Accessibility and usability

NEW 2009 To all web editors:
See important new website about the migration of LSE websites into the Content Management System: CMS: migration

Archive of FrontPage 'Accessibility and usability' information:

Accessibility in this context effectively means availability: all LSE web content and services should be accessible (ie available) to everyone. This includes users with disabilities (eg visual impairments, cognitive impairments, motor impairments, etc); users for whom English is a second language; users of various software (eg different browsers); in fact any user who may need something from LSE online.

Usability refers to ease of use. All LSE web content and services should be easy to find, navigate, read, interact with - ie use.

Accessibility

LSE's equality statement is as follows:

The School seeks to ensure that people are treated equitably, regardless of age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation or personal circumstances.

The implication of this for the LSE website is that all the content and services it offers should be accessible to all its users and potential users. To ensure accessibility, the Web Services team works to the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) standards. We aim for AAA ratings, but the minimum acceptable standard for web services is an AA rating.

The LSE website template produces code that reaches WAI standards. In most circumstances we discourage the use of technologies such as Javascript and Flash, which may cause accessibility problems for some users.

We aim to be accessible because it is good practice and because we do not want to exclude any of our potential users, but we also have a legal obligation to meet accessibility standards under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

If you need any advice on making your web content and services accessible, please contact the Web Services Team (webeditors.enquiries@lse.ac.uk).

Usability

We strive to make the LSE website as useable as possible. The following factors are taken into consideration in assessing and improving the usability of the site:

Structure and navigation - is it clear where to find important information?
Consistency - are the same elements always in the same place so users know where to look for them?
Language - is the content easy to read on-screen, avoiding jargon where appropriate?
Layout - does the format aid the user in making sense of the content?
Simplicity - is the site free of unnecessary distractions and complications?
User focus - has the site been designed with the visitor's needs as a primary concern?

To find out more about usability or if you need any advice on making your web content and services useable, please contact the Corporate Web Editor (webeditors.enquiries@lse.ac.uk).

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