Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has transformed the way people access online information and services with Recite Me assistive technology.
Stockport Council is a local authority in Greater Manchester, England with a responsibility to oversee local services for residents including bin collections, street lighting, libraries, and leisure centers.
To support the needs of the diverse range of residents in Greater Manchester, Stockport Council has removed online barriers for those with disabilities, learning difficulties, visual impairments, and those who speak English as a second language.
The digital world can be a daunting place for those who face access barriers, particularly if you cannot receive information on services and resources that affect your life.
Kirsteen Roe, Service Director for Citizen Focus at Stockport Council commented,
“Stockport Council has a transformation programme focussed on improving customer experience. We are modernising the way people access council services, putting the needs of the people who will be using the service first.
Most people in Stockport are online and expect information and services to be available 24/7. Making sure that everyone has equal access to this information and our services, regardless of their ability or disability, is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
Our user experience team has focussed on our customers’ journeys, looking at ways that we could make it easier for people to use our website and online tools and removing the barriers that some face accessing online content.”
The Recite Me accessibility and language toolbar on the Stockport Council website ensures those with a range of abilities can read content in a way that best suits their individual needs. Features of the toolbar include screen reading functionality, multiple reading aids, customisable styling options, and an on-demand live translation feature that boasts over 100 languages including 35 text-to-speech options.
Kirsteen Roe continued, “Stockport Council places diversity and inclusion at the heart of our values. We are committed to ensuring equal access to our services and improving access to information about them. We chose to add the Recite Me assistive toolbar on our website because it gives everyone a better website experience and access to digital services that we offer.”
To explore the unique customisable toolbar on the Stockport Council website, go to ‘Accessibility’.
For more information on providing an inclusive online experience for all go to the Recite Me website or book a demo with a member of our team. Moreover, you can check out the website accessibility scanner for free at Recite Me.
