25 September to 1 October is National Inclusion Week in the UK, organised by Inclusive Employers. National Inclusion Week is an annual celebration of togetherness and inclusion, and this year's theme is 'take action, make impact'.
We pride ourselves on considering the varied needs of our members 365 days a year, but this week is a particular reminder of the vital need to make sure all of our customers can interact with us in a barrier-free way that suits their needs.
One of the ways we've taken action and made impact recently is with the launch of Recite Me, a website accessibility toolbar which helps website users to engage with our online services and content.
Approximately 13 million people in the UK have a disability which may prevent them from reading or understanding online content. As such, the internet can be an incredibly intimidating place for those with access barriers, and those lacking the tools they need to adequately understand or communicate are at a significant disadvantage. The Recite Me toolbar includes:
- Screen reading functionality
- Multiple reading aids
- Customisable styling options
- Live translation for 100 languages, including 65 text-to-speech and styling options.
Being able to offer an inclusive experience is essential to support customers who encounter barriers when exploring our website due to having a disability, learning difficulty, visual impairment or English as a second language. Members can now utilise a range of tools to read, interact with, and understand our online content - creating an inclusive online environment for all.
Find out more about the toolbar in this handy video below:
We're very excited to have recently launched the Recite Me toolbar on our website, which we hope will enable all of our members to fully engage with the support, services, and information on our website. It's so important to us that our customers feel included in our activities and the way we operate and can engage with us in a way that suits them and their individual needs. The Recite Me toolbar is one of the ways that we can achieve this.
To explore the toolbar, click on the button at the bottom left-hand corner of your screen that looks like a stick figure in a circle. To find out more about Recite Me, visit their website.
Your feedback
As always, we welcome your feedback on our services - whether positive or negative. If you'd like to give us your thoughts on inclusion, accessibility, or the Recite Me toolbar, please email marketing@newbury.co.uk.
Emma is responsible for the marketing communications and public relations for the Society.
