What is digital inclusion?
Website accessibility has been a consideration for almost 30 years, but the wider concept of digital inclusion has only recently moved to the forefront. This means designing for the widest possible range of users, including those with disabilities, those using assistive technologies, and those accessing your site in challenging conditions such as low bandwidth.
Why is digital inclusivity important?
Digital inclusion is more important than ever and needs to be considered at every stage of a website project: strategy, planning, and specification, design, development, user acceptance testing, launch, and ongoing content curation and entry.
Accessibility has been a crucial consideration in website design and development since the 90s, but digital inclusion is broader.
Digital inclusion means ensuring everyone has the access, skills, and confidence to go online and benefit from what the internet offers. We take into account the diverse needs of all users, including those:
- with physical or motor disabilities – for example, someone who relies on keyboard navigation or a switch device due to limited hand mobility
- who are temporarily motor impaired – such as a parent holding a baby in one arm and using a mobile phone with the other hand
- using screen readers – such as a blind user who needs properly labelled buttons and headings to navigate with tools like NVDA or JAWS
- with low vision – for instance, a person who increases zoom or uses high contrast settings to read text more easily
- who are deaf or hard of hearing – such as a visitor watching videos who needs accurate captions or transcripts to access spoken content
- experiencing anxiety – for example, someone who benefits from a calm, uncluttered layout without unexpected pop-ups or timers, and who appreciates confirmation of completed form data before final submission
- with dyslexia – a user who finds sans-serif fonts and generous line spacing easier to read
- on the autistic spectrum – for instance, a visitor who values predictable navigation, clear next steps, and minimal sensory overload from flashing or animated elements
- visiting the website via slow or unreliable connections – such as a rural user relying on a 3G connection who benefits from lightweight, fast-loading pages, or a user on a fast-moving train with intermittent connectivity
- using the website on older devices – for example, someone accessing the site on a ten-year-old phone with limited processing power
- operating under unfavourable environmental conditions – like a commuter browsing in bright sunlight who needs good contrast and large tap targets, or a user with a cracked or damaged phone screen
- for whom English is not a first language – such as a user who benefits from plain language and support for translation tools
- with limited digital skills or literacy – for example, someone new to using the internet who benefits from clear guidance, step-by-step instructions, and intuitive layouts
- concerned about trust, security, or privacy – such as a visitor who needs reassurance through visible security measures, transparent data policies, and clear consent options
In summary
By designing and developing inclusively, we ensure our websites are accessible, welcoming, and usable for everyone.
