Website Accessibility
We're all used to adding links such as:
To read our latest Newsletter click here.
Unfortunately this makes little sense to accessibility aids as the link itself needs to be meaningful and click here does not describe what the link is.
So in the example above the link could simply be changed to:
Read our latest Newsletter.
so instead of click here, latest Newsletter is used as the link name instead and the link itself is now meaningful.
Note: the actual links above are just examples of what links look like and go nowhere
This also goes for links to external websites. During the Coronavirus outbreak lots of links appeared like this one:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Unfortunately the link makes little sense when read by a screen reader, so instead the link should be named something like this:
NHS.uk - Coronavirus (Covid-19) advice
You'll note that both links go to the same website, so the link name underneath is still the full website address.
Email links should describe their destination. Rather than click here they should be the name person or organasation who's email it is or the email address itself. A word of warning though: Adding email links to your website can result in spam email as addresses are often harvested by automatic processes. If you are concerned please contact us for further details.
For any links that you might want to open in a new browser tab, accessibility rules state that the name or label that describes a control should include a warning about opening in a new window. Further details can be found at WC3 page: Giving users advanced warning when opening a new window. We have therefore reset all links on all our GP Practice and PCN websites to open in the same page. If you wish to set any links to open in a new browser tab then add (opens in new window) to the end of the link text.
During December 2019 to February 2020 we went through every page on every one of our GP Practice and PCN websites and made all links meaningful (quite a job!). As you may have edited your website since, you may have inadvertently re-introduced links that are not meaningful. Therefore, if not using our Accessibility services, it would be a good idea to go through any pages you have edited in 2020 and check to see if there are any such links and correct them. If you have an editing agreement with us all your links will be meaningful (unless you have made edits too of course).
Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies (.gov reference page)
How the accessibility regulations will be monitored and enforced (.gov reference page)
Using links in content (how to make links meaningful) (.gov)