Web Accessibility Compliance for Royal Museums of Greenwich

Enhancing accessibility and refining branding at Royal Museums of Greenwich to create a more inclusive experience, attracting a wider audience.

The Challenge

As a publicly funded institution encompassing the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, and the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Museums of Greenwich has a legal (and moral) responsibility to ensure its digital platforms are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Buttons, text and important Call-to-Actions should have a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 against their background

The Process

My work with the Royal Museums of Greenwich focused on improving the accessibility and usability of their online store, ensuring compliance with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This included enhancing keyboard navigation, improving screen reader compatibility, optimising color contrast, and ensuring a seamless user experience for visitors of all abilities.

To achieve this, I used a range of accessibility testing tools, including automated checkers, screen readers, and manual testing, to identify and address potential barriers for users with disabilities. I followed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure compliance with key principles such as perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness.

The improvements included, but were not limited to, implementing keyboard navigation, optimising color contrast, adding descriptive alt text for images, and ensuring all interactive elements were fully accessible. Through a combination of automated and manual testing, I refined the user experience, making the online store more inclusive and user-friendly for every visitor.

A website's navigation needs to be accessible by keyboard and not by mouse alone

Why is accessibility important in e-commerce?

Ensuring accessibility in e-commerce and websites is crucial for several reasons. First, it allows businesses to reach a wider audience, including users with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboard navigation. This not only improves user experience but also increases potential sales and customer engagement.

Second, accessibility is a legal requirement in many countries, with regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the UK’s Equality Act mandating compliance. Failing to meet these standards can lead to legal consequences and reputational damage. Additionally, accessible websites tend to have better SEO performance, as search engines prioritise user-friendly and well-structured content. By making a website inclusive, businesses enhance their brand reputation, foster customer loyalty, and create a more equitable digital experience for all users.

The Results

By utilising a range of testing tools and refining the store’s code, I successfully ensured compliance with WCAG 2 standards. As a result, at the time of launch, the online store is now fully accessible, allowing a diverse range of users to navigate it with ease. This includes individuals with visual impairments who rely on screen readers and those with motor neuron disease who use keyboard navigation.

The added bonus in prioritising inclusive design and SEO best practices, has lead to an improved visibility in search engines, driven more traffic, and created a more user-friendly shopping experience.