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<p>Monitoring of compliance with the Equality Act 2010 is a matter for individual
departments.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is working with
external stakeholders to review and bring up to date guidance on accessible communications.
The guidance will cover language, communications channels and accessible formats for
publications, meetings and consultations. The guidance is aimed at supporting government
communicators to help all parts of government improve their communications with disabled
people. This updated guidance will be available by Spring 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government Digital Service (GDS) helps departments to ensure their online content
and services are accessible. GDS sets standards, provides assurance around these (through
spend control and service assessment processes), publishes guidance on how to meet
the standard (e.g. service manual), develops tools to do this well and quickly (e.g.
Government as a Platform components, toolkits and patterns), and supports the departments
in using them, collating and curating lessons learned.</p><p> </p><p>New Regulations
will enhance this activity through the introduction of a central monitoring system
and increased guidance and support for public sector bodies. Cabinet Office introduced
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility
Regulations 2018. These regulations build on existing equalities legislation by making
it easier for users to report issues about the accessibility of public sector websites,
backed up by proportionate monitoring and enforcement. GDS supports departmental compliance
with the regulations and produces guidance and training, including on how to make
documents accessible.</p><p> </p><p>Within the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP),
the Minister for Disabled People also convenes a cross sector group on accessible
communications.</p>
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