Accessibility boost for BCHC website users
State-of-the-art software has been incorporated into the Birmingham Community Healthcare website to enable users to customise content to meet their individual needs and preferences.
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and accessibility of online information , users can now easily customise and adjust website elements such as changing font style and size and the use of colour.
Quick summaries of key information on the site are available at the push of a button thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) built into the site.
The Recite Me accessibility toolbar has been introduced as part of a package of measures to support families whose children are waiting for an assessment for autism and/or ADHD . As a result, the enhanced features and user experience are available across the whole of the BCHC website.
Key features
- Text to speech and translation - converting written text and PDF documents through speech audio and artificial intelligence (AI) translation into over 100 alternative languages, to suit an individual's preferences;
- Download content - users can download entire pages or sections of text as audio files to listen to offline;
- Customisation - the accessibility toolbar allows users to change the look of content, adapting colour scheme, font style, size, colour, and spacing to suit individual preference;
- Font and text size - users can choose from several fonts and styles and customise the size of the website's text;
- Colour themes - the website's colour settings can be adjusted to create more accessible contrasts, enhancing visibility for all users;
- Cursor - the on-screen cursor can be enlarged to support users with visual impairments.
- Active ruler and screen mask - users can focus on smaller sections of content and reduce distraction with the screen mask and reading ruler;
- AI summaries - the content of an entire page can be quickly distilled into a clear and easily digestible summary.
- Dictionaries - the plugin includes a built-in dictionary, allowing users to look up and learn the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Children and families services deputy divisional director Victoria Clark said: “Being inclusive in everything we do is one of the core values of BCHC and delivering healthcare services that are equally accessible to all is key to that mission.
“While providing information online has become ever more important, it is no less important that we do all we can to make that content equally accessible to all.
“That's why we're delighted that our NDP offer to families has given us the opportunity to incorporate this fantastic software, hugely improving the accessibility of our website information for all of the 130-plus clinical services we provide.”
How can I use Recite Me?
- The Recite Me toolbar can be opened by clicking or tapping 'Accessibility and Translation' in the website header.
- A Recite Me tutorial is available when you first open the toolbar. This can also be accessed through the 'Information' option.
Other resources