Accessibility
ID | S109 |
|---|---|
Version | 1.0.2 |
Type | Overarching Standard |
Status | Effective |
Effective Date | Aug 5, 2026 |
Contracting Vehicle(s) |
Introduction
Accessibility means making sure that everyone can perceive, understand, navigate, contribute and interact with a Solution.
This means making sure the Solution can be used by people with a wide range of different abilities, disabilities or impairments. Accessibility is both a clinical and legal risk, which extends to Suppliers.
It's a legal requirement for the Authority as a public sector body to ensure that it’s Solutions are accessible. Non-public sector bodies are also obliged to make their Solutions accessible under the Equality Act 2010.
Requirements
Applicable Contracting Vehicle(s) | ID | Requirement | Level | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACS001 | Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Conformance with legislation The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 demonstrated by: The Solution to meet Conformance Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) or higher, on the following services:
| MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| ACS002 | Web Content Accessibility Testing Conduct a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines audit every 12 months for the Solution. The audit has to be carried out by a 3rd party G-Cloud approved auditor and assessed to WCAG 2.2. Audit to include outcomes of testing with the assistive technologies outlined on GOV.UK guidance on testing with assistive technologies. Audit will include the most recent features created in the Solution since the previous audit For further information on arranging an accessibility audit please see Getting an accessibility audit on Gov.uk Service manual. In the event that the Supplier is also a G-Cloud certified auditor, the Supplier must seek a different auditor. | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| ACS003 | Web Content Accessibility Statement The Supplier to publish and maintain an accessibility statement for the Solution. For more information see 3. Publish your accessibility statement GOV.UK. | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| ACS004 | Web Content Accessibility User Research People with access needs, including disabled people, to be involved in every round of user research to assess if the Solution is accessible in the context of use as well as technically accessible. For more information see Accessibility guidance for User research in the NHS Digital Service Manual. | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| ACS005 | Accessible non-web Based Material The Supplier to provide on demand to users of the Solution all non-web based material in multiple accessible formats e.g. physical manuals, Word documents and PDFs are made available in accessible formats. The Supplier to provide multiple accessible methods of requesting non-web based materials in accessible formats. Clear contact information of an email address and phone number as a minimum to be provided by Suppliers to enable Users to submit requests | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| ASC006 | Declaration of Disproportionate Burden The Supplier to declare up front any considerations identified as “Disproportionate Burden” and reaffirm declaration where there is no change every 12 months. The Supplier to declare and contact the Authority if and when any and all changes to an existing Declaration of Disproportionate Burden take place within an accessibility statement. For more information see Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies - GOV.UK | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence must include:
Supporting evidence may include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence must include:
Supporting evidence may include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence must include:
Supporting evidence may include:
|
Further Requirements
Suppliers will not be required to meet any further requirements to achieve full compliance with the Accessibility Standard.
Roadmap
Items on the Roadmap which impact or relate to this Standard