Intopia has partnered with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to help make this year’s Census the most accessible census ever.
With an increasing number of Australians completing their Census online, a major program of work has been completed over the past 12 months to make the 2021 Census as accessible and user-friendly as possible to every participant, including people with a disability.
To make the census as accessible and user-friendly as possible, both technical and usability testing was completed. Testing of the Census was completed across desktop and mobile platforms, with a wide range of common assistive technologies (such as screen readers, screen magnifiers and voice recognition) used to assess the accessibility of the Census. The 2021 Census website has followed the Digital Transformation Agency’s Digital Service Standard as well as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.0 Level AA.
In addition to technical accessibility testing, multiple rounds of usability testing and research were conducted, with the ABS directly seeking feedback from people with a disability on how the Census online user experience can be made more accessible and user-friendly.
Adem Cifcioglu, Co-Founder and Director at Intopia, commended the ABS on their commitment to making this year’s census accessible and inclusive. “It’s important that every person is counted in the Census, including people with a disability. We congratulate the ABS on their commitment and efforts to make this year’s Census accessible. We are proud to partner with the ABS to make sure that millions of Australians with a disability can take part and be represented.”
Andrew Henderson, Census Executive Director and National Spokesperson said, “We have developed a range of accessible options, so everyone can play their part in helping paint a picture of the economic, social, and cultural make-up of Australia.
“Information about the Census will be provided in different ways, including in Braille, large print formats, audio, Auslan videos with closed captions and easy-to-read guides.
“There are 66 Australian Sign Language (Auslan) video guides and all video content includes closed captioning and transcripts. The website also includes a link to the National Relay Service (NRS) to receive assistance.
“Delivering a range of accessible options is a critical element of delivering a successful Census.”
More information is available on the Census website.
