Accessibility
In Finland, more than 1.2 million people need accessibility. 20-25% of Finns are unable to use online services or it is difficult because they are not designed correctly.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of recommendations for making Web content more accessible, primarily for people with disabilities—but also for all user agents, including highly limited devices, such as mobile phones.
There are four principles of accessibility
The industry standard guidelines for web content accessibility are organized around four principles:
Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
and Robust
The implementation of these four principles makes the website accessible. This is how we evaluate the accessibility
Accessibility also applies to content
Of the above principles, comprehensibility in particular is difficult to interpret and assess. Basically, it is mostly related to the content of the services, with other criteria largely based on technical frameworks and implementations.
11-14% of the population, or 650,000 to 750,000 people in Finland, need plain language. Plain language benefits every user of the service. When things are explained simply, they are easier to understand, and the use of the service is easier.
The comprehensibility of online content can be increased e.g. using clear language, dividing the text into eye-catching parts, and using descriptive subheadings as well as images. Providing content in video format as well as descriptive link texts also increases comprehensibility.
This is how we evaluate the accessibility
Evaluation
We check the technical accessibility of your online service with the help of dedicated tools and perform a manual check. We test different use cases, e.g. keyboard usage, screen reader use, and color contrast and resolution.
Content
We also check the accessibility of the content. For example, if there is information in the pictures and buttons that should be recorded as open text, and whether videos or audio recordings are available in text format.
Reporting
We compile a report of our findings, which includes a listing of compliance with the WCAG 2.1 criteria and a breakdown of the identified deficiencies.
If you wish, we will provide you with an accessibility statement on the website in addition to the report. You can read more about the accessibility report here.
Action plan
We make an action plan and a cost estimate of the necessary changes that have emerged in the evaluation. By following the plan, the accessibility requirements are met.
We are able to guide the points to be developed holistically, from the point of view of content, visual design, and software development.
