Why everyone wins with accessible websites

In a world where technology is a fundamental part of our lives, ensuring digital accessibility is more crucial than ever. Accessibility isn’t just about meeting regulatory requirements—it’s about creating inclusive digital experiences for all end-users.

Why web accessibility matters

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 6 people in the world experience significant disability—this is an estimated 1.3 billion people. Despite this staggering figure, only 3% of websites are accessible worldwide.

Accessibility is about removing barriers and enabling users to engage and participate in everyday activities including digital interactions and experiences.

By making your website accessible, you enable people with disabilities and impairments to independently consume and interact with your digital content. This is crucial for creating equal opportunities, and helps website owners improve user engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty. Accessibility in products and services improve the overall customer experience and make it easier for everyone to engage with your business or brand.

QA testing and accessibility standards

Our quality assurance (QA) team works across the project lifecycle to validate needs, verify functionality, and ensure compliance with government standards on projects. In Aotearoa New Zealand, all government organisations are required to meet the NZ Web Accessibility Standard 1.1. This standard is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that are used globally as the international standard. 

Our QA team is trained to test websites against these accessibility standards. They ensure the finished product is accessible to all users by meticulously running automated tests, manually checking pages against WCAG criteria, and assessing usability with assistive technologies such as screen readers.

Our overall approach

Our approach is rooted in the belief that web accessibility is foundational to the user experience, and we’re dedicated to delivering websites that are accessible, inclusive, and engaging for all. 

Our design and development teams embed accessibility throughout the entire project lifecycle as a critical requirement. These high standards are maintained past go-live with ongoing support to continue to ensure high standards are met. This commitment is exemplified by our successful implementation of projects with stringent and crucial accessibility requirements, such as the Census 2023.

At Silverstripe, we believe that everyone’s lives should improve as technology advances. 

If you’re ready to make your website more accessible, contact us today to learn how we can help.