Frequently Asked Questions

Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites, applications, documents, and other digital content so that people with disabilities can use them effectively. This includes ensuring content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users who may have visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, or other disabilities.

Accessibility benefits everyone, not just people with permanent disabilities. It also helps people with temporary impairments, situational limitations (like using a device in bright sunlight), and older users.

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are internationally recognised guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.

WCAG is organised around four principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) and has three conformance levels:

• Level A: The minimum level of accessibility
• Level AA: The standard most organisations aim for, and what most legislation requires
• Level AAA: The highest level, which may not be achievable for all content

The current version is WCAG 2.1, with WCAG 2.2 now available. WCAG 3.0 is in development.

Digital accessibility is important for several reasons:

• Inclusion: Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide have a disability. Accessible digital content ensures they can participate fully in society.
• Legal compliance: Many countries have laws requiring digital accessibility, including Australia's Disability Discrimination Act.
• Better user experience: Accessibility improvements often benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
• Business benefits: Accessible websites tend to have better SEO, reach more customers, and demonstrate corporate social responsibility.

Digital accessibility addresses barriers for people with a wide range of disabilities, including:

• Visual disabilities: Blindness, low vision, colour blindness
• Auditory disabilities: Deafness, hard of hearing
• Motor disabilities: Limited fine motor control, paralysis, tremors
• Cognitive disabilities: Dyslexia, ADHD, memory impairments, learning disabilities
• Speech disabilities: Conditions affecting speech production or fluency

Yes. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) makes it unlawful for organisations to discriminate against people with disabilities. This has been interpreted to include inaccessible websites and digital content.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has indicated that WCAG 2.0 Level AA is a reasonable standard for website accessibility. Complaints can be lodged against organisations with inaccessible websites.

Additionally, government agencies must comply with the Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy, which requires WCAG 2.0 AA compliance.

Section 508 is a US law that requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. It applies to federal agencies and organisations receiving federal funding.

Section 508 was refreshed in 2017 to align with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. If your organisation does business with US federal agencies, you may need to demonstrate Section 508 compliance.

EN 301 549 is the European standard for accessibility requirements for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) products and services. It covers websites, software, hardware, and documents.

EN 301 549 incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements for web content and adds additional requirements for other types of ICT. It's particularly relevant for organisations doing business in the European Union.

A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a document that explains how a product conforms to accessibility standards, typically Section 508 or WCAG. VPATs are commonly requested during procurement processes to evaluate product accessibility.

The completed document is called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). We can help you create accurate VPATs for your products.

We offer a comprehensive range of accessibility services:

• Audits & Compliance: Website, app, and document accessibility audits against WCAG and other standards
• Document Remediation: Making PDFs and other documents accessible
• Training: Customised training for developers, designers, content creators, and leadership
• Consulting & Strategy: Accessibility program development, roadmaps, and governance
• User Testing: Testing with people with disabilities using assistive technologies

Learn more about our services

The duration of an accessibility audit depends on several factors:

• Size and complexity of the website or application
• Number of page templates and unique components
• Depth of testing required (automated, manual, assistive technology)
• Standards being tested against (WCAG level, Section 508, etc.)

A typical website audit can take anywhere from one to several weeks. We'll provide a detailed timeline after understanding your specific needs.

Yes, we offer all our services remotely. Our audits, training, consulting, and user testing can all be conducted remotely. We're based in Sydney but work with clients across Australia and internationally.

For training, we offer both in-person workshops (where circumstances allow) and live online sessions with interactive exercises.

Yes, document remediation is one of our core services. We remediate PDFs and other documents to meet WCAG and PDF/UA standards. This includes:

• Adding proper document structure and tags
• Creating alternative text for images
• Ensuring correct reading order
• Making tables accessible
• Remediating forms for accessibility

Learn more about document remediation

We recommend starting with:

1. Assessment: Understand your current state through an audit or our accessibility maturity self-assessment
2. Prioritisation: Focus on the most impactful issues and highest-traffic content first
3. Training: Build capability in your team so they can create accessible content going forward
4. Remediation: Fix existing issues while implementing accessible practices for new work
5. Maintenance: Establish processes to maintain accessibility over time

Contact us for a consultation to discuss the best approach for your organisation.

The cost of accessibility services varies based on your specific needs, the size and complexity of your digital assets, and the level of support required. We provide customised quotes based on your requirements.

While there is an investment required, consider the costs of not being accessible: potential legal action, lost customers, damaged reputation, and exclusion of a significant portion of the population from your services.

Contact us for a free initial consultation and quote.

You can reach us through several channels:

• Phone: 02 9524 4593
• Email: [email protected]
• Contact form: Fill out our contact form

We're based in Sydney, Australia and work with clients across Australia and internationally.