Nexer Digital helps Action for Children improve accessibility of online parenting service
Action for Children, one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, has teamed up with Nexer Digital to make its online parenting advice service more accessible for parents and carers who rely on assistive technologies.
Parent Talk, which offers free and confidential expert advice and support to families, saw rapid growth after its re-launch during the COVID-19 pandemic. With demand higher than ever, Action for Children wanted to ensure the service met the needs of all users, including those with disabilities.
To achieve this, Nexer Digital carried out an accessibility review, followed up by usability testing with people with diverse access needs, using tools such as screen readers, speech input software and mobile accessibility features. The project began with an accessibility review, followed by moderated sessions using technologies including JAWS screen reader software, Non-Visual Desktop Access, Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software and Apple VoiceOver screen reader. Testing took place both in Nexer’s usability lab in Macclesfield and remotely, allowing participants to explore the website naturally and provide feedback.
The project delivered immediate benefits. The review found a navigation issue, which was fixed before testing with users began, improving usability straight away. Additionally, the charity had concerns with the ReciteMe plugin, and the review and user feedback confirmed those concerns as it conflicted with some assistive technologies, leading to its removal to ensure a smoother experience.
Action for Children staff shadowed the research sessions, gaining hands-on experience and confidence in inclusive design practices that will inform future digital projects.
Ruth Stokes, Senior Content Designer at Action for Children, said:
“Working with Nexer to test Parent Talk with assistive tech users has given us an even better understanding of how we can make our service more accessible. Nexer was collaborative and flexible throughout, giving us the chance to learn as we went. We’re already using the outcomes of the research to improve Parent Talk and will be sharing key learnings more widely across the charity.”
Jo Dunning, Account Director at Nexer Digital, added:
“We’re proud to support Action for Children on this journey. Inclusive design is more than compliance, it’s about making sure digital services work for everyone. By involving real users and building internal capability, Action for Children has shown real leadership in putting accessibility at the heart of its digital transformation.”
The initiative is the latest in a series of projects led by Nexer Digital to embed accessibility and inclusive research into the way organisations design and deliver digital services. The company has recently supported other organisations, including Auto Trader, on similar projects.