Web Accessibility

What is it?

Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the web. If your website is designed so it achieves web accessibility standards, it means that people with disabilities can see, navigate and interact with your website.

Why is it important?

As the web has become more and more important for accessing services across government and commerce new standards have emerged to ensure equal access to people with disabilities. New equipment has been developed too, such as screen readers which will read out a web page. Accessibility to GP Practices and Medical Centres by those with disabilities is particularly important.

Additionally, the web offers the possibility of unprecedented access to information for many people with disabilities. Accessibility barriers to print, audio and visual media can be more easily overcome via web technologies.

This flexibility means that patients with disabilities, or patients who are frail and maybe don't find it easy to use the phone, or who may find it difficult to see your leaflet, can access the information via your website. They can also make requests via your online services in the same way. This is because they can set their browser to accommodate their specific difficulty. Your website and online services will automatically appear in a format that allows them to access your information.

Will my SiliconPractice website be accessible to those with disabilities?

The Web Accessibility Initiative has guidelines that describe how websites should be designed to make sure that people with a variety of disabilities can access websites. All our websites are designed to take into account these guidelines. We also have regular feedback from people with disabilities so that we can get first-hand input from those who are using our services.