Today we celebrate the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
The purpose of the day is to promote digital inclusion and get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about how people with different disabilities experience and navigate the digital world.
It’s certainly a consideration that was taken into account during Aruma’s recent website redevelopment. The team engaged with focus groups and conducted usability testing with core audience groups of participants (non-Aruma participants so as not to be biased), families and carers and support co-ordinators. This feedback was invaluable and informed the many decisions made to support content, accessibility and improved customer experience along the way.
Aruma’s new and improved website is just shy of a month old and already winning awards.
The website – created with the support of independent agency Wonderful Digital – recently won three gold awards at the international Communicator Awards run by the US Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, in the categories of best general non-profit website, best user experience, and best features, structure and navigation.
Ingrid Nason, Aruma Head of Marketing and Communications, said: “Our partnership with Wonderful has helped up deliver a website focused on accessibility, navigation and content perspective, and purpose built in collaboration with our key audiences.”
Matt Barbelli, founder and managing director at Wonderful, said: “We were thrilled to work in partnership with Aruma on its website, that was recognised internationally for its user experience, structure and navigation.”
How you can get involved in Global Accessibility Awareness Day
- Watch a Disability Awareness video. There are a lot to choose from both online and offline. To begin, here’s a 3-minute Disability Sensitivity video that has an audio described version, too.
- Read about updated disability language. This is a great Disability Style Guide from the National Center on Disability and Journalism. Or, check out the book Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau.
