Hockey Victoria launches webtool to promote accessibility

Hockey Victoria have led the initiative to drive inclusion in the sport with the launch of an accessibility website tool. The tool will help broaden the access to information displayed on the website and drive engagement from people with impairments and disabilities.

Following the recent national website redevelopment project delivered in collaboration with Hockey Australia (HA) and Revolutionise Sport, the tool has been implemented to the HA and all member association websites.

The UserWay accessibility widget caters for a range of impairments and incorporates inclusive practices to ensure everyone can access sport easily. The widget also meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and ensures best-practice accessibility standards.

The widget includes features such as text-to-speech, text magnification, high contrast options, keyboard navigation and more, allowing users to easily navigate the websites.

People with intellectual disabilities, neurodiverse conditions and deaf people/hard of hearing, as well as people with vision impairments will be able to utilise the range of options available to best suit their individual needs.

The widget is accessible via a small icon, most often depicted by a person or eye, and found in the top-right corner of the webpage.

“Hockey Victoria has been committed to fostering accessible and inclusive hockey opportunities for people of all abilities for a number of years,” said Hockey Victoria Inclusion Manager Michaela Cook.

“This includes, but not limited to people with intellectual and physical disabilities, people with neurodiverse conditions, deaf people/hard of hearing, as well as people with vision impairments.

“When the national website redevelopment project arose, Hockey Victoria saw it as a wonderful opportunity to partner with Hockey Australia to ensure that the new websites would contain all relevant accessibility functions.”

HV extends its gratitude to Sport and Recreation Victoria for providing us funding to deliver this project and help take our sports inclusion and accessibility standards to the next level.