Editing Web accessibility (section)

===United Kingdom===
In the [[UK]], the [[Equality Act 2010]] does not refer explicitly to website accessibility, but makes it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. The Act applies to anyone providing a service; public, private and voluntary sectors. The ''Code of Practice: Rights of Access – Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises'' document<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/pas78.pdf |title=A guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites |publisher=Equality and Human Rights Commission |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=10 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610191541/http://equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/pas78.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> published by the government's [[Equality and Human Rights Commission]] to accompany the Act does refer explicitly to websites as one of the "services to the public" which should be considered covered by the Act.

In December 2010 the UK released the standard ''[[BS 8878|BS 8878:2010 Web accessibility. Code of practice]]''. This standard effectively supersedes PAS 78 (pub. 2006).  PAS 78, produced by the [[Disability Rights Commission]] and usable by disabled people. The standard has been designed to introduce non-technical professionals to improved accessibility, usability and user experience for disabled and older people.<ref>{{cite web|title=BS 8878:2010 Web accessibility. Code of practice|url=http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030180388|publisher=[[British Standards Institute]]|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-date=23 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223153732/http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030180388|url-status=live}}</ref> It will be especially beneficial to anyone new to this subject as it gives guidance on process, rather than on technical and design issues. BS 8878 is consistent with the [[Equality Act 2010]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents |title=Equality Act 2010 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-date=1 April 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110401110633/http%3A//www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents |url-status=live }}</ref> and is referenced in the UK government's e-Accessibility Action Plan as the basis of updated advice on developing accessible online services. It includes recommendations for:

* Involving disabled people in the development process and using automated tools to assist with accessibility testing
* The management of the guidance and process for upholding existing accessibility guidelines and specifications.

BS 8878 is intended for anyone responsible for the policies covering web product creation within their organization, and governance against those policies. It additionally assists people responsible for promoting and supporting equality and inclusion initiatives within organizations and people involved in the procurement, creation or training of web products and content. A summary of BS 8878<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hassellinclusion.com/bs8878/ |title=BS 8878 web accessibility standards – all you need to know |publisher=Hassell Inclusion |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-date=12 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812122647/http://www.hassellinclusion.com/bs8878/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is available to help organisations better understand how the standard can help them embed accessibility and inclusive design in their business-as-usual processes.

On 28 May 2019, BS 8878 was superseded by ISO 30071-1, the international Standard that built on BS 8878 and expanded it for international use. A summary of how ISO 30071-1 relates to BS 8878<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hassellinclusion.com/iso-30071-1/ |title=ISO 30071-1 digital accessibility standards (supersedes BS 8878) – all you need to know |publisher=Hassell Inclusion |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=27 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527162649/https://www.hassellinclusion.com/iso-30071-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is available to help organisations understand the new Standard.

On April 9, [[National Rail]] replaced its blue and white aesthetic with a black and white theme, which was criticized for not conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The company restored the blue and white theme and said it is investing in modernising its website in accords to the latest accessibility guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/national-rail-prince-philip-death-black-grey-b1830257.html|title=Prince Philip: National Rail's 'accessibility process' failed to see …|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |access-date=19 May 2022|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413081114/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/national-rail-prince-philip-death-black-grey-b1830257.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

In 2019 new accessibility regulations<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regulations on the accessibility of new public sector websites come into force|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulations-on-the-accessibility-of-new-public-sector-websites-come-into-force|access-date=2021-09-03|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901124401/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulations-on-the-accessibility-of-new-public-sector-websites-come-into-force|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps|access-date=2021-09-03|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903213503/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps|url-status=live}}</ref> came into force setting a legal duty for public sector bodies to publish accessibility statements and make their websites accessible by 23 September 2020 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding new accessibility requirements for public sector bodies {{!}} Local Government Association|url=https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/accessibility|access-date=2021-09-03|website=www.local.gov.uk|language=en|archive-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903213505/https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/accessibility|url-status=live}}</ref> Accessibility statements include information about how the website was tested  and the organisation's plan to fix any accessibility problems. Statements should be published and linked to on every page on the website.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Accessibility Regulations for Public Sector Bodies|url=https://accessibility.campaign.gov.uk/|access-date=2021-09-03|website=accessibility.campaign.gov.uk|language=en-GB|archive-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903213510/https://accessibility.campaign.gov.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>