Our insights into web accessibility
SENIOR COMMUNITY ADVISOR •
At InternetNZ, our mission is to enable New Zealanders to succeed. This is at the heart of what we do as we work towards an Internet that benefits all of Aotearoa. But, if a website isn’t fully accessible, it’s shutting the door on some people. That’s a reality we are working to change.
Over the past two years, we've distributed around $200,000 to support web accessibility. As the home of .nz, we aspire for all of our domains to be fully accessible—but we know there is a long way to go. While we're not experts in web accessibility, we understood from the start that our contribution would only be one part of a much bigger puzzle. That’s why we’re excited to see so many organisations taking steps to make the web more inclusive. We were thrilled to see so many groups looking to prioritise accessibility.
Through our funding program, we have found that accessibility is already on people’s minds. Many groups we spoke with are keenly aware of its importance, but they faced two main challenges: they weren’t sure where to begin or lacked the resources and in-house skills to bring the ideas to life.
One of our grantees put it perfectly:
"Accessibility is a crucial aspect of user experience. It ensures that our content is available and usable by everyone. Making the website accessible benefits all users, leading to better engagement and satisfaction."
What we learnt
Starting with an audit is often the first step toward improving your website’s accessibility. An intensive audit helps identify issues and prioritise resources. Ideally, you’d follow this by implementing recommendations and committing to continuous testing and maintenance. But when budgets are tight, other options may be more practical.
It is essential to consider what makes the most sense for your website and the community you serve. For some organisations, gathering user feedback or conducting surveys with the community, volunteers, or staff can be a practical starting point. Others rely on automated tools to perform initial tests. Some suppliers offer ‘lite’ audits, or you can begin with a standardised list of common accessibility issues if you have some in-house expertise. While these approaches have their limitations, the key is to start somewhere.
As one grantee described:
"Collaboration with accessibility experts, community members, and users with disabilities can provide deeper insights and more comprehensive solutions. Being responsive to feedback and continuously seeking improvement reflects a commitment to inclusivity and community service."
Many organisations looking to improve their web accessibility choose to build a new website or migrate to a different platform. Web accessibility experts have told us that it is more cost-effective to create an accessible site from the start. However, if you’re considering a platform migration, it’s essential to know that different platforms have varying built-in accessibility features. No matter your chosen platform, you are responsible for ensuring your site’s accessibility. Even if the building blocks are all there, your site will still be inaccessible if not used correctly.
If you want to work with an external supplier, check out the list of government marketplace-approved suppliers. Unfortunately, it’s a short list. Plenty of talented, creative design and development agencies may need to gain the specific expertise required, making it challenging to know who to trust. When evaluating potential partners, assess whether web accessibility is a priority for the supplier. Ask if they are familiar with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and if they have experience and examples of accessible websites they've worked on that meet the accessibility needs of the communities you work with.
Sustaining accessibility over the long term is just as important. Consider investing in training for your team or volunteers. This will help maintain your site’s accessibility and contribute to building a broader base of web accessibility superstars.
As one of our grantees reported:
“This work has enabled our team to increase their skills and ability to maintain and improve the accessibility of our site on an ongoing basis and in the future. This knowledge creates power that will continue to benefit our organisation and the future work and projects these team members will undertake.”
If you have a website, take some time to reflect on the communities you serve and what steps you can take to ensure your site is fully accessible. If you’re unsure where to begin, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) offers free, fortnightly drop-in sessions for guidance.
If you are a supplier, be transparent about your capabilities around web accessibility. If this isn’t in your wheelhouse, be upfront with people.
If you are a funder, consider supporting web accessibility initiatives. It matters!
InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa
Every year, we use money from the sale of .nz domain names to support community initiatives. Anyone with a .nz website contributes to the positive public impact funding we distribute. Learn more about the successful web accessibility projects we’ve funded: