Accessibility

Introduction

Getting the design of a website’s user interface right is critical to its success as well as longevity. The following is an overview of considerations we take into account to maximise a site’s accessibility.

Which Screen Resolution?

When designing a site it is important to ensure that it makes optimal use of the screen real estate that is available to the majority of its intended user base. As it stands the vast majority of users are using resolutions of 1024x768 pixels or above. Previously 800x600 would be the de facto screen resolution to design a site for, although the user base is generally accepted as being 5% or lower.

We would therefore recommend optimizing the site for 1024x768 due to the continued trend towards this, or larger, screen sizes as users upgrade their monitors.

Optimising Design & Content

Typically the accepted criteria for optimizing for a specific screen resolution are (these are crucial from the home page and main entry areas of the website):

• Initial visibility – Ensuring all vital information is visible without the user having to scroll. Typically this means a balance between how much content is shown and how much detail.
• Readability – How easy it is to read the text on screen based on the allocated width of each column.
• Aesthetics – How good the page looks when all the elements are the proper size and location for the screen size.

Wherever possible, unless the content required dictates it, excessive scrolling should be avoided.

Browser Compatibility

We would additionally recommend ensuring compatibility for all current major web browsers including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari across both the PC and Mac platforms, as appropriate.

We would recommend creating a site that meets all levels of the Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines Priority 2. This will ensure a good level of support for users that have visual impairments, implement best practice for the site layout and also cover the legal requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and other relevant legislation. Priority 2 is generally accepted as being a reasonable level of compliance and also is in line with EU guidelines on this topic.