Disability Information UKPlain-language information, rights and support

Digital and website accessibility

Your rights to accessible websites and apps, including stricter rules for public sector bodies.

Sample content. This summarises official sources listed below. It is information, not legal advice.

Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Date last checked
1 August 2026
Date last updated
1 August 2026
Next review due
1 February 2027
Version
1.0

Key points

  • Under the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland), websites and apps count as a 'service', so providers must make reasonable adjustments, which can include making digital content accessible.
  • Public sector bodies have extra, more specific duties under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which apply UK-wide to most government, council, NHS and other public sector websites and mobile apps.
  • These regulations require public sector websites and apps to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA, or to publish an accessibility statement explaining any parts that are not yet compliant and why, plus how to ask for information in another format.
  • You can ask a public sector body for information in an accessible format, such as large print, easy read, audio or British Sign Language video, if the website itself is not accessible to you.
  • Common digital barriers include content that does not work with a screen reader, poor colour contrast, videos without captions or transcripts, forms that cannot be completed using a keyboard alone, and PDFs that are not properly tagged.
  • Private sector websites are not covered by the 2018 regulations, but discrimination law still applies, and many organisations follow WCAG as good practice.
  • A worked example: if a council's online form cannot be used with a screen reader, you can ask the council to provide the same service by phone, in person or in another accessible way, and to fix the underlying accessibility problem.
  • A worked example: if a public sector website's accessibility statement says a section does not meet the standard, you can still contact the organisation and ask for the specific content or service you need in an accessible way; they must respond within a reasonable time.

What you can do

  • Check the website's accessibility statement, usually linked in the footer, which should explain known problems and how to get help.
  • Contact the organisation directly to report a barrier or request accessible information; public sector bodies must respond to these requests.
  • Complain to the organisation first if you get no response or an unreasonable refusal.
  • In England, Scotland and Wales, escalate complaints about public sector website accessibility to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which enforces the 2018 regulations.
  • In Northern Ireland, contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which oversees compliance with the equivalent duties.
  • For general discrimination complaints about private sector digital services, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service or Citizens Advice.

Sources