Give different website menus clear names

What to change

Ask the supplier to distinguish the main menu, related-service links and other navigation areas so readers can recognise the purpose of each group.

A worked example

Illustrative example

A visitor can choose Primary navigation for main sections or Service navigation for related service pages instead of exploring several identically named regions.

Healthcare website design showing connected desktop and mobile service and enquiry layouts. — Make the service and next step clear on every screen.

Healthcare website accessibility illustrated by a focus outline, keyboard key, contrast samples and form. — Review keyboard access, contrast and understandable form fields.

Why this matters to your practice

Several menus can be useful when they serve different purposes. Main sections, related services and footer links should not all sound identical to someone navigating by listening. Ask the supplier to demonstrate the list of navigation areas offered by screen-reading software. You can assess the names as plain language: would Primary navigation and Related services help someone choose where to go? Labels based only on screen position are less reliable when the mobile layout rearranges the page.

How to check the result

Accept when repeated navigation areas have understandable identities and their contents match those identities across templates.

A mistake to avoid

Naming every region after its screen position becomes confusing when responsive layouts move that region somewhere else.

Turn reading into a next step

Your action checklist

Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.

Checks to discussList the header, section menu, breadcrumb and footer navigation on a representative page. Identify which task each region serves.Ask the supplier to demonstrate the screen reader's navigation-region list. Confirm the names distinguish these areas without reading every contained link.Repeat on a template that lacks one of the regions. Names should remain accurate and should not claim an absent or different set of choices.

Your answers and notes

Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.

What happens next, and who will do it?

Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.

Related guides

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