Further accessibility resources
List of further reading and resources to help web developers, designers and content creators learn more about designing with accessibility in mind.
There are a few sources that are considered to be the gold standard in accessibility. Below are a couple of organisations that we continually refer to for guidance:
- WebAim – The Web Accessibility in Mind Project provides articles, tutorials, forums and simulations which are useful for testing websites.
- The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) the global authority on accessible design standards responsible for developing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and 2.1 Overview of web accessibility guidelines.
- Government Digital Service (GDS) UK government digital design service responsible for building platforms, standards and digital services across departments.
We will continue to update this list with relevant resources to help developers, designers and content creators learn more about accessibility. If you have any suggestions for articles or resources that you think should be on the list, please email us or add your comments below.
Assistive technology
- Designing for Screen Reader Compatibility (WebAIM)
- Testing with assistive technologies (GOV.UK)
- Free assistive technology tools for website testing (GOV.UK)
Understanding disabilities and impairments
- User profiles and barriers faced online (GOV.UK)
- Low vision user needs (W3)
- Practices that hurt dyslexic users (UX Movement)
- Accessibility tips for people with dyslexia (Simply Accessible)
Writing accessible content
- Plain English guides (including A to Z of alternative words)
- Accessibility writing tips (W3)
- Content design at Scope blog
- Reading age and web content (Content Design London)
- Hemingway App
- Creating content for screenreaders (GOV.UK blog)
- Content design: planning, writing and managing content (Government Digital Service)
- Ampersands, date arranges and contractions: style guidance (Government Digital Service)
- Designing tables (Co-op Design System)
- Gunning Fog Index – Estimates the years of formal education a person needs to understand the text on the first reading.
Publishing accessible content
- Hemingway App
- Five golden rules for compliant alt text, blog post on AbilityNet.
- Writing alt text, guidance on GOV.UK.
- Publishing accessible documents (GDS)
- Creating accessible tables (WebAIM)
Developer tools
- Making your frontend accessible (GOV.UK)
- WAVE Web accessibility evaluation tool
- Page structure (W3)
- How to create accessible forms (W3)
- Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) (Moz)
- Web accessibility evaluation tools list (W3)
- Navigation menu structure (W3)
Colour
- WebAIM contrast checker
- Colour text contrast checker
- Coblis colour blindness simulator
- Colour Oracle colour blindness app
- How users change colour on a website (GDS)
Images
- Alt-text decision tree (W3)
- Image concepts and purpose (W3)
- How to make accessible animated images (BBC)
Services
General guidance and support
- Accessibility (GOV.UK)
- Web Fundamentals on accessibility (Google)
- Improving accessibility with acceptance criteria (GDS)
- AbilityNet Factsheets (Ability Net)
- Web accessibility resources (Ability Net)
- BBC Accessibility
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