You have a right to use (or ‘access’) online public sector information and services. This means that public sector websites and mobile apps should be easy to use, including if you are using:
assistive technology like a screen reader or speech recognition software
browser customisations like increasing magnification or changing colours
Organisations that are legally required to improve their website and app accessibility include:
local councils
central government bodies
NHS and most higher education institutions
Some non-government organisations, for example nurseries, are exempt.
Accessibility problems you might have
The website or app might have accessibility problems if you cannot:
navigate pages with your mouse or keyboard
click on small links or buttons
read PDF documents with assistive technology
read text if you cannot change the size or colour
understand the text if it is not in plain English
understand audio or video if there is no transcript or captions
understand images if there is no alternative or descriptive text
How to report an issue
Public sector organisations should publish an accessibility statement on their website or app. The statement should tell you how:
accessible the website or app is
the organisation plans to solve any issues
to request an alternative format like large print or audio recording
to report a problem so it can be fixed
If you report a problem to the organisation, they should tell you what action they will take and when. Organisations are allowed some time to fix a problem if it is difficult or costly.
Further help and advice
You can contact Equality Advisory Support Service if you:
cannot find an accessibility statement or report the issue on the organisation’s website
are not satisfied with the organisation’s response
Additional information on reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website can be found on GOV.UK's website.