Web accessibility and usability at BLENNZ

We adhere to the New Zealand Government Web Standards to ensure our content is accessible to all, including people with disabilities. As of July 1, 2019, these standards include:

• Web Accessibility Standard 1.1 – Digital.govt.nz
• Web Usability Standard 1.3 – Digital.govt.nz

For more information on these standards, visit digital.govt.nz.

We prioritise putting content directly onto web pages whenever possible. This approach offers several benefits:

• Responsive design: Our web pages automatically adjust to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a consistent platform experience.
• Readability: We use high-contrast colour schemes and clear typography to enhance readability for low-vision users.
• Screen reader compatibility: Our pages are structured to work seamlessly with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
• Keyboard navigation: All functions are accessible via the keyboard without a mouse.
• Quick navigation: A 'Skip to Main Content' link is available at the top of each page for keyboard users.

• We use plain language and avoid jargon where possible.
• Content is structured with short paragraphs and bulleted lists for easy scanning.
• Line spacing and font sizes are optimised for readability.

Our website is tested with popular screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver. We ensure compatibility with various assistive technologies, including screen magnifiers and speech recognition software.

We use ARIA landmarks and labels to enhance navigation and comprehension for users of assistive technologies.

While we prefer web-based content, there are instances where downloadable files are necessary. When we use downloadable files, we ensure where possible that they meet the following accessibility criteria:

• Use of proper document structure (headings, lists, etc.).
• Avoidance of text boxes and other complex layouts.
• Alternative text for images and graphics.
• Descriptive link text, including file format and size.
• Summaries (max. 15 words) for all downloadable files.

Our colour palette is carefully chosen to meet WCAG 2.2 AAA colour contrast criteria. We ensure that colour is never the sole means of conveying information, using additional cues such as patterns or text labels where necessary.

Users can easily adjust the text size on our website:

• To increase text size, hold down the Ctrl key and press +
• To decrease text size, hold down the Ctrl key and press -

Identify 'Zoom' or 'Increase text size' options for older browsers in the View menu.

• Audio descriptions: Where applicable, we provide audio descriptions for visual content.
• Transcripts: Audio and video content is accompanied by text transcripts.
• Simplified Navigation: Our site structure is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, with a consistent layout across pages.
• Form Accessibility: Online forms are designed to be fully accessible, with clear labels and error messages.

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility issues or have suggestions for improvement, please contact our IT support team at info@blennz.school.nz or call 0800 BLENNZ.

Your feedback helps us ensure that our digital content remains accessible to all members of the BLENNZ community.