Where to start?
Inclusion should be at the core of every museum and heritage organisation, no matter size, budget or stakeholders. This includes any digital work in the service provision to raise the profile of the organisation and opportunities to engage with audiences.
Audiences will need accessible information to engage with you in the
post-lockdown period.
If you need support DCN and our partners at EMBED can help you with strategy and planning at your organisation, not matter size or budget. Do get in touch via info@embed.org.uk or info@musedcn.org.uk
Social Media:
There is guidance on how to create inclusive social media content here: https://www.musedcn.org.uk/?s=social+media
Checking Mobile Coverage and Broadband
This is useful to understanding potential audiences who may be excluded due to location and coverage.
https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/
News on the Governments commitment to the Superfast Broadband programme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-digital-uk
Standards
Government Digital Service:
A captioned film on the role and standards of WCAG and the 4 Principles of Accessibility.
Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20SHvU2PKsM
Making Your Service Accessible:
A useful guide alongside DCN/EMBED webinar on why making your service accessible is vital for customers, visitors, and health of the organisation.
Link here: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/making-your-service-accessible-an-introduction
WCAG 2.1 Guidance (Quick Reference):
This is a useful guide in understanding the categories and content to reach WCAG A, AA, AAA standards. Link here: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/
4 Principles of Accessibility (Quick Reference):
Link here: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/glance/
Central and Local Government Funded Museums and Organisations:
Guidance if your organisation is Central or Local Government Funded (this would include any funded digital projects, apps, and websites):
Link here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps
Memorandum of Understanding: Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications (No 2) Accessibility Regulations (2018): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/memorandum-of-understanding-monitoring-and-enforcement-of-public-sector-website-accessibility
Procurement and Purchasing:
Guidance for Procurement and Buying accessible technology:
Link here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/make-things-accessible
Checks:
Testing with panels and people is absolutely vital in supporting diversity of needs.
Link on setting up panels here: https://www.musedcn.org.uk/2018/08/02/setting-up-a-disability-advisory-group-horniman-museum-and-gardens/
Talk to DCN about this and how we can support you in your digital business with our cross-sector partners at EMBED at info@musedcn.org.uk
Checkers: There are organisations that do accreditation schemes.
There are online (known as automated) checks for standards and contrast which are available:
https://wave.webaim.org/ which you can do with your team.
Companies such as Site Improve: https://siteimprove.com/en-gb/core-platform/integrations/browser-extensions/ (please note any museum undertaking a company must do so at their own actions, these are not recommendations).
Go to Government Digital Service for more information: https://siteimprove.com/en-gb/core-platform/integrations/browser-extensions/
Platforms and software
Its beneficial to the organisation to keep up to date with developments via the hosting platforms. This will support you and the museum in any changes made to existing themes and accessibility.
The Ultimate Guide to WordPress and Accessibility: https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/making-wordpress-accessible/
There are widgets and software available to support the accessibility of websites, such as BrowseAloud https://www.texthelp.com/en-gb/products/browsealoud/ and Recite Me https://reciteme.com/
Do contact both suppliers as each has offers to support organisations such as museums in relation to COVID-19.
Analytical Tools:
Great article on the range of analytical tools for use in social media marketing to website hits: https://blog.hootsuite.com/what-are-url-shorteners/