The ultimate guide to website accessibility for Somerset businesses
The Ultimate Guide to Website Accessibility for Somerset Businesses
Website accessibility isn't just about doing the right thing—it's about opening your doors to everyone and ensuring your Somerset business doesn't miss out on potential customers. With over 14 million people in the UK having some form of disability, making your website accessible means you're creating an inclusive experience that benefits all users whilst potentially avoiding legal complications.
Whether you're running a café in Bath, a consultancy in Bristol, or a retail business in Keynsham, understanding website accessibility can transform how effectively your site serves your community. Let's explore exactly what you need to know and how to implement it properly.
What Is Website Accessibility?
Website accessibility means designing and developing your site so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with it effectively. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have learning difficulties, cognitive limitations, limited movement, or speech disabilities.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 provide the international standard for web accessibility, organised around four main principles:
Perceivable
Information must be presented in ways users can perceive, including alternative text for images and captions for videos.
Operable
Interface components must be operable by everyone, including keyboard navigation and sufficient time to read content.
Understandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable, with clear language and predictable functionality.
Robust
Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of assistive technologies.
Why Accessibility Matters for Your Business
Beyond the moral imperative, there are compelling business reasons to prioritise accessibility:
Market Reach and Revenue
The "purple pound"—the spending power of disabled people and their families—is worth over £274 billion annually in the UK. By making your website accessible, you're tapping into this significant market segment that many of your competitors might be overlooking.
Legal Protection
Under the Equality Act 2010, UK businesses have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. Whilst website accessibility requirements aren't explicitly defined, there have been increasing legal challenges, and the government has indicated that WCAG 2.1 AA compliance represents good practice.
SEO Benefits
Many accessibility practices align with good SEO. Alt text for images, proper heading structures, clear navigation, and descriptive link text all help search engines understand your content better whilst making it more accessible to users with disabilities.
Planning a new website or considering a redesign? Our team has over 30 years of experience building accessible, user-friendly websites for businesses across Somerset. We'll ensure your site works for everyone from day one.
View Our Web Design ServicesKey Accessibility Features to Implement
Here are the most important accessibility features every Somerset business should implement on their website:
Every informative image needs descriptive alt text that conveys the same information the image provides. Decorative images should have empty alt attributes (alt="").
Ensure all interactive elements can be reached and activated using only a keyboard. This includes visible focus indicators and logical tab order.
Text must have adequate contrast against its background. WCAG AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
Use heading tags (H1, H2, H3) in logical order to create a clear document outline that screen reader users can navigate efficiently.
Links should clearly describe their destination or function. Avoid generic phrases like "click here" or "read more".
Common Accessibility Mistakes to Avoid
Many businesses inadvertently create barriers on their websites. Here are the most common mistakes we see:
| Common Mistake | Impact | Easy Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing alt text on images | Screen readers can't describe images to users | Add descriptive alt attributes to all informative images |
| Poor colour contrast | Text becomes unreadable for users with vision impairments | Use colour contrast checking tools and adjust colours |
| Keyboard traps | Users get stuck in interactive elements | Ensure all interactive elements can be exited with keyboard |
| Auto-playing media | Disorients users and interferes with screen readers | Provide pause/stop controls or avoid auto-play entirely |
| Inaccessible forms | Users can't complete important actions like contact forms | Label all form fields clearly and provide error messages |
Testing Your Website's Accessibility
Regular testing helps you identify and fix accessibility issues before they impact your users. Here's how to approach it:
Automated Testing Tools
Start with automated tools like WAVE, axe, or Lighthouse accessibility audits. These catch common issues but won't find everything—they typically identify about 30% of accessibility problems.
Manual Testing
Try navigating your site using only your keyboard. Can you reach every link and form? Are focus indicators visible? This simple test reveals many navigation issues.
Screen Reader Testing
Use a screen reader like NVDA (free) or JAWS to experience your site as a blind user would. This reveals issues with heading structure, alt text, and content organisation.
Accessibility for eCommerce
If you run an online shop, accessibility becomes even more critical. Customers need to browse products, read descriptions, add items to baskets, and complete purchases independently.
Key considerations for accessible eCommerce websites include:
- Clear product images with descriptive alt text
- Accessible product filters and search functionality
- Clear error messages during checkout
- Alternative payment methods and clear instructions
- Accessible customer reviews and ratings
Frequently Asked Questions About Website Accessibility
Do I legally need to make my website accessible?
Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses must make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. While there's no explicit legal requirement for website accessibility, it's increasingly seen as part of these reasonable adjustments. Public sector websites must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
How much does it cost to make a website accessible?
Costs vary depending on your current site and required changes. Building accessibility in from the start is much more cost-effective than retrofitting. We include basic accessibility features as standard in our web design service with no monthly fees.
Will accessibility affect my website's design?
Good accessibility often improves design by creating cleaner, more organised layouts with better contrast and clearer navigation. Many accessibility principles align with good user experience design.
What's the difference between AA and AAA compliance?
WCAG has three levels: A (minimum), AA (standard), and AAA (enhanced). AA compliance is generally considered the standard for most websites and covers the majority of accessibility needs. AAA is usually only required for specialised applications.
Can I use an accessibility widget or overlay?
While accessibility overlays seem convenient, they often create new problems and don't address underlying issues. The best approach is to build accessibility into your website's foundation rather than trying to fix it with a plugin.
Getting Professional Help
While you can implement basic accessibility improvements yourself, getting professional guidance ensures comprehensive coverage and ongoing compliance. When choosing a web design partner in the Bristol and Bath area, look for someone who understands accessibility requirements and can build them into your site from the ground up.
At Serious Web Design, we've been helping Somerset businesses create inclusive websites for over three decades. We understand that accessibility isn't just about ticking boxes—it's about creating websites that work well for everyone, improving user experience and potentially expanding your customer base.
Ready to Talk?
Want to make your website more accessible and inclusive? We offer face-to-face consultations throughout the Bristol and Bath area, with no monthly fees and personalised service that larger agencies can't match.
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