Accessible Websites: The Bedrock of Success for Health Organizations

Date
Jun 18, 2024
Author
Time
3

In today's digital age, the importance of a well-structured and accessible website cannot be overstated, especially for organisations in health and community health spaces. These entities can be tasked with delivering critical information and services, providing tools and resources to help individuals manage their health, or sharing new technology and development opportunities with potential investors. These responsibilities are often carried out under the scrutiny of various stakeholders including patients, healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies. Their website's functionality and accessibility are paramount, ensuring that all users can benefit from the value these organisations offer.

To ensure what we build with our clients is accessible and fit for purpose the web strategy process starts with identifying the different groups in an organisation's target audience. By structuring the flow of information throughout the website to be considerate of different users: information, resources and support will be accessible when most relevant. Our team uses powerful tools like Figma and Webflow to create custom designs and tailored content management systems (CMS). This allows us to prioritise the specific needs of our clients within the health sector, whether a private, public or charitable entity, and confidently build the website their organisation needs.

Through the design process we continue to keep the end user in mind, ensuring the aesthetic direction supports the website's key purposes. If a portion of an health organisation's audience are expected to be disabled or elderly, and suffering from impaired senses, the website design needs to be highly considerate of this. 

Last year we had 3 projects go live in different areas of health, each providing a unique collection of information with various audiences to consider. Let’s take a look at each one and review the key considerations our team had when strategising, designing and developing.

Parkinsons New Zealand - Focusing on Accessibility 

Parkinsons NZ is the only national charitable trust for people living with Parkinson’s in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many individuals with Parkinsons are elderly and have declining health relating to their senses and motor function, so ensuring the support Parkinsons NZ provides became more accessible was a top priority for our team. Through our redesign we created a robust and web-safe design that captures the hope Parkinsons NZ provides so many in the parkinson's community. 

Considering the breadth of disabilities that users of parkinsons.org.nz may have, we utilised Userway to offer additional accessibility features, ensuring that everyone could navigate the site effectively.

Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support - Providing a comprehensive directory

Victim Support acts as a pillar of resilience, aiding victims through their journeys in the justice system. Our task was to translate this supportive essence into their digital presence. With a plethora of information, resources and support options our team took extra time through the website strategy to ensure that the structure of information would be easy to navigate.

We focused on a clear and accessible design that speaks directly to the needs of the victims and their families, ensuring they could find necessary support effortlessly when dealing with difficult situations.

Q Bio - Facilitating science communication to investors

Q Bio operates at the intersection of AI, physics, and biology, aiming to revolutionise preventive healthcare. Our role was to create a website that reflects the pioneering work Q Bio is doing, communicating a complex solution and showcasing the potential they’ve unlocked through years of research and development.

The creation of accessible websites is a cornerstone for health organisations striving to provide essential services and information to diverse audiences. By understanding and addressing the unique needs of their users, these organisations can significantly enhance their impact and reach. Whether it's making the user journey accessible, structuring comprehensive resources, or communicating complex scientific advancements to potential investors, our focus remains on delivering an intuitive and supportive digital experience.