When working in the third sector keeping on top of the law is important but it doesn’t have to be scary. Accessibility legislation that effects the sector is changing and here is a summary of what you need to know.
What Is The Law On Accessibility?
Accessibility law is changing and we think this is a great thing. Websites and apps are being used by more people, and being accessed in more varied ways and on more platforms than ever. It’s important that we can give the best experience possible on all platforms.
The law on accessibility states that resources must now be usable for:
Impaired vision
Motor difficulties
Cognitive impairments or learning disabilities
Deafness or impaired hearing
In the UK 1 in 5 people have a disability. Inclusivity is integral to modern society and particularly so in the third sector. Allowing the most amount of people to get involved is great for everyone and this is something that we aspire to.
What Do You Have To Do?
Officially what you have to do is make websites and apps ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’. Which is not as daunting as it sounds!
You must also publish an accessibility statement this must include details of content that doesnt meet accessibility standards. If someone does request this document you must also provide details of why certain aspects of the website do not meet the criteria.
When Do The Changes Happen?
Don’t worry, you will not have to make changes straight away. New websites must be compliant by the 23rd September 2019 which gives us all considerable time to improve our accessibility.
Websites made before 2019 have a years grace period and do not have to be accessible till 23rd September 2020. Native applications must be made accessible by the 23rd June 2021.
Is Anyone Exempt From These Changes?
The changes do not effect everyone;
non-government organisations like charities (unless they provide services that are essential to the public or aimed at disabled people).
schools or nurseries – except for the content the public need to use their services.
public sector broadcasters and their subsidiaries.
Help Understanding Accessibility Law
Depending on the nature of your business/organisation there is a number avenues you can take to get advice about the upcoming changes.
The Government Digital Service is researching what guidance and support that public sector organisations need to meet accessibility standards. If you’re interested in taking part in this research, contact accessibility-research@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk.
How TeamKinetic Can Help?
If you require any further information please click here for the full government regulations of what exactly the accessibility laws entail.
If you are looking for a volunteer management system that will be fully compliant with the accessibility law changes look no further than TeamKinetic. We have been working hard on our 1.3 release to improve the accessibility for our volunteers.
Visit Our website here https://teamkinetic.co.uk/ Or give us a call on 0161 914 5757 to find out more about how we can help you. You can also reach out to us on our social media channels:
I have been concentrating on accessibility improvements and changes for the upcoming 1.3 release of TeamKinetic and I thought I would give a little background into what accessibility means for websites and what TeamKinetic have been doing to solve some of the issues in a non-technical post.
It’s a long post but here’s a quick check list of what the focus has been for this release;
Clear focus effects so a keyboard users knows where they are at all times
Keyboard accessible menu and sub menu
Keyboard accessible help tips, activated by the return key and closed by switching focus
Proper use of ARIA tags for all content that is initially invisible (such as help tips, pop up windows etc) so that screen readers will correctly read out the revealed text at the correct time
Correctly labelled form elements so that screen readers can always associate an input (such as a text element) with its description
Grouping together of associated form elements using fieldsets and legends. For instance, a collection of checkboxs for a yes, no, maybe, definitely answer. using a fieldset ensures that a screen reader user knows what question the answers belong to.
Keyboard accessible skip to content links that enable keyboard users and screen reader users to skip the menu and header portion of a webpage and get straight to the important stuff. Can you imagine how tedious it is to have to listen or tab through every navigation element on a webpage before you can read its content!
Correct description tags (alt tags) for all images
Improvements to link and button text by providing additional screen reader only text to give context to the link or button.
Making sure all password fields are marked as ‘new’, ‘existing’ or ‘repeat’ as they are often just labelled password.
Ensuring all webpages are accurately and uniquely titled and described.
Accessibility is often low on developers priority list, its understandable, the number of customers using assistive technologies is likely low compared to the numbers that do not. However the impact on those user that do, is enormous and by ignoring accessibility issues you are effectively blocking those users from accessing your content.
Although being able to access your website is a right for assistive technology users, and it is illegal to discriminate against such users, its also a positive process and a way to learn new skills, engage with a new audience and improve the intrinsic worth and value of your product.
Keyboard Accessibility
Keyboard navigation is perhaps the most important aspect of accessibility for websites. Navigating via a keyboard or something similar is employed by many users with mobility issues that cannot hold, move or control a mouse and also by many visually impaired users.
Keyboard users navigate through a website using primarily the tab key which focuses on item to item in the web page in the order it is served or in a specific order set by the website itself. Whilst focused on any element they can use keys such as the return key to activate the actions of that element, say a button to submit a form or to follow a link.
TeamKinetic enables keyboard navigation and all elements are focusable by the keyboard. There is a clear visual clue to which element is currently focused by the keyboard.
Menus
Its almost entirely universal that a website or application has a menu to quickly access different parts of a system. Its also very normal for the menu to have sub menus that are revealed when the mouse is moved over the heading (this is called a HOVER). As you can see below on the TeamKinetic menu the mouse pointer has been hovered over the menu heading and the sub menu is revealed.
But when a keyboard is used to navigate to the menu item the event is called FOCUS, not hover. If the website does not include the specific code for what happens when a menu element is focused by a keyboard event the user will not see the sub menu or any change in colour/appearance to indicate where in the menu they are.
TeamKinetic’s menus are now fully accessible by the keyboard with visual indicators of where the current focus is. When the focus is on an element with a sub-menu available there is a clear colour change and by pressing return the menu can be toggled on and off. Importantly, if the menu is not activated with the return key the user does not have to navigate through all the items of the sub-menu in order to reach the next item in the current menu.
Skip Links
Skip links are a very important and hugely convenient addition for accessibility. They are hidden links or buttons that a screen reader or keyboard user will expose that enable them to skip past all the header and navigation elements that are the same on every page.
The skip to content link only appears when using the tab key to navigate or when using a screen reader
Help ToolTips
Tooltips are little bubbles that pop up to give the user more information or context about a feature or action. Traditionally these have activated when the mouse is hovered over the target and the tooltip disappears when the mouse is moved away from the target.
This is problematic for keyboard users that never fire the hover event, only the focus event (see above) that will never see the tooltip and also for users with reduced motor control. We have converted all our volunteer help tooltips into an accessible form that will fire when the question mark is clicked or when it is focused by a keyboard user. To dismiss the tooltip you move the focus either by pressing the tab key or clicking the mouse anywhere that is not the question mark icon.
importantly the new help tooltips are also labelled carefully with the appropriate ARIA tags so that screen readers are alerted to the presence of new information and are aware when they reach the question mark icon that this will reveal new information when activated and can map the
Improved form labelling
For screen reader users it is important that the context and purpose of all form elements, like text boxes, checkboxes and buttons is clear from the element itself. It is easy for a visual user to tell which question a form element belongs to as it will be group visually, or perhaps via certain colours, on the screen, but will not be apparent to a screen reader user.
Example form showing the correctly marked up labels for the form elements
We have redesigned all the volunteer forms to make sure that the extra context required for screen reader users is included. We achieve this through judicious use of the LABEL tag for describing form elements, by grouping associated elements in a fieldset with a legend and by improving the quality of link and button text by included hidden text that only screen readers see.
Extra Screen Reader Context
Using special styles, it is possible to hide text from visual users but expose it to screen reader users. This is great for adding additional context to buttons and actions that make sense visually but are indistinguishable for screen reader users.
Imagine a long list of say opportunities, each with a button/link that says ‘More Details’ that you might encounter on the search page. It’s easy for a visual user to match the same identical button or link with the context of the opportunity you are currently looking at but not for a screen reader that will just list a long set of identical buttons.
Identical buttons that are easy to associate with the opportunity visually, but not so for a screen reader
The addition of the contextual text means a screen reader user knows, in this case, which opportunity is linked to which button.
The appearance to a screen reader of the repeated buttons without and with added contextual text
What Next ?
Most of the work for this release has been focused on the volunteer’s portal, with some global changes, like the accessible menu applied across the application.
We will be auditing all the provider pages to perform the same changes as above and finally onto the administrator pages.
We envisage that we will be constantly improving accessibility as best practise evolves and we discover new areas that are not optimised for assistive technology users. If you are such a user we would love to hear your experiences and suggestions.
TeamKinetic believe that everyone should be provided with equal opportunities when signing up for volunteering roles and that opportunities are made equally accessible to individuals with and without a disability by volunteer managers.
volunteers in a circle
Why is it important for volunteer managers to provide individuals with a disability the opportunity to have access to a variety of volunteering roles?
People with a disability, want role models who understand their issues. Looking up to significant others, that also have a disability, inspires the next generation to want to get involved.
Volunteering with or without a disability offers a real opportunity to enhance skills, build confidence, develop as a leader and gain work experience.
Some of the finest friendships are made through volunteering, it provides a fantastic way to build relationships, reduce social isolation and create community.
Here at TeamKinetic, we think people with a disability or long-term illness should have access to as many choices and opportunities as non-disabled people. The TeamKinetic volunteer system allows volunteers to make informed decisions about the opportunities they wish to take advantage of.
But for individuals with a disability to be able to make these choices, first, we must have a website that they can use. Here are some of the considerations TeamKinetic has taken into account, to make sure it offers an accessible service that is useful to people with disabilities.
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
Website accessibility is important. The number of people accessing the internet is now over 4 billion, more than half of the world population!
Everyone wants quick and simple navigation around the websites they visit. Therefore volunteer managers that recruit individuals with a disability, should provide the individual with ways they can access the organisation’s website and what opportunities the organisation provides.
TeamKinetic has worked hard to provide a simple to use navigation for volunteers, with fast search and useful filters. Our Focus design principals ensure we build with consistency and simplicity always in mind.
Across the sector, there is still a lack of awareness from volunteer managers in providing people with a disability full access to organisations websites. The reason we think for this is that many people have a limited understanding of how persons with disabilities use technology and therefore mistakenly consider it difficult and costly, or just don’t consider it at all.
W3C has some standards that all website developers should adhere to, these are…
If alt text isn’t provided for images, the image information is inaccessible. For example, to people who cannot see and use a screen reader that reads aloud the information on a page, including the alt text for the visual image.
When equivalent alt text is provided, the information is available to people who are blind, as well as to people who turn off images. (for example, in areas with expensive or low bandwidth). It’s also available to technologies that cannot see images, such as search engines
Symantec Layout
We use ARIA tagging and symantic elements such as the NAV element to enclose our navigation menus so that text browsers can let the user know, and most importantly, give them the opportunity to skip areas they are not interested in. Can you imagine having to listen to every entry in an entire navigation menu everytime you opened a page!
Keyboard input
Some people cannot use a mouse, including many older users with limited fine motor control. An accessible website does not rely on the mouse; it makes all functionality available from a keyboard. Then people with disabilities can use assistive technologies that mimic the keyboard, such as speech input.
TeamKinetic can be fully navigated without the need for a mouse.
Most of the basics of accessibility are fairly easy to implement. However, if you are new to accessibility, it takes some time and effort to learn the common issues and solutions. Here are places to start:
Easy Checks – A First Review — helps you start testing the accessibility of a web page and understand some common accessibility barriers.
Tips for Getting Started — provides some basic considerations for designing, writing, and developing.
If you’re interested in finding out more about why volunteer managers should provide more accessibility and how it can be done then follow Neil Milliken Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion for Atos a Global IT company on Twitter. Or visit the AXSCHAT website to become part of the AXSCHAT community discussions.
TeamKinetic believe that everyone should be given equal opportunities and access to a variety of volunteering opportunities to choose from. We at TeamKinetic strive to provide volunteer management software that is fully inclusive and easy to use. If you have personal experience of using our sites with assistive technology we would love to hear how we can improve. For more information about us and what we do visit our website.
TeamKinetic got to sit down and interview Steve and Dylan, two amazingly enthusiastic volunteers from Liverpool FC Foundation. We discussed their experiences as volunteers with a disability and the impact volunteering has had on them. It was amazing to see all the work they put into the local community as well as the Foundation. Both men volunteer regularly, at least three times, throughout the week.
Dylan, Steve, Ash and Jerome at Respect 4 All inclusive session at LFC Academy
Heres what they had to say…
How long have you volunteered for and what do you enjoy the most about volunteering?
Steve: “It was in 2008 in September with Mark. He was the disability officer who invited me to join the Respect 4 All program, which allowed me to get into volunteering. I enjoy getting the disabled children involved in sports, especially football. I am very passionate about getting boys, girls, women, everyone into playing football.”
Dylan: “I have volunteered for 2 months now. I like to get involved with the kids and help them with playing different sports.”
Do you feel that younger children look up to you for help and inspiration?
Steve: “Very much so, it’s hard for disabled people to break into sports. I’ve really enjoyed helping the children become better players and better individuals. Before the LFC Foundation, I volunteered for the Liverpool council and I used to go to a special school in Liverpool, so I have always felt passionate about sport for disabled people.”
What does the LFC Foundation mean to you?
Steve: “It means everything to me! I’ve been a supporter for the Liverpool Football club since I was 3 years old. The work that they do, not just in disability but all kinds of projects through the city. They’re a leading light. They impact so many peoples lives. Out of sports, I am generally a quiet person. The Foundation has developed my confidence in coaching. Being around the more experienced coaches and learning from them really helps with my volunteering.”
Dylan: “Everything! I play for the team and I’ve been there for ten years. I’ve improved my people skills and working with others. I want the foundation to keep growing.”
It was clear to see how much being involved with Liverpool FC Foundation meant to Steve and Dylan, Volunteering in football clearly meant a lot to them and their engagement with the young people in the sessions was fantastic.
One of the sessions regular attendee’s was Reiss, He has been inspired not just to keep coming to the sessions by these two great coaches, but also to go one step further, and to register as a volunteer on the LFC Foundation portal powered by TeamKinetic.
Reiss is a 16-year-old Liverpool FC fan and who’s enthusiastic for his club is limitless. He regularly attends the Respect 4 All sessions and we to know what had made Reiss so keen to do more?
Reiss playing Football at the Respect 4 All session at Liverpool Academy
Do you enjoy the activities at the LFC Foundation?
Reiss: “Yes, I do! It’s really good to get kids with disabilities together and getting them involved in football and learning new skills.”
What would it mean to you to become a volunteer for the LFC Foundation?
Reiss: “It would mean a lot to me to volunteer. I want to help younger children like I have in the past. I hope to be volunteering for the future with the LFC Foundation. Volunteering will allow me to gain more experience and work with others, to better my CV.”
It was a fantastic day at the Respect 4 All event, and all the young people getting involved. The impact the staff and volunteers had on these young peoples lives can be difficult sometimes to effectively explain, but it should never be underestimated. The Liverpool FC Foundation put in tremendous amounts of effort to create a strong community. TeamKinetic is proud to play its role in supporting this work.
Tom Latchford, Chief executive of Raising IT, discusses how Charity donations should be as easy as ordering from Amazon in this interesting article that looks at Gift Aid in the Guardian. We at TeamKinetic like Tom’s take on Amazon’s business model and what we, in the voluntary sector, should be learning from these internet giants.
We want to know what your experiences have been using “the web” as a voluntary organisation. Has your experience been positive? How can we make using the internet less challenging?
TeamKinetichave worked tirelessly on our own internet-based Volunteer Management system. Although we are very proud of our effort, we are also keen to know what people are looking for online.
The confusing process of claiming Gift Aid hinders the often spontaneous nature of text donations and online giving
Impulse donations have to be quick. A pound in the bucket is easier than a lengthy chat with a clipboard-wielding rep on the street – and the same principle applies to giving via charities’ digital channels.
This is why the cumbersome and confusing process of claiming Gift Aid hinders the often spontaneous nature of text donations and online giving. Any attempts to simplify the path to donation must be welcomed.
So it’s promising that the Treasury’s new consultation, Gift Aid and Digital Giving, recognises that advancements in technology, which are boosting charity fundraising campaigns, are being maimed by antiquated Gift Aid processes.
But the Treasury must go beyond recognising the problems. They must resolve them. The danger is that this promising but piecemeal paper will distract from what should be the highest priority right now: properly implementing the two biggest changes in Gift Aid – online returns and the small donations scheme.
Bringing Gift Aid online has not been without its complications so far, and the Government could be doing more to assist technology companies helping charities transition to the new system by September.
The small donations scheme is a wonderful idea but, in this case, small has not meant simple. The entry-level guidance for this was 20 pages long in explaining the scheme. The key to success of Gift Aid reform is layman simplicity. The proposals to cut the declaration by half is welcomed, although not radical.
For radical we just need to see how defective our tax incentives are in comparison to the US. To seriously boost the giving economy in the UK, we need to seriously shake things up, and this paper is too bland for that, but it could still save millions by streamlining the system.
Simplifying the process for staff, not just supporters, is the crux of this. I have watched conscientious smaller charities, fearfully checking the eligibility of donors for Gift Aid, spending salaried time on administration around it.
Sensible steps to simplify the user experience for Gift Aid declarations are important. We should focus on the donations funnel and making this as short, simple and smooth as possible. It’s amazing how easy it is to put someone off giving by asking people for too much detail.
We need to aspire to making the donation experience as painless as ordering from Amazon. For one-click payments, storing Gift Aid status against a donor is critical, whereas other suggestions like a central declaration database seem too far-fetched.
Gift Aid is seen as a huge incentive to boost giving, but Raising IT carried out a simple online experiment, where we removed Gift Aid declarations from a donation form, hence simplifying it, and saw an increase in donations. Gift Aid simply cannot continue to be a barrier to online giving.
JustGiving took advantage of the public’s ignorance of Gift Aid, and to many it seemed they could magically make more money from your donation. There is still plenty to be done to educate people about Gift Aid.
The government is essentially offering circa £15m in tax relief through these proposals, so it’s vital that the sector as a whole provides full and frank feedback to the consultation. Without a full and forthright response, it may be another two decades before donations reach the top of its agenda again.
