Accessibility services
Ensuring websites and apps are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities and those using assistive technologies, is a basic human right. Our team of experts can guide you through your accessibility journey.
Accessibility is not an option
The New Zealand Government Web Accessibility Standard requires that public service departments make their websites accessible. This standard is based on the International Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.
Accessible software and the considerations made to make software available to everybody are becoming less and less optional for anyone delivering digital content, whether in the private or public sector, as the importance of creating accessible digital experiences is fast becoming a requirement, often driven from the boardroom.
In the 2013 NZ Disability Survey, 24% of New Zealanders identified as disabled, a total of 1.1 million people.
The number is likely higher, given that not everyone who is disabled self-identifies. Also, this doesn't account for changing abilities due to ageing, people with “temporary disabilities” such as a broken arm or lost glasses, people with “situational limitations”, such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio, or people using a slow Internet connection or who have limited or expensive bandwidth.
Accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to digital content, including auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, visual, mental health, neurodiversity, language processing and communication issues.
Because we are a full-service digital agency, accessibility is baked into our wider workflow. In other words, we design for accessibility, develop for accessibility and provide independent accessibility audits.
So whether we are designing and building a new experience for a client, performing an accessibility audit on an existing website or app, or undertaking the often costly and disruptive process of retrofitting an existing website based on a third-party audit, we begin by asking some fundamental questions, such as: Can all users access this experience? Are we making visual design decisions that create barriers for some users? How can I experience this platform through someone else's eyes (ears and hands)?
Our responsibility is to be informed about accessibility best practices and support our clients to deliver experiences they can feel confident meet the needs of all their users.
Talk to us today if you want to discuss our Accessibility services.
Accessibility Audits
We provide independent, comprehensive Website and Mobile App Accessibility Audits. We assess current compliance against WCAG 2.1 (or 2.2) and provide a list of issues, impacts and recommendations, with a risk assessment against each item.
Tests combine manual and visual checks, keyboard-only tests, screen reader/magnifier tests, browser setting tests, browser developer tools, colour contrast analysis and various automated testing tools. Sensory, cognitive, cultural and physical lenses can also be applied.
Reports are presented in two formats: A overview of the findings in a slide deck, with a supporting spreadsheet that logs all the issues identified in the review. We typically present this to the client and work through each issue together, providing risk-based recommendations.
Talk to us today about how an Accessibility Audit can help you improve digital accessibility and inclusivity, opening your business to a broader range of customers and ensuring WCAG compliance.
