Go to content
A set of web accessibility icons in pink and purple, including symbols for visual, hearing, and mobility impairments
  1. Services
  2. Software Development
  3. Web Accessibility

Web Accessibility

Websites everyone can use
Get in touch
ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS

Great UX starts with accessibility

Web accessibility means creating websites that everyone can experience by removing common barriers to interaction. It’s a practice governed by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) which covers a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible. There are millions of users out there who rely on sites being accessible, so why not make your website accessible to everyone?

LEARN MORE
ACCESSIBILITY

Why accessibility matters

  • people connections icon

    Accessibility reaches wider audiences

    Almost 20% of the UK population are challenged in their digital presence. That’s around 13,671,917 people. If you're not engaging effectively, you’re locking out millions of people from your website.

  • Thumb up icon

    Accessibility equals satisfaction

    Nowadays, users measure their satisfaction relative to the quality of the digital experiences your business provides. So, the better and more accessible your user experiences, the more satisfied your customers.

  • a magnifying glass with a human icon

    Accessibility increases SEO

    When your content is more organised, understandable and accessible, it’s much easier for Google to assess and evaluate your website. This not only increases your website’s accessibility, but also makes it more SEO friendly.

  • Globe icon

    Accessibility is the law

    Complying to the latest web accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1) is already a legal requirement for public organisations. This covers all public mobile apps, and from June 2025, will include all private companies.

Novicell strengthens web accessibility

At Novicell, we are experts in web accessibility and work with it because it makes sense to design websites that everyone can use. At the same time, we understand that user experience, traffic, and performance are closely linked to web accessibility, and they are all crucial factors in whether a website functions as intended. We understand why web accessibility is important and know how to create accessible websites.

How can we help?

We work with many aspects of web accessibility and are familiar with all three WCAG levels. We look holistically at the web accessibility field to understand its connection with user experience, traffic and performance to optimise your investment. We offer:  
  • Web accessibility audits
  • Guidance on WCAG compliance
  • Web accessibility implementation
  • Accessibility training for key staff (editors, designers etc.) 

Checklist for editors working with web accessibility

  • a logic map and a pen icon

    Format your text correctly

    • Use H1, H2, H3, bullets, numbering, and other formatting to make your pages easy to overview and scan.

  • eye icon

    Readability

    • Write short and simple sentences. • Use headings and subheadings to create structure and meaning in your texts.

  • a file folder icon

    URLs and tags

    • Give all pages a meaningful title and description so that it is easy to understand what the page is about. • Ensure that all URLs on the website have a meaningful title.

  • chain icon

    Links

    • Avoid links with titles like "Read more" or "Click here." • Keep the descriptive link text within 100 characters or less.

  • Megaphone icon

    Instructions

    • Do not provide instructions solely based on the location on the page.

  • Big Ben icon

    Images

    • Provide images with descriptive and meaningful alt-text that explains the image for blind and visually impaired users. • For example, avoid text on images as digital assistants cannot read them.

  • film clap icon

    Video and audio

    • Provide transcriptions for videos and audio on your website. • Ensure that all videos have subtitles.

  • a paper and setting circle icon

    Documents

    • Ensure proper formatting, for example, in Word or InDesign, before exporting to PDF. • Check that the PDF is not locked in a way that prevents a screen reader from rendering it to a user.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) checklist for designers

  • a logic map and a pen icon

    Semantic structure

    • Ensure that all design and content follow a logical semantic structure. • Pay attention to the reading order, which should be the same as the visual order on the page.

  • three color palet icon

    Colours and contrast

    • Ensure sufficient contrast between foreground and background. • The foreground text should have enough contrast with the background colours. This includes text on images, background gradients, buttons, and other elements.

  • Message text icon

    Text and fonts

    • Use actual text instead of graphic text, as screen readers can read it and can be resized more effectively. • Always use CSS for styling.

  • pen and lines icon

    Line length

    • Avoid lines that are too long or too short, as it reduces readability. • The optimal line length for body text is between 50-60 characters per line.

  • chain icon

    Links

    • Ensure that links stand out visually in ways other than just using colour. • Design indicators that make it easy for keyboard users to identify links.

  • film clap icon

    Animation, video, and audio

    • Draw attention to image and media alternatives in your design. • Avoid flashing animations and content that auto-plays.

  • lighting inside a folder icon

    Fields and forms

    • Ensure that input fields and forms have descriptive labels and instructions. • Always display validation errors, error messages, and provide instructions for users to correct any errors.

  • Finger point icon

    Interactive elements

    • Make it easy to identify interactive elements such as links and buttons. • Ensure consistent styles and naming of interactive elements throughout the website.

  • a maze icon

    Navigation

    • Make it easy to navigate the site in more than one way. • Provide features such as website search and a sitemap. • Help users understand their location on a website or page by providing orientation cues such as breadcrumbs and clear headings.

Web accessibility is about creating coherence between strategy, design, and development

The strategy provides the overall framework for your website, and through design, you ensure that you use the right tools to assist your users in using your website. Development focuses on creating robust code that assists both humans and machines.

ACCESSIBILITY WEBINAR

Download our free web accessibility webinar

In this webinar, our Creative Director, Freddie Green, covers: What a user interface is and how it benefits accessibility How to create more accessible web content Dos and don’ts for website accessibility Best practices for designers, developers, marketers and project managers Future trends within web accessibility and WCAG

Download now

anchorLink

Speak to us about
web accessibility

With our initial assessment, you'll receive several suggested accessibility optimisations for your website from one of our expert web accessibility consultants.

The simplest way to get in touch is to complete the form.
We aim to get back to you within a couple of working hours.

If you'd prefer to call +44 (0)20 8144 8142

Or we can chat via email [email protected]