Our Latest Blogs
Digital Accessibility is a fascinating, complex subject that can seem to be quite scary but actually, the principles of it are quite logical and straightforward.
The biggest challenge we find is getting people started on their digital accessibility journey.
We love sharing our experiences and our thoughts through this blog.
Whether it is looking at accessible web design, an accessibility audit or any other aspect of digital accessibility, we hope that you find them interesting and engaging.
![Cartoon of a man with a checklist in front of a car. There is a certificate in the foreground.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Car-Test.jpg&w=500&h=500)
The parallels between a website Accessibility Statement and an MOT Certificate
What's the Common Ground? At glance a website accessibility audit and a cars MOT test certificate may seem unrelated.. Upon...
![Cartoon drawing of a computer screen with a speaker symbol in front of it](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/screen-reader.jpg&w=500&h=500)
The challenges faced by screen readers
What are screen readers? Screen readers are assistive technologies designed to enable individuals with visual impairments to access digital content,...
![a cartoon drawing of a wooden bridge](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/1_bridge.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Bridging the Gap: The Unified Principles of Physical and Digital Accessibility
Introduction Creating spaces, products and technologies that cater to the needs of individuals is crucial, for ensuring inclusivity. Whether in...
![The Access by Design Website Accessibility Audit Team: Krista (Superpower: Blind, Weapon: JAWs Screen Reader), Mede (Superpower: Blind, Weapon: JAWs Screen Reader), Iona (Superpower: Cannot use hands, Weapon: Dragon Dictation), Sara (Superpower: Neurodivergent, Weapon: Dark Mode), Lleona (Superpower: Blind, Weapon: NVDA Screen Reader),](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/hd-banners/Audit-Team-5.jpg&w=500&h=500)
The importance of website accessibility testing with disabled people
Creating Welcoming Websites for Everyone! In a world driven by the digital revolution ensuring website accessibility is of importance. With...
![A window with large chain across it](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Links-in-New-Window-no-Text.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Is it OK to open Links in a new window?
Dealing with link behavior is an issue that my team faces when conducting Website Accessibility Testing. Whenever you click on...
![Clive giving his TEDx Talk in 2022. He is standing in front of a lectern. Text reads “New follow-up talk for 2024!”](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/New-talk-for-2024.jpg&w=500&h=500)
New Website Accessibility Seminar for 2024
My TED Talk on Website Accessibility Website Accessibility. What it means for your organisation in 2024. I had the enormous privilege...
![website buttons, Shop Now, Book Now, Log In, Contact Us, are positioned around a cartoon of a confused face, scratching its head.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/When-is-a-button-not-a-button-thumbnail.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Buttons and Links - common misconceptions
This is an issue. In my website accessibility audits I frequently come across a problem; buttons that visually look like...
![The 2 Ronnies in their famous Mastermind parody sketch, Answering the Question Before Last. One Ronnie is asking the questions, the other is sitting in the famous black leather chair.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/2Ronnies.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Answering the question before last
Imagine this scenario You were being asked a series of questions but there is a twist. the answers that you...
![Two clenched fists, pointing upwards, in handcuffs that have been broken apart](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Broken-links.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Click here. Er...click where, exactly?
Think for a moment Have you ever found yourself staring at a webpage, scratching your head, wondering, "Click here? Click...
![A hamburger with a big red x on top of it. Next to it is a line drawing of a blind person with dark glasses and a walking stick.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Blind-Hamburger-thumbnail.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Disabled people do not like hamburgers!
Did you know that disabled people do not like hamburgers? Here is why… Hamburgers are generally not good for your health...
![A cute illustration features a grey mouse in the bottom left corner and a large, faint outline of an elephant on the right. Text nearby reads, 'What elephant? There is no elephant!!!' The focus is on the mouse's humorous denial of the obvious elephant.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/What-elephant-I-see-no-elephant-thumbnail.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Dynamic content - the elephant in the room
Has something changed? Web pages are traditionally static. You go to a page, you see what is there and then...
![3 images in a line: A person sitting at a table using a computer A group of people sitting at a table A group of young girls running in a hallway](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/3-stock-images.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Which of these Alt Tags is the most appropriate?
3 Alt Tags for 3 images Work, lifestyle and business concept. Good-looking focused european female in trendy glasses sitting...
![Clive is 54 years old and has hazel eyes. What little hair he has left is mostly brown, whereas his stubble has far more grey in it. He is wearing a dark blue hoodie and is smiling. His hoodie has Saints emblazoned on it, which is the nickname of his favourite football team, Southampton, who finally seem to be on a decent winning streak in the Championship, after a rather shaky start.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/clive.jpg&w=500&h=500)
What should be in an Alt tag?
What is an Alt Tag? An Alt Tag is a tag that is attached to an image that helps a...
![A man wearing a balaclava is trying to break into a house using a crowbar. Text reads Breaking the law!](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Breaking-the-law.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Breaking the Law!!
I hate Cookie Banners I do not dislike them. I hate them. They have set Website Accessibility back 10 years. However,...
![A cat is relaxing in a treatment room in a spa. Its head is reasting on a rolled up flannel and it has a towel covered its body. It looks calm and peaceful. The words Confirmation Bias are above it.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Confirmation-Bias.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Confirmation Bias
A pat on the back I would guess that we all like to know we are doing something right. It...
![A Weimaraner, a large and sleek grey dog, is in the foreground looking confused. There is a busy office in the background.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Weimaraner-in-office-stock-photo.jpg&w=500&h=500)
The Importance of Website Accessibility
Ensuring Inclusivity and Compliance In today's digital age, having an online presence is essential for individuals, businesses, and organizations of...
![Hand-drawn map lying on grass next to a bow and arrow. The map shows a river, trees, mountains and a dotted line meandering across it, leading to a big red X.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Scavenger-Hunt.jpg&w=500&h=500)
We are going on a scavenger hunt!
Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt? It is an exciting and interactive recreational game in which participants work...
![On the left is a screenshot of the Access by Design website, showing their accessibility tool, navigation, and a large interactive graphic displaying some of their portfolio. If a mouse hovers over any one of them, it is raised gently and settles down again as the mouse moves away from it. On the right is a screenshot of the same website in a plain format, with all of the accessibility options, page links and text over a plain white background](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/accessibility-2023/abd-without-stylesheet.jpg&w=500&h=500)
How do you balance aesthetics with accessibility?
Two images, same website There are two images above. The image on the left is of our website. The image...
![A lit lightbulb, floating in the air. 4 unlit lightbulbs lie on the floor below it](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/floating-lit-light-bulb-w.jpg&w=500&h=500)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, otherwise known as WCAG
What are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines? This is perhaps the most common starting point when you first come across...
![A concrete ramp next to a concrete stair on a University Campus](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/accessibility-2023/rampstair.jpg&w=500&h=500)
A staircase and a ramp are both OK!
A perfect world? We would all love it if we lived in a world where every website or web portal...
![A web page containing an image of a young girl drinking from a mug. A beautiful dog is peacefully asleep on her lap. An arrow is pointing to a larger version of the same image.](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/Featured-Image.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Are having featured images on a web page important?
Asking ChatGPT I asked ChatGPT had to say and it gave me some excellent answers, including why adding an Alt...
![Graphic with Devops Logo and Tricentis Logo, Text reads Accessibility in Software Development and Testing. Photos of the participants, from left to right: Simona Domazetoska, Senior Product Marketing Manager – Tricentis, Paloma Oliveira, Developer Advocate, Software Engineer - Sauce Labs Scott Jehl, Web Product Designer & Developer Clive Loseby, Global Leader in Website Accessibility for Disabled People - Access By Design Alan Shimel, Founder & CEO - Techstrong Group](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/DevOps-speaking-gig.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Website Accessibility Webinar
It is always wonderful meeting like-minded people! It was such a privilege to take part in a webinar about a...
![A lit lightbulb, floating in the air. 4 unlit lightbulbs lie on the floor below it](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/floating-lit-light-bulb-w.jpg&w=500&h=500)
What will a website accessibility audit give me?
Understanding why A website accessibility audit will provide you with valuable insights into the accessibility of your website for users...
![A happy cartoon monkey is hanging from a vine. The text reads: Filename: mky4653.jpg](https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/themes/access2022/images/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://accessbydesign.uk/abd/wp-content/gallery/2022-blogs/mky4653.jpg&w=500&h=500)
Please do not use Filenames as Alt Text
Hopefully, most of us have heard of Alt Text and how important it is. It is used to provide...