Make your NDIS website accessible

Make your NDIS website accessible

Four simple accessibility checks for your website:

1. Can people follow your videos without sound? #

Captions help people who are deaf or hard of hearing follow your videos. They also help anyone watching in a noisy place, somewhere they need to keep the volume down, or simply with the sound switched off.

Captions should appear at the same time as the speech and make it clear who is talking when this isn’t obvious. They should also describe sounds or music that help people understand what’s happening, such as a phone ringing or an alarm sounding.

If your video has no sound, include a short note saying so. This lets people know they aren’t missing any audio.

Automatic captions can help you get started, but always check them before publishing. They can misinterpret words or leave out information, sometimes changing the meaning of what’s being said. Watch the video with captions turned on, correct any mistakes and check that the timing matches the audio.

2. Can people make the page larger and still use it? #

Some people need larger text to read your website comfortably. Try using the zoom setting in your browser’s menu to enlarge the page to 200% and see how it responds.

With the page enlarged, try reading about your services and navigating to your contact page. You should still be able to read the text and use the buttons and links, without anything overlapping, disappearing or being cut off.

If you spot a problem, take a screenshot and share it with the person who manages your website. Include the page address and explain that you were viewing it at 200% zoom.

3. Can people move around without a mouse? #

Some people navigate websites using a keyboard instead of a mouse. To try this yourself, put your mouse aside and press Tab to move between links, buttons and form fields. Use Shift + Tab to move backwards, and Enter to follow a link or activate a button.

Try using your website’s menus and links to reach a service page, then your contact page and enquiry form. As you move, a visible outline or highlight should make it clear which link, button or field you’re on.

You should be able to move through the page without getting stuck or needing your mouse. If you cannot reach something, lose track of where you are or find yourself unable to move on, note where it happens and share this with the person who manages your website.

4. Can people complete your enquiry form? #

People should be able to understand what information your enquiry form needs. Give each field a clear label, such as “Your name” or “Email address”, and connect the label to its field in the code. This helps people using screen readers understand what to enter.

<label for="yourname">Your name</label>
<input type="text" id="yourname" name="yourname">

When you offer related choices, such as being contacted by phone or email, group them under a clear question. This relationship also needs to be reflected in the code so people using screen readers can understand which question the options belong to.

<fieldset>
  <legend>How would you prefer us to contact you?</legend>

  <div>
    <input type="radio" id="contact-phone" name="contact-method" value="phone">
    <label for="contact-phone">Phone</label>
  </div>

  <div>
    <input type="radio" id="contact-email" name="contact-method" value="email">
    <label for="contact-email">Email</label>
  </div>
</fieldset>

Check what happens when someone makes a mistake. Try submitting the form with a required field left blank or an email address missing its "@" symbol. The error message should identify which field needs attention and explain how to correct it.

For example, "Enter an email address that includes an @ symbol" gives someone a clear next step. Connect the message to the relevant field in the code, using an attribute such as aria-describedby, so people using screen readers can access the explanation and correct their enquiry.

Next steps

If you find a problem, record the page and share it with the team looking after your website. These checks cover several common barriers. Passing all four does not confirm that your website is fully accessible.

A CANAXESS accessibility assessment checks your website against recognised accessibility standards to identify barriers these checks may miss. You'll receive a report explaining the problems, their impact on users and practical recommendations your web developer can use.

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