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User research

Unlocking Accessibility: User researchers share their approach to digital accessibility and recruiting people with disabilities

Kelly Clarkson, Senior Accessibility Specialist, Government Digital Services and Samantha Merrett, Senior Accessibility Specialist, Ministry of Justice, 7 January 2025 - Unlocking Accessibility, User research

We asked user researchers about their role in making digital services accessible, recruiting people with access needs, and sharing best practices for integrating accessibility into the user research process.

Accessibility and service design for inclusion

Rachel A.Wood, Service Design Lead, Basildon Council, 21 February 2024 - Access needs, Accessibility, Accessibility and Me, Design, User research

This blog explores accessibility and universal service design from both a professional and personal experience and suggests what might be happening next.

An update on the accessibility of conditionally revealed questions

Calvin Lau, Content Designer, Charlotte Downs, Interaction Designer and Oliver Byford, Senior Developer (Tech Lead), 21 September 2021 - Accessibility, Design, User research

The GOV.UK Design System is improving radio buttons and checkboxes that conditionally reveal fields to make them more accessible. This post provides an update on our work and research.

Using persona profiles to test accessibility

Anika Henke, 11 February 2019 - Access needs, Accessibility, Assistive technology, Testing, User research

At the Government Digital Service we've created a series of accessibility persona logins, so that people can experience different conditions and test their services. Here's how they work.

Why accessibility testing with real users is so important

Helen Wood and Jennifer Klinec, 20 March 2018 - Content, Design, Testing, Uncategorized, User research

A team from the Crown Prosecution Service talk about how testing with assistive technology users, and not just carrying out an external audit, helped them make their service better.

What working on GOV.UK navigation taught us about accessibility

Andy Sellick - Frontend Developer, GDS, 18 December 2017 - Access needs, Accessibility, Assistive technology, Code, Design, Testing, User research

We look at the work the GOV.UK Publishing Frontend team have done to make their navigation accessible and what they learnt from doing this.

Accessibility in government

This is for everyone: documenting how we're rebuilding inclusive digital services across the UK Government.
Find out more

How accessible is your website?

Public sector organisations have a legal duty to make websites accessible. Find out how your organisation is impacted at GOV.UK/accessibility-regulations 

GOV.UK service and product owners need to upload an accessibility page and publishers need to upload an accessible documents policy.

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Blogs and resources from GDS

• Government Digital Service blog
• Government Service Design Manual
• GDS Content Style Guide
• Digital by Default Service Standard
• GDS Design Principles
• GDS Design Notes blog

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