Accessibility - Our Experience & Accessible Website Design Portfolio
Accessibility; Web Design to W3C Standards
"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability
is an essential aspect."
Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
Accessible W3C Website Design Experience
We have extensive experience of
designing websites to International standards of Accessibility having created
accessible websites for clients including The University of Central England, Learner Support and Birmingham Universities Personal Assistance Scheme - a project run by the three Birmingham Universities.
Below are 3 websites we
have developed that meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published
by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and many other standards such as 'Bobby Approved', HTML, 'LYNX inspected' (text only browser),
etc. including to the highest standard possible W3C AAA.
Some of our Accessible Websites
The Law Society - Diversity Census Online Questionnaire
The Law Society is the regulatory body which represents solicitors in England
and Wales and works towards influencing law. It has recently launched a nationwide
project which targeted all its membership.
SynergiDesign won the contract and created the software (secure, interactive,
web-standards compliant, meeting the highest of web accessibility W3CAAA standards, web software)
to undertake this marketing activity and analyse its success.
Development and Design Summary:
"The level of activity generated by these campaigns met or exceeded our expectations."
"SynergiDesign accomplished the above tasks to very tight timescales. They listened
to and understood our requirements, offered sound, thoughtful advice, and delivered
on or before our deadlines. I have no hesitation in recommending SynergiDesign
for such tasks. Their expert, timely assistance has allowed us to make significant
progress on a sensitive, business-critical project."
John Rieger - The Law Society
Nevett & Taylor - Insurance Brokers Website
Nevett and Taylor insurance brokers provide advice and cover on a wide range of
insurance & Financial Services, they also run two specialist schemes offering
insurance for disabled students to cover computer equipment funded by the Disabled
Student Allowance and for Tennis and sports clubs whether it be large national centres
or smaller local clubs.
Web design summary:
Clear Links Accessible W3C AAA Website Design
Clear Links provide services for disabled and dyslexic people in their workplace
or in further and higher education. Their website accessibility conforms to the
highest international levels of accessibility - W3C Triple A (AAA).
Web design summary:
"SynergiDesign were originally recommended to me by another organisation. In
our business we are required to meet certain standards in relation to accessibility,
for example in relation to our web pages and literature. There are not many design
companies which have the expertise which we require, however Synergi do have
that knowledge and expertise. Synergi also took a lot of time to find out what
type of company we were, and developed a style for us which reflects us and what
we do - we offer a very professional service in a very friendly way - we think that
what we've got from Synergi in terms of our corporate identity demonstrates this
for us. People have commented positively about our website, and our colours and
logo. Another great thing about Synergi is that they are lovely people to deal
with; we value our relationship with them; they are responsive to our requirements
and are very customer orientated."
Marie Norris - Director, Clear Links
Learner Support Website & Printed Materials
This website was produced to enable a new company, established to provide learner
support nationally for students in further and higher education, to publicise its
services to disabled students, tutors, Careers advisors and others. We were selected
to design this website because our previous work (see above) had been admired by
the Director. The website was constructed to a strict budget and had to fulfil certain
time constraints as well as meeting robust accessibility standards.
Web design summary:
"Synergi Design staff are very professional and efficient, whilst also being
particularly friendly and approachable. Because of their technical ability the website
which they developed is fully accessible to our client group. We are very pleased
with it and have received complimentary comments from our service users.
We have been working with Synergi since October 2003 and because of the positive
relationship, are continuing to work with them in the future"
Director, Learner Support
University of Central England; ThinkUni Website
We developed this website in partnership with disability project managers for the
University of Central England, Aston University & University of Birmingham. The
website was designed to provide information for disabled potential students about
their support needs at university. The website is also used extensively by Careers
advisors, further education and sixth form tutors.
Web design summary:
"It was extremely important that the website should be accessible for people with
disabilities, particularly those that are blind or dyslexic as this reflects a large
portion of students with disabilities in higher education. Synergi have ensured
complete compliance with accessibility standards, without compromising on visual
presentation or creativity of design"
Mark Ellerby, Welfare Services Manager, University of Central England.
"
Background Information
The W3C WAI is an international project concerned with ensuring
that disabled people can enjoy equal access to the web. In May 1999, WAI published
the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which have become the de facto
standard for web accessibility in many countries of the world.
International Standards We Design to
Web Accessibility Initiative. Conformance Level AAA of the W3C (The international
web standards organisation) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
2.0, including all Priority 1,2 and 3
checkpoints which explain how to make web content accessible to people with
disabilities. Conformance to these Guidelines helps make the web more accessible
to users with disabilities and will benefit all users.
Compliance to international standards of HTML (the programming language behind the
web).
That the web page meets Cascading Style sheet standards (the language that should
be used for the presentation (styling) of a website.
That the web page complies to international standards of Extensible HTML (programming
language).
That the web page is viewed accurately on a text only Browser - we use Lynx
We have attained and exceeded many industry standards in this regard.
Testing Websites for Accessibility
Just a few of the tests we conduct on our accessible websites:
- Thoroughly tested to ensure compliance to international standards, thereby guaranteeing
that different browsers will render the web page as intended and that assistive
technology (which is designed considering these standards) works well
- Tested on a text only browsers
- Use Bobby / Watchfire software to test the validity to accessibility (WAI) standards
of web pages
- Using screen reader software - does the site read out as intended?
- Check for sufficient colour contrast - is it readable?
- Will the website work with Graphics and Flash turned off in the Browser?
- That it works in different browser resolutions
- Different platforms - MAC and PC
- Different Browsers
- That the text size can be altered.
Contact us if you
would like us to review your website and test for WWW / W3C AAA accessibility standards.
Clear Links Corporate Identity & Web Design
Clear Links provide services for disabled and dyslexic people in their in further
and higher education and in the workplace. The service also recruits and supports
disability support workers in a wide variety of roles.
SynergiDesign is experienced in designing websites to high standards of website
accessibility and has a long established working relationship with Marie Norris,
Clear Links director, who is a specialist in the field of disability.
Web site accessibility was key to the design and functionality of the Clear Links
website and the partnership has resulted in a highly successful, accessible website
project with full functionality that is clear cut with maximum ease of use.
Print design summary:
"SynergiDesign were originally recommended to me by another organisation. In
our business we are required to meet certain standards in relation to accessibility,
for example in relation to our web pages and literature. There are not many design
companies which have the expertise which we require, however Synergi do have
that knowledge and expertise. Synergi also took a lot of time to find out what
type of company we were, and developed a style for us which reflects us and what
we do - we offer a very professional service in a very friendly way - we think that
what we've got from Synergi in terms of our corporate identity demonstrates this
for us. People have commented positively about our website, and our colours and
logo. Another great thing about Synergi is that they are lovely people to deal
with; we value our relationship with them; they are responsive to our requirements
and are very customer orientated."
Marie Norris - Director, Clear Links
Learner Support Corporate Identity, Posters, Web Design
Learner Support provide support workers and specialist equipment nationally to Universities
and workplaces for disabled or dyslexic students/ workers. Their printed material
needed to be accessible to those with visual impairments, colour blindness, dyslexia
etc. and expertise regarding colours, fonts, type, layout, imagery etc. was applied
to ensure this as well as user testing for accessibility.
Print design summary:
"We were keen to develop a friendly feel to what Synergi.com called our 'corporate
identity' and what we call our business style, approach, behaviour etc. We're really
pleased that what we've got reflects us, reflects how we are, Synergi Design
took the time to really get to know us"
Director, Learner Support
Accessible W3CAAA Web Design - More information