Purple Beard Ltd: The Power of Partnership Between Government and Industry for Digital Accessibility #techUKDigitalPS

If you work in public sector, then you would have heard about PSBAR 2018 (The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018) 

Under PSBAR 2018 guidance understanding accessibility and meeting the requirement is pertinent to:   

1. Central government and local government organisations. 

2. Some charities and other non-government organisations unless exempt.  

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing digital products and services in a way that makes them accessible to people with disabilities.  

In this blog, we will explore the power of partnership between government and industry for digital accessibility. 

What is Digital Accessibility? 

Digital accessibility encompasses the design and development of digital products and services that can be used by people with disabilities. It involves making sure that websites, mobile applications, documents, and other digital media are accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive disabilities. Digital accessibility involves not only the design of digital products and services but also the development of policies and procedures that ensure that accessibility is incorporated into every aspect of the organization. 

Digital accessibility is important because it ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to information and services. It is a critical component of building a truly inclusive society. By making digital products and services accessible, organizations can ensure that everyone can participate in digital society and achieve their full potential. 

Based on the ONS 2021 Data In England the, number of people who were disabled is  9.8 million, some 17.7% of the population.  

We are currently in the 4th Industrial revolution or 4 IR which is an era of connectivity, advanced analytics, automation, and advanced technologies, making the need for digital accessibility even more pertinent and important for businesses and organisations to adopt. 

The Importance of Digital Accessibility for Government and Industry

For government, digital accessibility is essential for ensuring equal access to information and services for all citizens, including those with disabilities. For industry, digital accessibility is important for improving customer experiences, increasing customer loyalty, and expanding market share. 

Partnerships between government and industry become essential for ensuring that digital accessibility is implemented in a timely manner. Governments can provide guidance and frameworks whilst industry can create change in a responsive and agile manner. Together, government and industry can leverage their resources and knowledge to improve digital accessibility rapidly for everyone. 

Web accessibility is based on WCAG guidelines. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 defines how to make Web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility involves a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities. Although these guidelines cover a wide range of issues, they are not able to address the needs of people with all types, degrees, and combinations of disability. These guidelines also make Web content more usable by older individuals with changing abilities due to aging and often improve usability for users in general. 

Testing and evaluating digital accessibility is also essential for ensuring that products and services are accessible to people with disabilities. Organizations should conduct regular audits of their digital products and services and should involve people with disabilities in the testing and evaluation process. By doing so, organizations can identify and address accessibility issues before they become a problem. 

How to start the accessibility journey: 

• Carry out a website and digital audit.  

• Review your accessibility statement.  

• Understand the PSBAR 2018 regulations.  

• Understand the WCAG Guidelines  

• Educate your teams and supply chains on digital accessibility and its importance via interventions such as Apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps

• Create an action plan with SMART milestones. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, digital accessibility is essential for ensuring that everyone can access and benefit from digital services. While there has been progress in improving digital accessibility, there is still much work to be done. Based on data published by All able in Nov 2020 only 33.33% of organisations across the sector had accessibility statements that were compliant or good. 

Therefore, Partnerships between government and industry are necessary to ensure progress is made rapidly to bridge the digital gap via ensuring essential services are accessible

This article was written by Dimple Khagram, CEO, Purple Beard Ltd. Edtech founder with a mission to deliver apprenticeship programmes and Bootcamps to businesses and individuals in the digital space.  Dimple is passionate about Accessibility, Tech skills, Mental health and Neuroscience, especially understanding how we learn. She has a pug called Mia and likes to travel and learn about new cultures.  Dimple grew up across 3 continents and speaks multiple languages. Learn more about this author.

About Purple Beard Ltd 

We are Tech training company with a focus on Tech training via Apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps. If you are interested in speaking to us about our digital accessibility training, and how we can help you become compliant and achieve full inclusivity for your staff, please connect with us via our website. 

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