Why we focus on usability and accessibility
Our website is used by a wide range of people with different needs which we must consider when creating content - for example:
- people in a hurry – simply written content is easier to scan and absorb instantly
- people who are stressed – if you're anxious you find it harder to comprehend things
- people who are multi-tasking – if you're holding a baby or a running business your attention's divided
- people with low literacy – will not know meanings of complex vocabulary and terms
- people with cognitive impairments – easy to understand words and sentences carry less cognitive load
- people with visual impairments – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
- people with motor impairments – clear, concise content is shorter so requires less navigation
How we do it
We continuously strive to make sure our users are accessing the information they need by:
- analysing user feedback
- reading research both internally and externally
- talking to services about their users
- using readability indicators
Our accessibility statement
For more information on how we ensure our digital services to adhere to accessibility standards, read our accessibility statement for Westmorland and Furness council.