Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR)
Embedding accessibility and inclusion through a digital governance model
- DISR is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for all Australians, by supporting innovation, science, and commercialisation.
- They have a long-standing commitment to ensure their digital services are accessible and inclusive for all users.
- They have an internal digital accessibility Governance Model with a strong accessibility champion and executive oversight. This is cemented by their dedicated digital accessibility team that help deliver department-wide accessibility improvements. View DISR's website.
Background
DISR’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion saw them take out first place in ICT at the 2022-23 Australian Disability Network Access and Inclusion Index.
Complementing their Governance Model is their dedicated Digital Accessibility Officer and team.
The digital accessibility team assess internal systems and ICT hardware for accessibility compliance at the procurement stage as well as throughout the development lifecycle.
DISR have developed online accessibility training and guides and established a Digital Accessibility Guild that drives advocacy and accessibility maturity.
This case study is a real example showcasing how DISR have applied the Digital Inclusion Standard to their online digital services.
Criteria 1: Embrace diversity
- DISR engages with diverse user groups early and considers the diversity of their needs and experiences.
- DISR regularly collaborates with diversity networks, staff and the public to design and test the usability of digital services, ensuring representation from diverse user groups.
Criteria 2: Motivate digital use
- DISR aims to provide a seamless user experience and works hard to remove barriers for use. They use analytics and feedback mechanisms to capture and address pain-points and accessibility issues.
- They work together with users to ensure the technology adapts and reflects user needs.
Criteria 3: Protect users
- DISR ensures information provided on their services is accurate and provides users with feedback mechanisms via multiple channels.
- DISR also provides clear social media community guidelines.
Criteria 4: Make it accessible
- DISR ensures their services are accessible by:
- educating staff on digital accessibility
- embedding accessibility considerations in procurement processes and project lifecycles
- auditing digital services regularly with external vendors
- providing accessibility testing tools and assistive technology to digital teams
Criteria 5: Provide flexibility and choice
- DISR ensures that the design of their services is responsive and provides flexibility for users.
- DISR uses design systems to deliver consistent user experience across multiple services and devices.