The Crown Prosecution Service
Accessible Websites for Vital Government Services
The Ecru team has just built a beautiful new website for The Crown Prosecution Service that achieves W3C Priority AA accessibility standards. As a major government organization The Crown Prosecution Service are very aware of the need to ensure that as many people as possible are able to access the information published through their website.
By adhering to stringent standards set out by the W3C the website now enables The CPS to comply with the implications of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Ecru have created a website that can be accessed by people with visual, cognitive, hearing and mobility difficulties with excellent design and an appropriately professional look and feel. One of the key advantages of this approach is that everyone benefits. Not only is the information easier to find and access for people with disabilities, it is easier to access for everyone.
Matt Williams, Managing Director of Ecru, said:
The content of the CPS website sits at the very heart of the English Justice system, and the webmasters at the CPS needed to demonstrably acknowledge the implications of the Freedom Of Information Act and the Disability Discrimination Act. There are over a million words on the website and by complying with strict web standards we have now made the content measurably accessible.
The Crown Prosecution Service are committed to providing the best possible service to society, and the new website is evidence of the drive within the organization to ensure that as many people as possible are able to access the information it provides. Ecru has converted over a million words to ensure that the information is as accessible as possible. The site is now able to be read by screen readers (used by people with visual impairment) and the navigation of the site through an improved menu and clean design has vastly improved website usability.
Robin Christopherson, Web Consultancy Manager for AbilityNet (a charity that provides wide-ranging advice and support to enable people with disabilities to make the most of information technology), said;
The Crown Prosecution Service website is an example of good practice in accessibility and usability, I particularly like the use of keyboard shortcut keys - ‘accesskeys’ and the skip navigation link which really benefits screen reader users.
A spokesman from The Crown Prosecution Service said;
Ecru transformed our website and brought great accessibility skills to their impressively delivered project. This means that The CPS website is now helping a much wider section of the UK population, delivering important information about the way the criminal justice system works.
Ecru are a web design consultancy who specialize in producing epic websites for major corporate and governmental organizations. Clients of the size and scope of The CPS have a right to expect the very highest standards of professionalism in the services that they receive. Ecru understand this need, and have delivered a website that exactly meets the requirements of the organization and their audience.
Is Your Website Legal?
Have you thought about the implications of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (the DDA) for your web site? This Act affects all website owners. It is a legal obligation to ensure that your website is accessible to disabled users. We have experience of creating stunning websites that are accessible to WC3 standards.
Talk to Ecru about your website project now. Email us or call us on 01702 475 170 for a friendly chat.
