Two key factors that should never be overlooked when creating a website for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) business are user accessibility and brand values. Your website, as an NDIS provider, is more than simply a place to go online for people with disabilities, their families, and careers in need of critical services. It’s a lifeline. Consequently, the secret to developing an accessible, polished, and successful website is striking a balance between the requirement for accessibility and upholding a consistent portrayal of your brand’s values.
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of both elements and provide insights on how to achieve this balance effectively.
Understanding User Accessibility
More than simply a catchphrase, accessibility is a key component of web design that guarantees users of all abilities can explore and interact with your website. Having an accessible website is especially important for NDIS businesses since their target audience may include people with different types of impairments together with their families, support systems, and careers.
Using design concepts that allow visitors to access and interact with the websites content regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive skills is referred to as making a website accessible. This entails designing a user interface that takes into account different skill levels and guaranteeing interoperability with assistive technologies, such as screen readers.
Let’s break down some essential elements of accessible design:
1. Sticking to the WCAG Guidelines
Internationally accepted guidelines for web accessibility are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Your NDIS website should, at the very least, adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines. This entails ensuring that the material is readable, functional, clear, and resilient. This guarantees that the greatest number of individuals, irrespective of their technology or disability, can visit your website.
2. Responsive Design
Its essential for a website to adjust to various screen sizes and devices. Its possible that a large number of visitors to your website will be using smartphones or tablets, so making sure the design functions well on all of them can improve accessibility. Additionally, a responsive design guarantees that the user experience stays user-friendly and productive regardless of how users engage with the website.
3. Clear and Simple Navigation
The content organization on your website is essential. Visitors must be able to locate information quickly and simply, particularly in the setting of the NDIS where people may be looking for support services or urgent medical attention. Your website will be easier to use for people with cognitive limitations or people without technical backgrounds to navigate the simpler it is.
Maintaining a balance between brand identity and accessibility implies that your website should convey your organizations values in addition to making sure that any user can access it without any issues. Here are some strategies to make sure your website reflects the values of your brand:
1. Consistent Visual Identity
The personality of your brand should be graphically communicated on your NDIS website. Every visual component of your work, including your colour scheme, logo, font choice, and image quality, should be cohesive and represent the goals of your company. For instance, soft, inviting colors and plain, easy-to- read fonts can assist convey your brands emphasis on empathy and trust.
But its crucial to pick your colors carefully. People with vision difficulties might not be able to access certain colour combinations. Check the contrast ratios of the palette you’ve selected, and if needed, provide alternate viewing options.
2. Inclusive Imagery
Your websites graphics ought to convey the inclusivity and diversity of your company. It is imperative to use photos that depict a range of age groups, abilities, and backgrounds, given that the NDIS caters to persons from diverse backgrounds. Make sure the visuals you use are true to who you are as a brand and reflect your commitment to empowering and supporting people with disabilities.
3. Empathetic Tone and Language
Your websites voice should be as kind and considerate as your company is in person. The wording used should be clear and sympathetic, whether its in contact forms, blog posts, or service descriptions. Steer clear of jargon and extremely complicated vocabulary and use content easy to consume for your users.
4. Showcasing Your Impact
NDIS providers find great satisfaction in being able to positively impact their participants lives. This is best shown on your website. Think about include case studies, success stories, or endorsements from people who have used your services. This strengthens the participant empowerment core value of your
brand and fosters trust.
Striking the Balance
So how can you strike a compromise between user accessibility and brand values without sacrificing the other? The important thing to keep in mind is that brand identity and accessibility can and should go hand in hand.
Prioritize Usability Without Sacrificing Aesthetics with a simple, uncomplicated design is aesthetically beautiful and easy to use. Focusing on straightforward layouts, user-friendly navigation, and intuitive design helps you build a website that is both polished and professional-looking and functional for all users.
Employ narrative strategies to communicate your brands values while prioritizing accessibility. To guarantee that everyone can interact with the material, participant stories or service overviews, for instance, can be offered in a variety of media, including written text, video (with subtitles), and photos (with alt text).
Conclusion
The capacity of your NDIS website to strike a balance between accessibility and brand values is critical to its success. You can establish genuine connections with participants, foster trust, and fulfil your commitments with the support of a website that puts usability and inclusion first while adhering to your brands identity. In the end, you want to make sure that every user can confidently and easily browse your website while also creating an experience that embodies the values of your company.
Ravi Thapa
Senior WordPress Developer and an avid SEO expert, Ravi has helped hundreds of businesses right here in Sydney and across Australia build their online presence. With over 10+ years experience in this industry, Ravi knows what it takes for SME's to succeed online.
