The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published a new guide on website accessibility and publishing guidelines.
It said the guide, co-written with web design agency Aubergine, is aimed at helping parish and town councils ensure their sites meet the needs of all users, especially those with disabilities or impairments that use assistive technology.
Councillor Sue Baxter, NALC chair, said: "One in five people in the UK has a form of long term illness, impairment or disability. It is critical, NALC continue to produce resources that help England's 10,000 local councils ensure their websites are accessible to everyone in the communities they serve".
The guide explains website accessibility, how it affects local councils, the requirements and compliance. It details what a council must publish under the Transparency Code 2015, the costs of running a website, where to get help, what ongoing checks are needed, and discusses the future of website accessibility.
It also contains a step-by-step guide and a range of resources, including links to transparency codes, the Government’s announcement on compliance with the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines Standard, and the process to achieve Cyber Essentials certification.
Image from iStock, Gocman
