Users Perspective of Council Websites Part II: Accessibility Survey

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Users Perspective of Council Websites Part II
Accessibility Survey

• Stefan Haselwimmer
• Managing Director, Usability Exchange

www.usabilityexchange.com
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What is Usability Exchange?

• The first simple, fast and cost-effective
  platform for conducting disabled user testing of
  websites

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Why should I test my website with disabled users?

• A web site can pass all technical accessibility
  checkpoints and still be unusable by disabled
  people

User testing provides the best evidence of a
websites accessibility PAS 78
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Why should I test my website with disabled users?

• Transforms concept of website accessibility
• Improve usability of your website for all users

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Socitm Accessibility Survey

• First cross-disability user test of Socitm Top 20
  councils
• How accessible are Top 20 to real disabled users?

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Socitm Accessibility Survey

• Simple task Find phonenumber
• Complex task Report abandoned vehicle
• Cross-disability
• Star rating

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Accessibility Survey Results

• 19 out of 20 councils rated
• 7 out of 20 councils rated
• No councils received rating
• Accessibility or usability issues were reported
  with every council website

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Timings - Find a phone number
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Timings Report abandoned vehicle
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Issues with finding a phone number

• Non-standard position of phone number
• Contact us link not clear
• Accessibility-related problems - too many links
  on a page, insufficient contrast between text and
  background

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Positive comments

• Very clear and easy to find, it feels and looks
  like you want people to get in touch with you.
  Great!"

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Issues with reporting an abandoned car

• Difficulty locating abandoned car reporting
  system
• Search engines not very helpful
• Accessibility-related problems problems with
  web forms, buttons or links too small

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Positive comments
I liked this site as I found it easy to navigate
round as it was consistent and well laid out, no
information overload. The breadcrumbs at the top
of the page are great for anyone like me who
suffers from a less than perfect memory.
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Recommendations

• Test early, test often
• Detailed recommendations in report