NDIS Website Accessibility: A Plain-English Guide to WCAG 2.2

Web accessibility means people with disability can use your website - whether they're blind and use a screen reader, have low vision and zoom in, can't use a mouse, are Deaf, or find long complex text hard to follow. For an NDIS provider, an accessible website isn't optional. Many of your visitors are the very people you support.

What is WCAG 2.2?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for accessible websites. Version 2.2 is the current version. Most organisations aim for Level AA, which covers the most important barriers without being impractical. WCAG is built on four principles: content must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.

The essentials, in plain English

Can people see and hear everything?

• Images have alt text - a short description read out by screen readers
• Videos have captions, and audio has transcripts
• Text has strong contrast against the background - no light grey on white
• Information isn't shown by colour alone - for example, errors also have text

Can people use it without a mouse?

• Everything works with a keyboard - menus, forms, buttons
• You can see where you are - a clear focus outline as you tab through
• Nothing traps the keyboard - pop-ups can be closed
• Buttons and links are big enough to tap easily

Can people understand it?

• Plain language - short sentences, everyday words
• Clear headings so people can scan and screen readers can navigate
• Form fields have labels and helpful error messages
• Consistent navigation on every page
• Easy Read versions of key information, where they help

Does it work with assistive technology?

• Clean, valid code so screen readers interpret the page correctly
• Works when zoomed to 200% without breaking the layout
• Works on phones and tablets

Ten-minute checks you can do yourself

1. Tab through your home page using only the keyboard. Can you reach and use every link and button? Can you see where you are?
2. Zoom your browser to 200%. Does anything overlap or disappear?
3. Check your contrast with a free online contrast checker on your main text and buttons.
4. Look at your images - do important ones have descriptions?
5. Try your enquiry form with the keyboard only. Are the fields labelled?
6. Read your services page aloud. Is it easy to understand on first hearing?

If several of these fail, your website is likely shutting some people out.

Accessibility overlays aren't a fix

Some products promise to make any website accessible with one line of code. They can add helpful tools like text resize, but they don't fix underlying problems in the website itself. Real accessibility comes from how the site is designed and built.

Beyond compliance

An accessible website is simply a better website. Clear structure, readable text and simple forms help everyone - including older visitors, people on small phones and busy coordinators - and they often help your Google rankings too.