to comply with the new laws by September 2019. Older websites may require more extensive adjustments, so they have an extended deadline, in 2020.
Website Type |
Deadline for Compliance |
New public sector website (published since 22nd September 2018) |
22nd September 2019 |
All other public sector websites |
22nd September 2020 |
Public sector mobile apps |
22nd June 2021 |
The new regulations govern public sector bodies, including central and local government organisations, as well as some charities and non-government organisations (NGOs).
The following organisations are exempt from the 2018 regulations:
Some public sector organisations can apply for a partial exemption, if compliance will be a ‘disproportionate burden’. This means if the burden of implementing all accessibility regulations outweighs the potential benefits for users, compliance may be waved.
All public sector websites must be ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’ for all users. This includes considerations for users with impaired vision or hearing, motor difficulties, or cognitive impairments. Therefore, websites and apps must:
To prepare for the new regulations, we recommend the following actions:
Every public sector website will need to have an Accessibility Statement available to guide users.
The first step is to audit your existing website thoroughly, to identify any areas that may need to be acknowledged in the statement.
Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, your Accessibility Statement needs to:
Of course, Accessibility Statements must be published in a fully accessible form and follow a consistent format. The statement must also be updated annually, to present the most relevant information.
See an example Accessibility Statement on gov.uk.
An accessible website will enable as many people as possible to use and benefit from your online content. Luckily for content editors, digital accessibility guidelines overlap with SEO best practice, to help you reach wider audiences with your content.
Make sure that your web content at least satisfies the following recommendations:
Make content easy to find:
Make content easy to understand:
Provide Text Alternatives to Media Content:
Use Simple Font and Formatting:
For further reading, explore our Accessibility 101 Guide and read the official Accessibility Reading List available on the government website.
For further guidance on designing a user-friendly and accessible website, contact our team of accessibility experts for a free consultation.
CTI Digital have produced accessibility compliant public sector websites for organisations including Greater London Authority and British Council.