Below are a list of things you should consider when editing pages online to ensure they are accessible.
Image Alt Tags/Text
When you upload an image to our website, or to social media, there will be an option to add an alt tag/text. You can typically add this in using the description field when uploading the image. This is what blind users will hear when they are using a screen reader.
Describe what is in the image and try to keep it simple. You don't need to add the words 'An image of' at the front, the screen reader will already know that it is an image.
For example, the image banner at the top of this page: 'Person typing on a laptop'
Image Captions
There is also options to add captions to images that are placed within a page. This is shown on the website to everyone and helps people with cognitive difficulties to understand the image better. The caption may be more descirption that the alt tag/text.
Formatting Text
You should always ensure you format and clear the styling for any text that you are copying over from another page or a document.
This will help if someone changes the colour contrast of a page to ensure the text has not been highlighted in a colour that makes it difficult to read.
Links
Avoid adding links to the words 'click here' or 'read more' when creating new links. Inform people where you are directing them to in the link text. For example: 'Read more about our awards winner' - should all be linked.
Don't make the text link too long that they carry over to two lines on a page.
Avoid Capitals
Avoid putting entire words in capitals. It can be more of a hinderous than a help to people. With dyslexic people it may not actually get seen at all.
Remember to not use capitals for people's job titles/roles too.
Headings
Use headings to help break up large amounts of text on a page so it is more manageable for the reader. Be consistent with the size of heading you use and where on the page you place them as this will make it more difficult for people using a screenreader to navigate the page.
Use Bold/italics sparingly
Like capitals it can make it more difficult for the text to be read for users with cogintive disabilities.
Caption your videos
Any videos that the NCA has created and that are embedded on our webpages should be captioned/include subtitles as an option.
YouTube can automatically create captions once a video has been uploaded.
Do not use emojis
Do not use any emojis on any of our pages. They can be difficult for screen readers to process and can also stop a page from being published.
Accessible Documents
If you're linking to a document on a page ensure that the document is fully accessible. Read more on publishing accessible documents.
Please consider whether adding the information to the webpage directly would be more user friendly then linking to multiple documents. If you are unsure how to convert to a webpage, please contact trust.communications@nca.nhs.uk