Accessibility
Accessibility check – Confusing document links
A simple document list was causing unnecessary friction—unclear links, mixed file formats, and poor accessibility. We streamlined it into a clean, consistent, and browser-friendly experience that works for everyone.
The issue
A local council website listed several key documents as downloadable files with generic names, such as “Download – FinalPlan.pdf” or “Download – Budget2023.xls”. There were multiple issues:
Inaccessible link text that gave no context for screen readers or general users
Inconsistent file types (PDF, Word, Excel) requiring users to have different software installed
Unclear file sizes or content purpose, leading to low trust and high bounce rates
The solution
Renamed the section to Your council resources for clarity and local relevance
Shortened the copy to make it easier to scan and navigate
Added a visual preview/image to give users immediate context on what the section offers
Rewrote all links using clear, descriptive text (e.g., “Waste management plan - Stage 1 (PDF, 1.1MB)”)
Standardised all documents to browser-friendly PDFs, eliminating the need for Word or Excel
Included file type and size on each link to reduce uncertainty and increase trust
These improvements made the section more accessible, consistent, and user-friendly, reducing friction, improving clarity, and ensuring all users could access public information without extra software or confusion.
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