As we prepare to meet our obligations under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations (2018) the University of Kent have developed an exciting partnership with Kent Connects to create a shared vision for a ‘digitally inclusive county’
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital Accessibility means more than putting things online. It relates to making your digital content and designs clear and simple enough so that most people can use them without needing to adapt them, whilst supporting those who do need adaptations to easily and effectively access these. For example, someone with impaired vision might use a screen reader (software that lets a user navigate a website and ‘read out’ the content), braille display or screen magnifier or someone with motor difficulties might use a special mouse, speech recognition software or non-screen keyboard emulator.
In light of the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations (2018) this partnership with Kent Connects creates a consistently high accessibility baseline for public sector organisations in Kent, whilst reducing workloads of individual organisations and avoiding duplication of effort.
To celebrate our shared vision for the county, we are jointly hosting the Kent Digital Accessibility Conference – creating a digitally inclusive county on Thursday 6th June between 09:30 – 16:00 at the University of Kent Canterbury campus.
The conference provides an opportunity to get involved in a wide network of excellence, work out our goals, strategies and actions together with the help of experts.The conference fits in really well with the excellent work schools and departments at Kent have already been doing through Kent Inclusive Practises and the use of Blackboard Ally.
Plenary topics will include:
- The Government Digital Service on new regulations
- Experts who are affected by these issues every day
- Microsoft Accessibility
- Kent Authorities on county wide support
- The University of Kent on tools for enhanced digital experience
And practical workshops will be hosted by:
- Real Accessibility Auditors
- Plain English professionals
- Microsoft Accessibility advisors
- Assistive Technology Experts
Book your free place now on Eventbrite by clicking this link!
Refreshments and lunch will be included and information about location, parking and specific agenda timings will be sent after registration.
For any queries in the meantime, please email AccessibilityEvents@kent.ac.uk.