Making information accessible for all

Making information accessible for allSam Tilston, User Researcher

1 May 2023

@sam_tilston

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Single platform for Scottish Government information and

services online

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User Centred

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What does accessibility mean?

“The design of products, devices, services, or

environments for people with disabilities.”

Source: W3C

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Why is accessibility important?

• Nearly one in five people of working age (1 million, or 19%) in Scotland are disabled

• By pension age almost 50% of us will be disabled

• Current projections for 2037 suggest the number of people in Scotland aged 65+ will increase by 59%

Source: gov.scot and gov.uk

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Why do accessibility testing?

• Uncovers issues that audits or automated testing won’t

• Provides a better understanding of how people will actually use the website

• Identifies broader usability issues

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Our approach10 people6 male, 4 female18 – 755 x3 x2 x

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Participants

Retired manager

49

Retired engineer66

Sales assistant54

Skills development

50

Unemployed35

Retired typist75

Care home worker23

Receptionist67

Student18

Employability officer

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Impairments

Visual Auditory

Physical Cognitive

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Assistive technology

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Key findings for mygov.scot

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Consistency

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Prioritisation of ‘calls to action’

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Importance of headings

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Language and terminology

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Minor usability issues

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Wider user experience

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Some other findings• Online confidence and experience a bigger

factor than impairments• Problem solving is required to complete

some journeys• A reminder to not make assumptions around

literacy• Need to further explore cognitive aspects

through user testing• Accessibility is part of the bigger picture of

Digital Participation

Thank youSam TilstonUser ResearcherSam.Tilston@gov.scot0131 244 0827

@sam_tilston