BBC – My Web My Way: Designing for Digital Accessibility

Helping improve an important BBC accessibility resource designed to make the web easier to use for people with different accessibility needs.

Introduction

My Web My Way was a BBC accessibility initiative providing practical guidance to help people adapt their computers and browsers to make websites easier to use. Working on the project provided valuable first-hand experience of designing for accessibility within the BBC, where inclusive design and access to digital content were fundamental requirements.

Designing for Accessibility

The BBC’s My Web My Way project was centred on a simple but important principle: people should be able to adapt their experience of the web to suit their individual needs.

The resource provided guidance for people who might find conventional websites difficult to use, helping them understand how changes to their computer, browser and other settings could make online content more accessible.

Accessibility as Part of the User Experience

Working on My Web My Way reinforced the importance of considering accessibility as part of the design and development process rather than something added at the end.

Clear structure, readable content, appropriate presentation and support for different ways of accessing information all contribute to a better experience. Many of the principles associated with accessible design also improve usability for a much wider audience.

Experience That Continues to Matter

The project became an important part of my wider UX/UI experience and helped strengthen an approach in which accessibility, usability and the needs of different users are considered throughout the development of a digital service.

Those principles remain just as relevant today. Websites and digital services need to work for as many people as reasonably possible, regardless of the technology they use or the way they interact with online content.

Read the Full Project Story

This article provides a short introduction to my work on the BBC My Web My Way accessibility project. For more information about the project, my role and the wider professional context, read the full BBC Accessibility Help project page on Mike-Speight.co.uk.