Rushcliffe residents with a disability can now access the Borough Council’s website even easier, having been certified as accessible by the Shaw Trust Accessibility Services’ stringent testing process.
Over 60 hours of independent testing by the charity’s social enterprise saw the authority gain the status as it undertook tests on the site. The user testing was undertaken to ensure those with motor, cognitive, visual and auditory impairments can access its content.
Working alongside local digital agency HeX Productions, the Council altered aspects of its website including navigation, heading structure, link labelling, colour contrast and readability.
Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance and Contracts Cllr Gordon Moore said: “We’re delighted to have received this accreditation, outlining how our website is now easier to navigate for a wider range of users.
“Giving our residents access to our services digitally is so important and even more so with the current COVID-19 situation, where face to face services are not operating.”
James Hall, Creative Director at HeX Productions said: “We’re incredibility proud to be working with another of our local authority clients to help them achieve a Shaw Trust Accessibility Services Accreditation for their website.
“We are extremely impressed with the approach and commitment the team at Rushcliffe Borough Council has shown to the project.”
Zara Gemmell, Accessibility Director at HeX said: “Having been involved with the Home Office round table events from the beginning to help create The Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, we’re very happy to be one step closer to making Nottinghamshire a digitally accessible County.
“We’re on a journey committed to creating a digitally accessible Nottinghamshire and working with Rushcliffe Borough Council has been another amazing step in that journey for HeX Productions and Accessibility Nottingham.
“We encourage any public sector organisation, including colleges and universities, to follow in the footsteps of Rushcliffe Borough Council, to make their digital services accessible and we’re happy to help with that journey.”
