# Blazie > Blazie promotes equality for workers with digital accessibility services that are right for your business. We’ve kept pace with the ever-changing accessibility landscape, ensuring that our services are the best in the field of digital accessibility. We work with organisations of all sizes to offer advice and implement solutions that work for everyone. Custom Assistive Technology Scripting Solutions. Blazie offer the most advanced scripting services available anywhere; with in house tools that ensure almost any accessibility hurdle can be overcome. Accessibility Training Comprehensive Accessibility Audits & Assessments Assistive Technology Consulting --- ## Pages - [Anti-Slavery Policy Statement](https://blazie.co.uk/anti-slavery-policy-statement/): Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude,... - [MindView Training](https://blazie.co.uk/mindview-training/): About MindView MindView by MatchWare is an award-winning mind mapping and project management tool that helps users capture, structure and... - [Digital Accessibility Statement](https://blazie.co.uk/digital-accessibility-statement/): At Blazie Engineering, we are committed to ensuring that our digital content and services are accessible to everyone. Accessibility is... - [Dragon Training](https://blazie.co.uk/dragon-training/): About Dragon Dragon by Nuance is one of the most powerful and widely used speech recognition tools available. It enables... - [NatWest](https://blazie.co.uk/natwest/): This page is only hear to provide a redirect. Do not edit - [Support Request](https://blazie.co.uk/support-request/): If you are experiencing an issue with your assistive technology, training materials, or custom script modules please complete the request... - [CPS](https://blazie.co.uk/cps/): This page is only hear to provide a redirect. Do not edit - [Training Feedback](https://blazie.co.uk/training-feedback/): At Blazie, we’re always looking to improve what we do. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few... - [Bridge Updates](https://blazie.co.uk/bridge-updates/): The latest updates to the Blazie Browser Bridges are available below. Download EdgeBridge 6. 1 Download ChromeBridge 6. 1 - [Assistive Technology](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/): Enhancing Digital Access with Assistive Technology Solutions Assistive technology (AT) plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers for individuals... - [Screen Readers](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/screen-readers/): What is a screen reader? A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that enables individuals with visual impairments... - [Magnification Software](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/magnification-software/): What is magnification software? Magnification software is an assistive technology that enlarges text, images, and other elements on a screen,... - [Dictation Software](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/dictation-software/): What is dictation software? Dictation software, also known as speech-to-text software, allows users to convert spoken words into written text... - [Literacy Support Tools](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/literacy-support-tools/): What are literacy support tools? Literacy support software is designed to assist individuals with reading, writing, and comprehension difficulties. Whether... - [Mind Mapping Software](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/mind-mapping-software/): What is mind mapping software? Mind mapping software is a powerful tool that helps individuals organise thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and... - [Customer Referral](https://blazie.co.uk/customer-referral/) - [Services](https://blazie.co.uk/services/): Since 1999, Blazie has carried out innovative work in the accessibility field. During that time, our services have kept pace... - [About](https://blazie.co.uk/about/): For over twenty years, Blazie has provided digital accessibility solutions to organisations across a span of industries. We are a... - [Accessibility Training](https://blazie.co.uk/accessibility-training/): Training is possibly the most important part of what we do. It allows us to have an immediate impact on... - [Assistive Technology Consulting](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology-consulting/): Traditionally a niche field, accessibility has exploded in recent years. Blazie has been pre-eminent in the field of digital accessibility... - [Assistive Technology: Empowering Inclusion and Accessibility](https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology-empowering-inclusion-and-accessibility/): What is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology refers to a broad range of devices, software, equipment, and systems designed to enhance... - [Comprehensive Accessibility Audits & Assessments](https://blazie.co.uk/comprehensive-accessibility-audits-and-assessments/): In many cases, the first step to becoming accessible ready is taking stock of your current situation in order to... - [Contact us](https://blazie.co.uk/contact-us/): Want to request a quote or find out more about our services? Looking to get in touch with a trainer... - [Cookie Policy](https://blazie.co.uk/cookie-policy/): Effective Date: 22-Nov-2024Last Updated: 22-Nov-2024 What are cookies? This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are and how we use them,... - [Custom Assistive Technology Scripting Solutions](https://blazie.co.uk/custom-assistive-technology-scripting-solutions/): It is a sad reality that assistive technologies do not work effectively (or at all in some cases) out of... - [Data Consent](https://blazie.co.uk/data-consent/): Consent for Blazie to collect and use my sensitive personal information In line with the Data Protection Act 2018, the... - [Dragon Professional Software: Transform Your Digital Experience with Blazie](https://blazie.co.uk/dragon-professional-software-transform-your-digital-experience-with-blazie/): Explore Dragon Professional Software with Blazie. Discover how our speech recognition technology can enhance digital accessibility and boost your productivity.... - [Home](https://blazie.co.uk/): Digital Accessibility Consulting Founded in 1999, Blazie is an internationally-recognised company based in the UK that provides digital accessibility solutions... - [JAWS Screen Reader: Empowering Accessibility in the Digital World](https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-screen-reader/): Introduction: A Brief History of JAWS Screen Reader JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a revolutionary screen reading software that... - [JAWS Scripting](https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-scripting/): Introduction to JAWS Scripting At Blazie, we specialize in providing comprehensive JAWS Scripting Services to ensure that individuals with visual... - [Privacy Notice](https://blazie.co.uk/privacy-notice/): Introduction Please read this privacy notice carefully as it sets out how and why Blazie Engineering Limited (“Blazie”, “we”, “us”,... - [Terms & Conditions](https://blazie.co.uk/terms-conditions/): About our terms and conditions This website terms and conditions describes the terms that you agree to when you use... - [Testimonials](https://blazie.co.uk/testimonials/): This page is here just to create the /testimonials link to use in other pages. Archive is loaded from theme... - [Understanding Screen Readers](https://blazie.co.uk/understanding-screen-readers/): Understanding Screen Readers A screen reader is a software application that converts digital text into synthesized speech or Braille output,... - [WCAG Accessibility Guidelines](https://blazie.co.uk/wcag-accessibility-guidelines/): What Are WCAG Guidelines? WCAG, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is a set of internationally recognised guidelines developed by... - [Why Accessibility is Important](https://blazie.co.uk/why-accessibility-is-important/): Embracing an Inclusive World Did you know that around one in five people in the UK have some form of... - [Shop](https://blazie.co.uk/shop/) - [Cart](https://blazie.co.uk/cart/): You may be interested in... Your cart is currently empty! New in store - [Checkout](https://blazie.co.uk/checkout/) - [My account](https://blazie.co.uk/my-account/) --- ## Posts - [Celebrating 200 Years of Braille: A Milestone in Accessibility](https://blazie.co.uk/celebrating-200-years-of-braille-a-milestone-in-accessibility/): Braille is a tactile reading and writing system that enables blind and visually impaired individuals to access written information. The... - [How Microsoft's Accessibility Checker Can Make Your Documents, Presentations and Sheets Usable for Everyone](https://blazie.co.uk/how-microsofts-accessibility-checker-can-make-your-documents-presentations-and-sheets-usable-for-everyone/): What if you received an important email attachment but couldn’t read it? Imagine missing out on vital details because the... - [Introduction to Aria](https://blazie.co.uk/introduction-to-aria/): For some, the word aria might summon up images of Pavarotti or Paul Potts, in the world of digital accessibility,... - [Understanding the Evolution: WCAG 1,2,3 and Beyond](https://blazie.co.uk/understanding-the-evolution-wcag-123-and-beyond/): One of the main problems in a wide ranging and diverse field such as accessibility is finding new standards that... - [Reducing Verbosity of New Teams Notifications](https://blazie.co.uk/reducing-verbosity-of-new-teams-notifications/): Question: With so many organisations moving from Classic Teams to New Teams, many users have been finding that although similar,... - [In Accessibility, Consistency is King](https://blazie.co.uk/in-accessibility-consistency-is-king/): The alarm clock goes off and you struggle to open your eyes. Morning is here and you need a coffee... - [Unlocking Accessibility: The Power of Dragon](https://blazie.co.uk/unlocking-accessibility-the-power-of-dragon/): When most people hear the word “Dragon,” they might envision a mythical creature breathing fire and guarding treasure. However, in... - [JAWS Stops Reading In Microsoft Word](https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-stops-reading-in-microsoft-word/): In this instalment of the Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at an issue where JAWS appears to stop reading a... - [What is JAWS?](https://blazie.co.uk/what-is-jaws/): In a cinematic context, JAWS might evoke images of suspense and danger. However, in the tech realm, JAWS signifies liberation, opening up... - [Microsoft Word Paste Formatting Menu](https://blazie.co.uk/microsoft-word-paste-formatting-menu/): In this instalment of the Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at a feature in Office that may have appeared without... - [Navigating the Web with Clarity: The Importance of Proper Labelling for Web Accessibility](https://blazie.co.uk/navigating-the-web-with-clarity-the-importance-of-proper-labelling-for-web-accessibility/): Whenever a user reads a webpage, they need to understand what they can do with the page, if a user... - [What in the World Wide Web is WCAG?](https://blazie.co.uk/what-in-the-world-wide-web-is-wcag/): For the uninitiated, WCAG can be quite intimidating. We give you a brief primer on what WCAG is, why it... - [Discover the New Accessibility Features in Windows 11](https://blazie.co.uk/discover-the-new-accessibility-features-in-windows-11/): Make Your Computer Work for You Accessibility is an important consideration when it comes to technology. For people with disabilities... - [Emojis](https://blazie.co.uk/emojis/): In this week’s Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at the use of emojis in workplace emails and messages and how... - [Quickly Starting Jaws](https://blazie.co.uk/quickly-starting-jaws/): For our first Accessibility Agony Aunt, we answer questions about JAWS crashing and how to effectively navigate the ribbon menu... - [Microsoft Office 365 Ribbons](https://blazie.co.uk/microsoft-office-365-ribbons/): AT Agony Aunt, please help me! My work have done something to the ribbon menus in Outlook and now the keystrokes... - [Getting started with the Outlook Calendar using JAWS](https://blazie.co.uk/getting-started-with-the-outlook-calendar-using-jaws/): Whether using it to keep track of your work meetings and tasks to complete throughout the day, or for personal... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages - Published: 2025-11-11 - Modified: 2026-04-16 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/anti-slavery-policy-statement/ Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. The Company has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains. We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels and any third-party representatives. This policy does not form part of any employee’s contract of employment and we may amend it at any time. Responsibility for the Policy The Company has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it. The Company has primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and auditing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery. Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy and are given adequate and regular training on it and the issue of modern slavery in supply chains. In addition, the Company conducts proportionate due-diligence on suppliers based on geography, sector and product risk, requiring confirmation that they adhere to equivalent anti-slavery and ethical-labour standards. This process forms part of our wider ethical procurement and social-value commitments. Compliance with the Policy You must ensure that you read, understand and comply with this policy. The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy. You must notify your line manager or a company Director as soon as possible if you believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred or may occur in the future. You should note that where appropriate, and with the welfare and safety of local workers as a priority, we will give support and guidance to our suppliers to help them address coercive, abusive and exploitative work practices in their own business and supply chains. If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of our supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, raise it with your line manager or company Director. We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery of whatever form is or may be taking place in any part of our own business or in any of our supply chains. Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern. Concerns can be raised confidentially via or directly with a Company Director. Communication & Awareness of this Policy Training on this policy, and on the risk our business faces from modern slavery in its supply chains, forms part of the induction process for all individuals who work for us, and updates will be provided using established methods of communication between the business and you. Our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery must be communicated to all suppliers, contractors and business partners at the outset of our business relationship with them and reinforced as appropriate thereafter. This policy is reviewed annually and is supported by a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement published on our website in accordance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We align with current Home Office guidance and, where applicable, register our statement on the UK Government’s Modern Slavery Statement Registry. Breaches of this Policy Any employee who breaches this policy will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct. We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy. Review and Approval This policy was last reviewed on 5th January 2026 and will be updated/approved annually in line with relevant legislation. --- - Published: 2025-09-16 - Modified: 2025-09-16 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/mindview-training/ About MindView MindView by MatchWare is an award-winning mind mapping and project management tool that helps users capture, structure and present ideas visually. It is widely used in education, business and accessibility contexts to support planning, organisation and productivity. MindView is particularly helpful for people with ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other neurodiverse conditions, as well as professionals who benefit from a clear visual overview of complex projects. With multiple map views, task management features, Gantt charts and seamless export to Microsoft Office, MindView provides a flexible way to plan and manage both day-to-day tasks and larger projects. You can find out more about MindView on the official MindView website. MindView Training At Blazie, we know that everyone learns differently. Our trainers use their expertise in assistive technology and accessibility to adapt each MindView Training session to the needs, role and learning style of the individual. The focus is on ensuring trainees leave their session with the confidence and practical skills to use MindView effectively. MindView Training is typically delivered as a three-hour one-to-one session, carried out remotely via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. This allows the trainer to see the user’s screen, provide step-by-step guidance, and demonstrate features in real time. In-person training can also be arranged if preferred. A typical MindView Training session will cover: Creating and customising mind maps Working with multiple views (Mind Map, Gantt, Timeline, Top-Down, etc. ) Adding and managing branches, notes, links, attachments and images Exporting maps to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and other formats Using MindView for project management with task information and Gantt charts Adjusting MindView settings to match personal preferences and workflows At the end of each session, trainees receive follow-up notes and a summary of what was covered, along with our training support contact details for ongoing assistance. Why choose Blazie for MindView Training? Trainers with specialist expertise in accessibility and assistive technology Tailored sessions that reflect individual roles, goals and learning styles Practical, hands-on training focused on real-world tasks Post-training support and resources Book MindView Training To book a session or find out more about how MindView Training can support you or your organisation, complete our Contact Form or email us at info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2025-09-09 - Modified: 2025-09-09 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/digital-accessibility-statement/ At Blazie Engineering, we are committed to ensuring that our digital content and services are accessible to everyone. Accessibility is central to our mission of creating inclusive workplaces and services, and reflects the values set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and our Accessibility Policy. We design, audit, and maintain our digital platforms to meet or exceed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. 2 AA standard. This includes making sure our websites, applications and documents can be used effectively with assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, voice recognition software and alternative input devices. To achieve this, we combine automated testing, manual checks, and user testing with people who rely on assistive technologies. We also provide training to our staff and partners so that accessibility is understood as a shared responsibility. We are committed to continuous improvement. If you experience any difficulty accessing our digital content, or if you would like information in an alternative format, please contact us at info@blazie. co. uk or call +44 1908 843680. We will respond promptly and work with you to provide a solution. Blazie Engineering is proud to be an organisation where accessibility is not an afterthought, but a core principle. By embedding inclusive design and practice into everything we do, we ensure that our digital services can be used by all, without unnecessary barriers. --- - Published: 2025-08-27 - Modified: 2025-08-27 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/dragon-training/ About Dragon Dragon by Nuance is one of the most powerful and widely used speech recognition tools available. It enables users to control their computer using their voice, allowing them to dictate documents, send emails, navigate software, and perform commands hands-free. Dragon is particularly helpful for users with physical disabilities, neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD or autism, and those with visual impairments, repetitive strain injury (RSI), or dyslexia. By turning speech into text with speed and accuracy, Dragon can significantly increase productivity and reduce the strain of typing and mouse use in the workplace. You can find out more about Dragon on the Nuance website. Our Dragon Training At Blazie, we know that everyone works differently. Our trainers use their in-depth knowledge of Dragon and years of experience in assistive technology to tailor each Dragon training session to the needs, learning style, and work environment of the individual. The aim is simple: to ensure each trainee finishes their session with the confidence and practical knowledge to use Dragon effectively in their daily tasks, whether that means writing reports, managing email, navigating the web, or using voice commands in specialist software. Our Dragon training is typically delivered as two one-to-one sessions lasting around three hours each, conducted remotely over Microsoft Teams or Zoom. This allows our trainers to see the trainee’s screen and demonstrate functionality in real time. In-person training can also be arranged if preferred, particularly for users who benefit from face-to-face support. What Does Dragon Training Include? A typical training session will cover: Setting up and using a compatible microphone Introduction to dictation and best practices for accuracy Correcting misrecognised words and training Dragon to understand your voice Navigating Microsoft Word, Outlook, and other common apps with voice commands Creating and using custom vocabulary and voice commands Tips for using Dragon with accessibility tools and settings Saving and managing user profiles All sessions are tailored to the individual’s role, goals, and software version. At the end of the session, the trainer will send a summary email with training notes and a reference guide to key features covered. Trainees will also receive our support contact details in case they have any questions or need help after the training. Book Dragon Training To book a session or find out more about our Dragon Training for you or your organisation, please complete our Contact Form or email us at info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2025-07-14 - Modified: 2025-07-14 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/natwest/ This page is only hear to provide a redirect. Do not edit --- - Published: 2025-07-07 - Modified: 2025-07-07 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/support-request/ If you are experiencing an issue with your assistive technology, training materials, or custom script modules please complete the request below and we will be in touch as soon as we can. Your name: Your email: Describe the issue: Try and include as much detail as you can remember, any error messages, and steps to reproduce the issue. URL if applicable: Attach file: If you have an example document to demonstrate the issue or any further information please upload here. --- - Published: 2025-06-26 - Modified: 2025-06-26 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/cps/ This page is only hear to provide a redirect. Do not edit --- - Published: 2025-06-19 - Modified: 2025-06-19 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/training-feedback/ At Blazie, we’re always looking to improve what we do. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete our training feedback form. Your comments help us enhance future sessions and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our users. Thank you for your time and input. Your name * Your name (optional) What was the name of your trainer? * Gabriella CascalheiraGerhard ErasmusJessica WilliamsKatherine TurnerKyle WilliamsTalia Rogrigues Which assistive technology did you receive training on? * DragonRead&WriteMindViewZoomTextSuperNovaJAWSFusionOther Was the training clear? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all How approachable and friendly was your trainer? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all How would you rate the training overall? * ExcellentVery goodSatisfactoryNeeds improvementPoor Dragon How knowledgeable was your trainer on Dragon? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use Dragon after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on Dragon? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all Read&Write How knowledgeable was your trainer on Read&Write? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use Read&Write after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on Read&Write? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all MindView How knowledgeable was your trainer on MindView? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use MindView after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on MindView? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all JAWS How knowledgeable was your trainer on JAWS? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use JAWS after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on JAWS? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all SuperNova How knowledgeable was your trainer on SuperNova? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use SuperNova after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on SuperNova? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all ZoomText How knowledgeable was your trainer on ZoomText? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use ZoomText after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on ZoomText? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all Fusion How knowledgeable was your trainer on Fusion? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use Fusion after the training? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information on Fusion? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all Other Assistive Technology What software/hardware were you trained on? * How knowledgeable was your trainer? * ExtremelyModeratelySlightlyNot at all Do you feel prepared to use these tools? * DefinitelyPartiallyNot at all Do you know where to find further information? * DefinitelyTo some extentNot at all Any other comments. Would you like us to contact you to discuss your training? YesNo Name * Email * Phone number * --- - Published: 2025-06-11 - Modified: 2025-06-11 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/bridge-updates/ The latest updates to the Blazie Browser Bridges are available below. Download EdgeBridge 6. 1 Download ChromeBridge 6. 1 --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/ Enhancing Digital Access with Assistive Technology Solutions Assistive technology (AT) plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers for individuals with disabilities, empowering them to interact with technology in ways that suit their needs. Whether it's software like screen readers, magnifiers, or voice recognition tools, assistive technology ensures that everyone can access and engage with the digital world. At Blazie, we specialise in providing tailored solutions, training, and support to help organisations implement assistive technology that improves accessibility for all users. From bespoke training for IT support teams to JAWS scripting for customised workflows, we help you make technology truly inclusive. Blazie can support you with all aspects of assistive technology, whether you need guidance on selecting the right tools, training on how to use them effectively, or assistance in making your digital platforms more accessible. Our team of experts is here to help—get in touch to discuss your assistive technology needs today. Contact us Assistive Technology Solutions Screen Readers Magnification Software Screen readers are essential tools that assist individuals with visual impairments in navigating digital content by converting text, images, and other on-screen elements into speech or Braille output. Learn more about Screen readers Magnification tools assist individuals with visual impairments by enlarging text, images, and other elements on the screen. These tools enable users to zoom in on content, enhancing readability and making it easier to navigate digital interfaces. Learn more about magnification software Dictation Software Literacy Support Dictation software enables users to interact with their devices through voice commands, converting spoken words into text. This is especially helpful for individuals with physical disabilities or those who find typing challenging, Learn more about dictation software Literacy support tools help individuals with dyslexia and other learning difficulties by offering features such as text-to-speech, word prediction, and simplified reading formats. Learn more about literacy support tools Mind Mapping Mind mapping software helps individuals organise their thoughts visually by creating diagrams that represent ideas, tasks, or concepts. These tools are particularly useful for people with ADHD or those who benefit from visual learning. Learn more about mind mapping Assistive Technology Training We offer a wide range of training services tailored to various audiences, from end users to developers and IT professionals, ensuring everyone is equipped with the expertise to foster accessibility in their work. Learn more about training --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-03-03 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/screen-readers/ What is a screen reader? A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that enables individuals with visual impairments or blindness to navigate and interact with digital content. It converts on-screen text, menus, and elements into speech or Braille output, allowing users to access applications, websites, and documents independently. Screen readers are essential for accessing computers, smartphones, and other digital devices without relying on sight. They provide spoken feedback and keyboard shortcuts to help users read, write, and navigate efficiently. How do screen readers work? A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that enables individuals with visual impairments or blindness to navigate and interact with digital content. It converts on-screen text, menus, and elements into speech or Braille output, allowing users to access applications, websites, and documents independently. Screen readers are essential for accessing computers, smartphones, and other digital devices without relying on sight. They provide spoken feedback and keyboard shortcuts to help users read, write, and navigate efficiently. Popular screen readers There are several screen reader options available, each with unique features and compatibility with different systems: JAWS (Job Access With Speech) – A widely used screen reader for Windows, offering extensive customisation and scripting options. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) – A free, open-source alternative for Windows with strong web and document accessibility. VoiceOver – A built-in screen reader for macOS and iOS devices, providing gesture-based navigation. Microsoft Narrator – The default screen reader in Windows, offering basic functionality for navigating the operating system. Choosing the right screen reader depends on the user's needs, budget, and the applications they frequently use. Common questions about screen readers How do I navigate a website using a screen reader? Screen readers provide keyboard commands for navigating websites efficiently. Users can jump between headings, links, and form fields using shortcuts. For example, in JAWS and NVDA, pressing "H" moves to the next heading, while "Tab" cycles through links. Can I use a screen reader with Microsoft Office and email? Yes, screen readers are compatible with applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based email clients. They provide shortcuts for reading and composing emails, formatting documents, and navigating spreadsheets. How do I customise a screen reader to suit my needs? Most screen readers offer customisation options such as adjusting speech rate, choosing different voices, and setting verbosity levels. Users can also configure Braille display settings if they use one alongside their screen reader. How can Blazie help? At Blazie, we provide expert training and support to help individuals and organisations make the most of screen readers. Whether you are new to screen readers or need advanced customisation, we can assist with: One-to-one or group training – Tailored sessions to help users navigate applications effectively. Troubleshooting and setup – Ensuring screen readers work correctly with your operating system and software. JAWS scripting and customisation – Developing bespoke solutions for workplace applications. If you would like to learn more about how screen readers can benefit you or your organisation, get in touch with our team at info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/magnification-software/ What is magnification software? Magnification software is an assistive technology that enlarges text, images, and other elements on a screen, making digital content easier to see for individuals with visual impairments. It allows users to zoom in on parts of their screen while maintaining clarity and readability. Unlike simply increasing font sizes, magnification software provides advanced features such as enhanced contrast, colour customisation, and focus tracking, helping users interact with their computer more efficiently. How Does Magnification Software Work? Magnification software works by dynamically enlarging sections of the screen while allowing users to control zoom levels and focus. Some key functions include: Adjustable zoom levels – Users can increase or decrease magnification to suit their needs. Enhanced contrast and colour settings – High contrast modes and colour filters help improve readability. Cursor and focus tracking – Ensures that the area of interest stays visible when typing or navigating. Smooth text and image rendering – Prevents pixelation when zooming in for a clearer display. Speech integration – Some magnification tools include basic screen reading functions for additional accessibility. Magnification software is commonly used by individuals with low vision, including those with conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Popular Magnification Software Several magnification programs are available, each offering different features: ZoomText – A widely used magnification and screen reading software for Windows, offering smooth zoom, colour customisation, and cursor enhancements. SuperNova Magnifier – Provides magnification, high contrast settings, and speech functionality for Windows users. Windows Magnifier – A built-in accessibility feature in Windows, offering basic zoom and contrast options. macOS Zoom – Apple's built-in magnification tool for Mac users, allowing users to zoom in on any part of the screen with smooth transitions. Choosing the right magnification software depends on the user’s specific needs, preferred operating system, and whether they require additional features like speech support. Common Questions About Magnification Software How do I control magnification levels? Most magnification software allows users to zoom in and out using keyboard shortcuts, mouse scroll, or touch gestures. For example, in ZoomText, users can increase magnification with specific key commands or adjust settings in the control panel. Can I change colours and contrast for better visibility? Yes, magnification software provides options to modify colour schemes, apply high contrast modes, and invert colours to enhance readability. These settings are particularly useful for users who experience glare sensitivity or have difficulty distinguishing certain colours. Does magnification software work with all applications? Most modern applications are compatible with magnification tools, but the level of accessibility can vary. Magnification software generally works well with web browsers, Microsoft Office applications, and email clients, but users may need to adjust settings for best results. How Blazie Can Help? At Blazie, we specialise in providing training, support, and consultancy to help individuals and organisations make the most of magnification software. Our services include: Personalised training – One-to-one or group sessions tailored to user needs. Software setup and troubleshooting – Ensuring smooth installation and configuration. Optimisation for workplace applications – Customising settings to improve usability in professional environments. If you need guidance on using magnification software effectively, contact our team at info@blazie. co. uk for expert support. --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-09-09 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/dictation-software/ What is dictation software? Dictation software, also known as speech-to-text software, allows users to convert spoken words into written text on their computer or mobile device. This assistive technology is particularly useful for individuals with physical disabilities, repetitive strain injuries, or conditions such as dyslexia, making typing more accessible and efficient. Modern dictation tools are highly accurate and adaptive, using artificial intelligence to learn speech patterns and recognise different accents, enabling users to control their devices, compose emails, and write documents simply by speaking. How Does Dictation Software Work? Dictation software uses speech recognition technology to analyse spoken language and translate it into text in real time. Most programs allow users to: Dictate text – Speak naturally, and the software transcribes words into a document, email, or web form. Use voice commands – Perform actions like formatting text, sending emails, or opening applications hands-free. Customise vocabulary – Train the software to recognise industry-specific terms, acronyms, or names. Improve accuracy over time – Advanced speech recognition systems adapt to the user’s voice and pronunciation. Dictation software is especially beneficial for users with motor impairments who find keyboard use difficult or those who simply prefer voice input for increased productivity. Popular Dictation Software There are several high-quality dictation tools available, each suited to different needs: Dragon Professional – One of the most advanced speech recognition programs, offering high accuracy, custom commands, and vocabulary training for business and professional use. Windows Speech Recognition – A built-in feature in Windows that allows users to control their PC and dictate text hands-free. Apple Dictation – A native dictation tool for macOS and iOS devices, supporting voice-to-text functionality with Siri integration. Google Voice Typing – A free speech-to-text tool available in Google Docs and Android devices, ideal for quick voice input. Choosing the right dictation software depends on the level of accuracy required, the need for voice commands, and compatibility with specific applications. Common Questions About Dictation Software How accurate is dictation software? Most modern dictation software is highly accurate, especially when trained to recognise a user’s voice. Dragon Professional, for example, can achieve over 95% accuracy with proper setup and training. Background noise and strong accents may affect accuracy, but many programs adapt over time. Can I use dictation software to control my computer? Yes. Advanced dictation tools allow users to issue voice commands for opening applications, navigating menus, and formatting documents, making it a powerful tool for hands-free computing. Is dictation software useful for people with dyslexia? Absolutely. Dictation software helps reduce spelling and writing challenges by allowing users to speak naturally, eliminating the need to focus on typing mechanics. Some tools also include read-aloud features to help users review their work. How Blazie Can Help At Blazie, we provide expert training and support to help users make the most of dictation software, whether for accessibility needs or productivity enhancement. Our services include: Personalised training – Helping users get set up and optimise their speech profiles. Custom commands – Teaching users how to create and use custom voice commands. Technical support – Troubleshooting common issues and improving accuracy. If you're interested in exploring dictation software, contact us at info@blazie. co. uk to find out how we can assist. --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/literacy-support-tools/ What are literacy support tools? Literacy support software is designed to assist individuals with reading, writing, and comprehension difficulties. Whether due to dyslexia, learning disabilities, or other challenges, these tools help users process and engage with written content more effectively. By offering features such as text-to-speech, word prediction, and grammar assistance, literacy support technology enables greater independence and confidence in reading and writing tasks. Who benefits from literacy support tools? Literacy support tools are widely used by: Individuals with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. Students who need assistance with reading comprehension and writing. Professionals who require help with proofreading and structuring documents. Anyone who wants to improve their reading and writing efficiency. Key features of literacy support tools Text-to-Speech (TTS) Functionality One of the most widely used features of literacy support software is text-to-speech. This allows users to listen to written text being read aloud, which aids comprehension and reduces the strain of reading. Many tools allow for adjustments in voice speed and tone to match user preferences. Word Prediction and Autocorrect These features assist with spelling and sentence construction by predicting words as users type. This is particularly useful for individuals with dyslexia, helping to reduce errors and improve writing speed. Grammar and Spell Checkers Advanced literacy tools go beyond standard spellcheckers, offering real-time grammar and punctuation corrections. Some even provide explanations and suggestions to help users learn and improve their writing skills. Dictionaries and Thesauruses Built-in dictionaries and thesauruses allow users to look up definitions and find alternative words quickly. This helps expand vocabulary and improve sentence structure. Reading and Writing Support Tools Screen masking and reading rulers help focus attention on specific parts of the text. Annotation and note-taking tools allow users to highlight and summarise key points. Audio note recording enables users to record thoughts and ideas for later reference. Popular literacy support tools Some of the most commonly used literacy support tools include: Read&Write – A comprehensive tool offering text-to-speech, word prediction, and proofreading support. ClaroRead – Provides reading and writing assistance, including dyslexia-friendly fonts and text-to-speech. Ginger Software – Focuses on grammar and spell-checking with AI-powered corrections. How literacy support tools improve accessibility For individuals with literacy challenges, these tools are essential for education and professional success. By breaking down barriers to reading and writing, they help users work more efficiently, communicate clearly, and engage with digital content more confidently. Get Expert Support from Blazie At Blazie, we provide training and guidance on literacy support software to help individuals and organisations integrate these tools effectively. Whether you need help choosing the right software or training on its features, our experts are here to assist. Contact us today at info@blazie. co. uk to learn more. --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-11 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology/mind-mapping-software/ What is mind mapping software? Mind mapping software is a powerful tool that helps individuals organise thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and structure complex information in a visual format. Designed to improve productivity, creativity, and clarity, mind mapping is especially beneficial for individuals who prefer visual learning or need support with organising tasks and projects. Mind mapping software allows users to create diagrams that visually represent ideas and concepts. These tools typically start with a central idea, branching out into related topics and subtopics, creating a structured, easy-to-follow representation of information. Who Can Benefit from Mind Mapping Software? Mind mapping tools can be useful for: Students – Organising study materials, summarising topics, and preparing for exams. Professionals – Structuring projects, planning presentations, and enhancing collaboration. Neurodiverse individuals – Those with dyslexia, ADHD, or autism may find visual mind maps easier to understand and manage compared to linear note-taking. Writers and creatives – Generating ideas, structuring stories, and developing content more efficiently. Key Features of Mind Mapping Software Modern mind mapping tools offer a range of features to enhance productivity and accessibility: Customisable Layouts – Users can create structured or free-form mind maps tailored to their needs. Collaboration Tools – Many platforms allow real-time collaboration, making them ideal for team projects. Integration with Other Software – Connect mind maps with task managers, note-taking apps, or cloud storage for seamless workflow. Visual and Audio Support – Some tools include text-to-speech, colour coding, and multimedia attachments for better comprehension. How Can Mind Mapping Software Improve Accessibility? For individuals with learning difficulties or memory challenges, mind mapping software provides a structured way to break down information into manageable sections. Colour-coded branches, images, and even voice notes can be added to make learning more engaging and less overwhelming. Choosing the Right Mind Mapping Software There are many different mind mapping tools available, each with unique features. Some popular options include: MindView – Designed with accessibility features, including integration with assistive technology. MindMeister – A cloud-based tool with collaborative features. XMind – A professional-grade tool with custom templates. Get Support with Mind Mapping Software At Blazie, we offer tailored support and training to help individuals and organisations make the most of mind mapping software. Whether you're looking to enhance productivity, improve organisation, or support accessibility needs, we can help you find the right solution. For more information, contact our team at info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2025-01-30 - Modified: 2025-01-30 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/customer-referral/ Your details Your company name * Your name * Your email * Your phone number * Customer details Customer company name * Main contact name * Main contact email * Main contact phone number * Is the main contact the end user? YesNoDon't know End user details End user name * End user email * End user phone number * Request details What services are required? * Assistive technology trainingScripting assessmentWorkplace assessmentWCAG assessment Assistive technology training Assistive technologies SuperNovaJAWSDragonZoomTextRead&WriteMindViewOther If you selected Other, please specify. How is training to be delivered? Remote (e. g. , via MS Teams)On-siteUnknown How much training is being requested? Scripting assessment Which assistive technologies require scripting? * SuperNovaJAWSDragonZoomTextOther If you selected Other, please specify. * Workplace assessment Who recommended the workplace assessment? Please provide details about the user and situation. Other Information Please provide any further detail about the request you think may be relevant. Does this work relate to an existing PO? YesNo PO number * --- - Published: 2025-01-27 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/services/ Since 1999, Blazie has carried out innovative work in the accessibility field. During that time, our services have kept pace with the ever-changing accessibility landscape, from writing custom scripts for screen readers to training teams of software engineers on the latest WCAG guidelines and HTML accessibility practices. We offer firsthand, practical advice developed from many years in the accessibility field. We assist organisations of any size to implement an accessibility strategy for the benefit of all staff. Assistive Technology ConsultingRegardless of your organisation's current state of accessibility — whether you're in the process of building accessible applications, working towards integrating accessibility standards, or just beginning your journey towards creating a more inclusive environment for both team members and clients — we are here to guide you. With our expert consulting, we'll set you on the fast track to achieving your accessibility goals. Find out more Comprehensive Accessibility Audits & AssessmentsTrue accessibility should be a core consideration from the earliest stages of application design, ensuring that it can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities. Through our rigorous auditing and assessment services, we meticulously examine websites and software applications to identify potential barriers to accessibility. Our objective is to ensure full compliance with accessibility standards, provide practical recommendations for improvements, and help you embed inclusivity into the heart of your digital offerings. Find out more Custom Assistive Technology Scripting SolutionsEncountering inaccessible applications can pose a significant barrier for assistive technology users, potentially limiting their ability to fully perform their roles. Recognising this challenge, we focus on creating custom scripting solutions for assistive technologies. These solutions not only make applications accessible but also ensure they are efficient to use, thereby enhancing user experience and productivity. Find out more Accessibility TrainingAccessibility training is about providing people with the knowledge they need to succeed. It is a misconception that only people new to a subject have something to learn, and that is especially true when it comes to accessibility. We can provide a range of different training services from end users to developers to arm them with the knowledge they need. Find out more --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2026-05-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/about/ For over twenty years, Blazie has provided digital accessibility solutions to organisations across a span of industries. We are a highly experienced, exceptionally motivated team of digital accessibility specialists, internationally recognised for our expertise. We are passionate about making accessibility available for everyone, and not only to those who need it. With its origins spanning back to the early 1990s, Blazie was first in its field providing digital accessibility in the UK. We consult with clients and provide hands-on support and training to end users as well as development teams, giving confidence to all users of assistive technology. Whether you want to discuss workplace adjustments, accessibility strategy and policy, website auditing, staff training or code-level solutions, we can provide straightforward professional advice. If your organisation has an accessibility need, start a conversation with us today. --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/accessibility-training/ Training is possibly the most important part of what we do. It allows us to have an immediate impact on an end user’s ability to do their job or undertake their studies which can make a massive difference to one person’s life. Technical support staff, who often have little or no exposure to assistive technology products, are not equipped to provide assistance to users with disabilities. Training ensures that IT support staff are able to provide the same level of service to everyone. It also gives us the opportunity to show developers how to make better, more accessible applications affecting positive change on a large scale. End-User Training Our experienced trainers provide both remote and face-to-face training to users on a broad range of assistive technologies including JAWS, ZoomText, Dragon, Read&Write, MindView, and many more. We understand that every user is different, so sessions start by getting to know them and their needs in order to fully tailor the training to them, ensuring they get the most out of every session. Whether a brand new user who is starting from scratch, or an experienced user looking to better understand more advanced features, we ensure everyone finishes each session with new skills and improved confidence. Audit Training Carrying out WCAG audits is a specialised process that requires years of experience and accumulated knowledge and as such can be an expensive and time-consuming (but necessary) process. We can train your testers to carry out audits, showing them how to use automated software, but also how to carry out manual testing, focusing on common issues and easy to rectify problems. With internal staff who can report back on accessibility issues during the early stages of the development process, you can become more efficient and only consult more experienced testers for more in depth analysis. Developer Training For software development teams, accessibility requirements are seldom a major focus. This often leads to both minor and serious accessibility issues at the development stage, costing your business valuable time and money, and potentially costing you customers in the long run. We can work closely with development teams to create awareness of accessibility needs, show them how to overcome common accessibility problems, and give them the knowledge to create fully accessible software applications. Accessible Document Creation The documents your organisation creates may be visually appealing and seem well-made to one person, but for a person with a disability, they may be confusing at best and undecipherable at worst. We can help guide your content creators and show them how to ensure that everyone can understand the message you are trying to convey with your documentation. For more information, please get in touch. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology-consulting/ Traditionally a niche field, accessibility has exploded in recent years. Blazie has been pre-eminent in the field of digital accessibility in the UK. We offer practical advice to organisations of all sizes about how to implement accessibility for all users. Consultancy From workplace adjustments to consulting on your organisation’s digital applications, we offer a range of solutions for all members of your team - not only end users of digital accessibility. We offer training to teams of developers on WCAG and web accessibility principles. Strategy Every organisation needs a digital accessibility strategy. We can help you avoid common pitfalls when it comes to implementing an effective accessibility strategy for everyone. We offer comprehensive and straightforward advice on accessibility policy. For more information, please get in touch. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/assistive-technology-empowering-inclusion-and-accessibility/ What is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology refers to a broad range of devices, software, equipment, and systems designed to enhance the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Its primary goal is to facilitate participation, increase independence, and improve the overall quality of life for individuals with diverse impairments. AT encompasses a wide spectrum of solutions, each tailored to address specific needs based on the nature of disabilities. From mobility aids like wheelchairs and prosthetics to communication devices and sensory assistance tools, assistive technology adapts to various challenges and opens up possibilities for its users. A Brief History of Assistive Technology The concept of using tools to assist individuals with disabilities dates back to ancient times. Egyptian hieroglyphs and Greek literature make references to prosthetic limbs and assistive devices, evidence of early human ingenuity in supporting those with impairments. However, the modern development of assistive technology began to gain momentum in the mid-20th century, coinciding with the growth of technology and the disability rights movement. One notable milestone occurred in 1948 when the first electronic hearing aid was created. Subsequent decades witnessed substantial progress in AT innovations, including the development of communication devices for individuals with speech impairments, electronic magnifiers for individuals with visual impairments, and computer-based communication tools for people with limited mobility. The advent of computers and the digital age propelled assistive technology to new heights, offering a vast array of software, applications, and adaptive devices to cater to diverse needs. How Does Assistive Technology Work? Assistive Technology operates on the principle of customizability. Solutions are carefully tailored to meet the unique requirements of each individual, ensuring that their specific needs are met effectively. Here are some common types of AT and how they work: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices AAC devices help individuals with speech impairments communicate effectively. These devices range from basic picture communication boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices. Users can select icons or type messages, which are then converted into spoken words or displayed on a screen. Screen Readers Screen readers are software applications that convert on-screen text into synthesized speech, enabling individuals with visual impairments to access digital content, navigate websites, and use software applications. Mobility Aids Mobility aids encompass a wide range of devices, including wheelchairs, scooters, and walking canes, designed to assist individuals with mobility impairments in moving around independently. Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants These devices are designed to enhance auditory perception for individuals with hearing impairments, providing clearer sound and improved communication. Prosthetics and Orthotics Prosthetics replace missing limbs, while orthotics provide support and alignment for limbs or the spine, enabling individuals with physical disabilities to perform everyday tasks. Is Assistive Technology Free? The cost of assistive technology varies depending on the type of solution and complexity of an individual’s needs. While some basic AT applications and features may be available for free, more specialized and advanced devices often involve a cost. Fortunately, there are organizations, government programs, and insurance coverage options that can provide financial assistance or funding for certain AT solutions, making them more accessible to those who need them. Installing Assistive Technology: A Step Towards Inclusion Installing and using assistive technology may require initial setup and configuration. For example, screen readers and other software applications need to be installed and customized according to the user’s preferences and requirements. In the case of physical devices like wheelchairs or hearing aids, proper fitting and calibration are essential for optimal functionality. Depending on the complexity of the assistive technology, installation may involve user training and orientation to ensure individuals can use the solutions effectively and maximize their benefits. Is Assistive Technology Compatible with All Operating Systems? The compatibility of assistive technology with different operating systems can vary. While most AT software applications and devices are designed to work with popular operating systems like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, it’s essential to check for specific system requirements and compatibility before installation. Additionally, advancements in technology have facilitated cross-platform compatibility, enabling users to seamlessly transfer and access assistive technology solutions across various devices. Exploring Alternatives for Assistive Technology The diversity of disabilities necessitates a wide array of assistive technology solutions. As such, multiple alternatives exist to cater to the needs of different individuals. While some individuals may rely on screen readers for accessing digital content, others might benefit more from Braille displays or large print materials. For those with mobility impairments, a range of mobility aids, from manual wheelchairs to advanced power chairs, can be explored to find the most suitable solution. Furthermore, assistive technology is continuously evolving, with ongoing research and development leading to the creation of innovative and efficient solutions for diverse needs. Embracing the Power of Assistive Technology Assistive Technology has emerged as a transformative force, breaking barriers and empowering individuals with disabilities to participate fully in society. By embracing the potential of AT, we foster inclusion and accessibility, creating a world where everyone’s abilities are celebrated, and no one is left behind. At Blazie, we are passionate about harnessing the power of assistive technology to make a positive impact. From custom scripting solutions to comprehensive accessibility consulting, we work to create inclusive digital environments that empower individuals with disabilities to thrive. Discover the endless possibilities of assistive technology and embark on a journey of empowerment and accessibility. Speak to us today about how we can help make a difference through the power of AT. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/comprehensive-accessibility-audits-and-assessments/ In many cases, the first step to becoming accessible ready is taking stock of your current situation in order to understand where the problems lie, how seriously they will affect people, and crucially, how to remedy them. Not only will we carry out expert assessments of websites, and applications (both mobile and desktop), but we will show you solutions to the problems. WCAG Auditing While in the UK, it is only a legal requirement for public sector bodies to meet WCAG criteria, it can prove extremely beneficial for any organisation. In 2020, it was estimated that in the UK the spending power of disabled people and their households was over £270 billion. Ensuring your website is fully accessible opens your doors to those potential customers. Our WCAG experts will test your website or mobile app, either in full or concentrate on particular areas, against the full set of WCAG criteria and provide you with details on any failures found. In addition, we provide you with code-level advice on how to remediate them. On request we can also assist in the production of an accessibility statement and accessibility road map. Digital Assessments If you have an assistive technology user on staff, whether a new starter or an existing member of staff, ensuring they have the right tools to be able to do their job is essential. We can carry out a full digital assessment of their role and needs then provide you with a report of our findings including the barriers the user(s) will face, and a set of recommendations for requirements, digital tools, and applications that would allow them to work effectively. In the case of applications used internally which are not accessible, we can also provide scripting work to make these accessible. For more information, please get in touch. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/contact-us/ Want to request a quote or find out more about our services? Looking to get in touch with a trainer or our technical staff? If you have any questions, comments or feedback, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a message and we’ll contact you as soon as possible. Your name Your email Contact Telephone Number Subject Message --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/cookie-policy/ Effective Date: 22-Nov-2024Last Updated: 22-Nov-2024 What are cookies? This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are and how we use them, the types of cookies we use i. e, the information we collect using cookies and how that information is used, and how to manage the cookie settings. Cookies are small text files that are used to store small pieces of information. They are stored on your device when the website is loaded on your browser. These cookies help us make the website function properly, make it more secure, provide better user experience, and understand how the website performs and to analyze what works and where it needs improvement. How do we use cookies? As most of the online services, our website uses first-party and third-party cookies for several purposes. First-party cookies are mostly necessary for the website to function the right way, and they do not collect any of your personally identifiable data. The third-party cookies used on our website are mainly for understanding how the website performs, how you interact with our website, keeping our services secure, providing advertisements that are relevant to you, and all in all providing you with a better and improved user experience and help speed up your future interactions with our website. Cookies on our website Managing cookies You can change your cookie preferences any time by clicking "Edit Cookies" link in the website footer. This will let you revisit the cookie consent banner and change your preferences or withdraw your consent right away. In addition to this, different browsers provide different methods to block and delete cookies used by websites. You can change the settings of your browser to block/delete the cookies. Listed below are the links to the support documents on how to manage and delete cookies from the major web browsers. Chrome: https://support. google. com/accounts/answer/32050Safari: https://support. apple. com/en-in/guide/safari/sfri11471/macFirefox: https://support. mozilla. org/en-US/kb/clear-cookies-and-site-data-firefox? redirectslug=delete-cookies-remove-info-websites-stored&redirectlocale=en-USInternet Explorer: https://support. microsoft. com/en-us/topic/how-to-delete-cookie-files-in-internet-explorer-bca9446f-d873-78de-77ba-d42645fa52fcIf you are using any other web browser, please visit your browser’s official support documents. --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/custom-assistive-technology-scripting-solutions/ It is a sad reality that assistive technologies do not work effectively (or at all in some cases) out of the box with all websites and applications, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be made to work. By scripting assistive technologies to work with your applications, you can be giving a person with a disability the opportunity to show their true potential. Scripting Assessments If you have a new or existing application you wish to make accessible, we can create a custom scripted solution which would resolve any accessibility and usability issues. Then help train the user(s) to make using the application as efficient as possible for them. The process will start with a full accessibility assessment of the application(s) and end with training to ensure your user(s) can be independent and productive. Assistive Technologies We have a proven track record of producing bespoke script solutions for the following assistive technologies: JAWS Dragon ZoomText Fusion Supernova For more information, please get in touch. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-01-30 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/data-consent/ Consent for Blazie to collect and use my sensitive personal information In line with the Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR and Blazie’s privacy notice (Blazie ǀ Privacy Policy), I understand that Blazie collects and uses my personal information, including sensitive information such as about my health/disability in order to: tailor its services to my specific needs; and facilitate IT adjustments that I require for my work or study. I consent to Blazie’s use of my sensitive personal information for such purposes, including the sharing of it with third parties such as my employer and/or Access to Work. I further agree that this consent shall remain valid for as long as I am a customer of Blazie, unless the nature of the services I receive materially changes, or the type of personal information I need to provide is substantially different to that already given. By ticking this box, I consent to the above Name Your email Date --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/dragon-professional-software-transform-your-digital-experience-with-blazie/ Explore Dragon Professional Software with Blazie. Discover how our speech recognition technology can enhance digital accessibility and boost your productivity. Contact us for expert guidance and tailored solutions. Elevating Communication through Advanced Speech Recognition At Blazie, we are committed to empowering individuals who face challenges with typing. Dragon Professional Software stands as a beacon in this endeavour, offering unparalleled efficiency in voice-to-text conversion. This advanced software is a game-changer for anyone looking to navigate the digital world more easily. What is Dragon Professional Software? Dragon Professional Software is a sophisticated speech recognition programme that transforms your spoken words into text with remarkable accuracy. It’s designed to adapt to your unique voice, ensuring a tailored and seamless user experience. Key Features and Benefits Unmatched Accuracy: Dragon Professional Software is renowned for its high accuracy rate in speech-to-text conversion, significantly reducing the need for corrections. Customisable Voice Commands: Enhance your workflow with custom voice commands, streamlining your routine and boosting productivity. Seamless Integration: Compatible with a wide range of applications, including Microsoft Office and various web browsers, Dragon Professional Software ensures a cohesive work environment. Personalised Voice Recognition: Continuously learning from your interactions, the software refines its ability to understand your specific pronunciation and vocabulary. Hands-Free Operation: Ideal for users with mobility or dexterity challenges, this software enables complete hands-free control of your computer. Enhanced Productivity: Dictate documents and emails much faster than typing, a key feature for efficient time management. Flexibility and Mobility: Use Dragon Professional Software with mobile devices or digital recorders to capture thoughts and ideas on the go, then transcribe them effortlessly. Why Choose Dragon Professional Software? Accessibility Enhanced: Simplifies computer use for users with disabilities, making digital interactions less challenging. Streamlined Efficiency: Completing digital tasks becomes quicker and more enjoyable, thanks to its advanced speech recognition capabilities. Empowering Independence: Gain autonomy in your digital endeavours, enhancing your confidence and self-reliance. Blazie’s Comprehensive Support Opting for Blazie means gaining a partner in your journey with Dragon Professional Software. We offer complete support, from initial setup and customisation to ongoing training and assistance. Our understanding of the diverse needs of our users drives us to deliver solutions that truly make a difference. Get in Touch Explore the potential of Dragon Professional Software and embrace the power of advanced speech recognition. Contact Blazie for expert guidance in harnessing this technology. Let’s collaborate to tailor technology to your needs. Discover the freedom and efficiency that Dragon Professional Software brings. Contact Blazie today and embark on a journey towards a more accessible and productive digital experience. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/ Digital Accessibility Consulting Founded in 1999, Blazie is an internationally-recognised company based in the UK that provides digital accessibility solutions for organisations around the world looking to improve accessible technology for their users. Contact Us Clients Using Our Services Our Digital Accessibility Solutions Assistive Technology ConsultingRegardless of your organisation's current state of accessibility — whether you're in the process of building accessible applications, working towards integrating accessibility standards, or just beginning your journey towards creating a more inclusive environment for both team members and clients — we are here to guide you. With our expert consulting, we'll set you on the fast track to achieving your accessibility goals. Find out more Comprehensive Accessibility Audits & AssessmentsTrue accessibility should be a core consideration from the earliest stages of application design, ensuring that it can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities. Through our rigorous auditing and assessment services, we meticulously examine websites and software applications to identify potential barriers to accessibility. Our objective is to ensure full compliance with accessibility standards, provide practical recommendations for improvements, and help you embed inclusivity into the heart of your digital offerings. Find out more Custom Assistive Technology Scripting SolutionsEncountering inaccessible applications can pose a significant barrier for assistive technology users, potentially limiting their ability to fully perform their roles. Recognising this challenge, we focus on creating custom scripting solutions for assistive technologies. These solutions not only make applications accessible but also ensure they are efficient to use, thereby enhancing user experience and productivity. Find out more Accessibility TrainingAccessibility training is about providing people with the knowledge they need to succeed. It is a misconception that only people new to a subject have something to learn, and that is especially true when it comes to accessibility. We can provide a range of different training services from end users to developers to arm them with the knowledge they need. Find out more Why accessibility is important The ONS has reported that about one in five people in the UK have some form of disability. This means that accessibility will affect nearly 20% of your customers or workforce. Accessibility is a procurement requirement and the cost of retrofitting an existing application to meet the accessibility needs of your customers or workforce can be time-consuming and costly. We're here to help you consider accessibility from the outset of any project. Speak to us today about how we can help to make your products and services more accessible. Read more Accessibility done right Blazie promotes equality for workers with digital accessibility services that are right for your business. We've kept pace with the ever-changing accessibility landscape, ensuring that our services are the best in the field of digital accessibility. We work with organisations of all sizes to offer advice and implement solutions that work for everyone. Testimonials “Blazie has always been the first company I call. ”Matthew Johnson, In-House Privacy Lawyer at Pinsent Masons LLP “Blazie have been key to us delivering a number of successful releases on time and to desired quality... in very challenging circumstances. ”Alan Woods, Quality Manager for Retail Digital X at NatWest “Often when things seem impossible, Blazie will find a solution to make applications useable. ”YuenHar Tse, Solutions Architect at Three UK “I am unsure how I would have managed to work in the media industry without their invaluable input. ”Ian Hamilton, Reporter and Presenter at BBC Scotland “I highly recommend Blazie to any JAWS users needing bespoke application support to perform their role effectively. ”April Birring, Lawyer at a Leading International Law Firm More Testimonials --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-screen-reader/ Introduction: A Brief History of JAWS Screen Reader JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a revolutionary screen reading software that has been transforming the digital landscape for individuals with visual impairments since its inception. Developed by Freedom Scientific, JAWS was first introduced in 1989, marking a major milestone in making computers accessible to the visually impaired. Over the years, this robust assistive technology has evolved, incorporating cutting-edge features to enhance the user experience and enable seamless navigation of the digital world. Understanding JAWS Screen Reader: Unleashing the Power of Accessibility What is JAWS Screen Reader? JAWS is an assistive technology designed to facilitate access to computers and digital devices for individuals with visual impairments. By utilizing advanced speech synthesis and Braille output, JAWS effectively conveys the content displayed on the screen, allowing users to interact with various applications, websites, documents, and more. Its versatile capabilities have made it a go-to solution for those seeking an inclusive digital experience. How Does JAWS Screen Reader Work? When activated, JAWS scans the contents of the computer screen, converting text into synthesized speech or displaying it in Braille on a connected device. The screen reader interprets the visual information and presents it audibly or tactically, enabling users to comprehend and navigate through the digital environment. JAWS also supports numerous keyboard commands and customizable settings to tailor the user experience according to individual preferences. Is JAWS Screen Reading Software Free? JAWS is a premium screen reading software that comes with a license fee. However, Freedom Scientific offers various licensing options to cater to different needs, including home users, educational institutions, and businesses. The cost of the license is a worthwhile investment, considering the significant impact it has on empowering individuals with visual impairments. Installing JAWS Screen Reader: A Seamless Process How to Install JAWS Screen Reader Software Installing JAWS is a straightforward process that involves obtaining the software from Freedom Scientific’s official website or an authorized distributor. Once the download is complete, follow the step-by-step installation wizard, and you’ll be guided through the setup process. The installation wizard will prompt you to configure JAWS according to your specific requirements, ensuring a seamless user experience from the outset. Compatibility: Does JAWS Work with All Operating Systems? JAWS is primarily designed for Microsoft Windows operating systems, and it integrates seamlessly with various versions, from Windows 7 to Windows 10. However, when it comes to other operating systems, JAWS compatibility is limited. Unfortunately, it is not natively supported on macOS, Linux, or mobile platforms like Android and iOS. Exploring Alternatives: Other Screen Readers for Accessibility While JAWS is undoubtedly one of the most powerful screen reading solutions available, it’s essential to explore other options for users seeking alternatives or compatibility with different operating systems. For macOS users, VoiceOver comes pre-installed and offers robust screen reading capabilities. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free and open-source screen reader for Windows, making it an excellent alternative for those seeking a cost-effective solution. Empowering Digital Inclusion In conclusion, JAWS Screen Reader has revolutionized the accessibility landscape, empowering individuals with visual impairments to navigate the digital world with ease and independence. Its evolution over the years has led to a feature-rich and user-friendly experience, making it a popular choice for many. Although it is not free, the investment in JAWS is an investment in digital inclusivity, opening up a world of possibilities for those with visual impairments. For those seeking compatibility with different operating systems, exploring alternatives like VoiceOver for macOS and NVDA for Windows can offer viable solutions. Whatever the choice, the common goal remains the same - to create an inclusive and accessible digital environment that embraces diversity and empowers individuals of all abilities. With JAWS Screen Reader and its alternatives, we take a giant leap towards an inclusive digital future. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-scripting/ Introduction to JAWS Scripting At Blazie, we specialize in providing comprehensive JAWS Scripting Services to ensure that individuals with visual impairments can fully and effectively access your digital content. JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a powerful screen reader used by millions worldwide, but its effectiveness depends on the compatibility of your software and websites. Our JAWS scripting services are designed to enhance this compatibility, making your digital assets accessible to all. What is JAWS Scripting? JAWS scripting refers to the process of creating custom scripts to optimize the functionality of the JAWS screen reader with specific software applications and websites. While JAWS is a robust and widely used screen reader, it may not seamlessly interact with all digital content out-of-the-box. This is where JAWS scripting comes into play. Why Choose JAWS Scripting? Enhanced Accessibility: JAWS scripting ensures that your software and web applications are fully accessible to users with visual impairments. It allows for smoother navigation and interaction. Tailored Solutions: Our JAWS scripting services provide tailored solutions to address the unique needs of your digital content. Whether you have a complex web application, a specialized software program, or a standard website, we can create scripts to enhance accessibility. Improved User Experience: By investing in JAWS scripting, you’re not only meeting accessibility standards but also enhancing the user experience for individuals with visual disabilities. This can lead to increased user satisfaction and engagement. Our JAWS Scripting Process Our team of experts follows a meticulous process to ensure the effectiveness of JAWS scripting for your digital assets: Assessment and AnalysisWe begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your software or website. This analysis helps us identify areas where JAWS compatibility can be improved. Script DevelopmentBased on the assessment, our experienced script developers create custom scripts designed to enhance JAWS compatibility. These scripts are tailored to your specific software or web application. Testing and Quality AssuranceWe rigorously test the scripts to ensure they work seamlessly with JAWS. This includes testing various use cases and scenarios to guarantee optimal performance. Deployment and IntegrationOnce the scripts are ready, we assist with their deployment and integration into your software or website, ensuring a smooth transition. User TrainingTo maximize the benefits of JAWS scripting, we provide user training. This ensures that individuals with visual impairments can effectively utilize the enhanced features. JAWS Scripting for Various Applications Our JAWS scripting services are versatile and can be applied to a wide range of applications, including: Web Applications: Ensure that your web applications are fully accessible to all users, regardless of their visual abilities. Software Programs: Optimize the compatibility of your software applications with JAWS, enhancing usability for individuals with visual impairments. Websites: Improve the accessibility of your website to provide an inclusive online experience for all visitors. Get Started with Blazie’s JAWS Scripting Services Accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a moral imperative. By investing in JAWS scripting services from Blazie, you demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and open up your digital content to a broader audience. Make your software, applications, and websites fully accessible with our expert JAWS scripting services. Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and take the first step toward a more inclusive digital presence. Together, we can ensure that everyone has equal access to your digital assets. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-01-30 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/privacy-notice/ Introduction Please read this privacy notice carefully as it sets out how and why Blazie Engineering Limited (“Blazie”, “we”, “us”, “our”) uses your personal information when you access our website and/or services, as well as explaining certain legal rights that you have under data protection laws. At Blazie, we provide specialist assistive technology services (the “Services”). In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR, Blazie is registered on the public Register of Data Controllers as maintained by the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This means that Blazie is legally responsible for handling your personal information. If you have any questions or comments about this privacy notice please contact us via: Telephone: Barry Webb or Terry Clarke, 01908843680 Email: terry. clarke@blazie. co. uk We may change this privacy notice from time to time by updating this page. This privacy notice does not apply to any third-party websites to which you may be directed from our website and we encourage you to read the privacy statements on the other websites you visit. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the privacy practices of such third parties and your use of them is at your own risk. This website privacy notice policy was updated on 10 February 2023. What personal information do we collect about you? In order to provide our Services, we will need to collect and use certain information about you such as: your name; job title and nature of your role; name of the organisation you work for; email address; postal address; telephone number; any equipment/software you use or wish to have customised; and the products/services you are interested in. We will also need to ask about disabilities/health conditions that you may have in order to best tailor our Services to your needs. Such information is categorised as sensitive personal information under data protection laws and so we ask for your consent before collecting this information from you. For more information about the legal bases which we rely on to use your personal information, please see section 4 of this privacy notice. Note that we may collect the above information either directly from you, or from third parties such as the organisation you work for (e. g. where we are entering into a contract directly with it, rather than with you), or via a referral from Access to Work or a relevant charitable organisation, such as RNIB. Payment card information In addition, where we enter into a contract directly with you, we will need to collect and use your payment information, including your credit/debit card details. This type of information is processed strictly in accordance with relevant payment card industry standards. Automated interactions As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect information from your device by using cookies and other similar technologies. Processing such information is necessary for us to pursue our legitimate interests in improving our website and providing a more relevant service to our customers. This information is not used to develop a personal profile of you. For further details, please see our cookies policy. Online Enquiries Where you contact us via the form on our website, we will collect personal information, including your name, email address and details of your enquiry, comments and/or feedback. How do we use your personal information? Your personal information will be used so that we can provide our Services to you, such as conducting assessments, coding, training and reporting. This includes using the information you provide to us in order to assess what IT adjustments you require to perform your job role or your organisation requires to provide accessible technology to its userbase. We may use email and/or telephone to contact you, to arrange remote assistance, onsite visits, training sessions or any other matters relevant to providing you with our Services. On what legal basis does Blazie process your personal information? There are a limited number of grounds on which an organisation is permitted to handle personal information, known as the “legal basis for processing”. In general, we need this information because it is necessary in Blazie’s legitimate interests to provide our Services to you, but only in circumstances where these interests are not outweighed by the need to protect your privacy. Alternatively, where we have entered into a contract with you directly as an individual (i. e. rather than via the organisation you work for), we need your personal information to be able to perform our contract with you. Furthermore, we rely on obtaining your explicit consent for handling sensitive information about you such as your disability/health status. Please note that you may withdraw consent at any time after you have given it, although this would not affect the lawfulness of Blazie’s prior use of that information. However, due to the specific nature of our business, it is essential for us to collect and use sensitive personal information to be able to provide our Services to you and so withdrawing your consent could directly impact our ability to engage with you. Does Blazie use your personal information for marketing purposes? We will contact you via email where you have requested or signed up to receive Blazie news/blog posts, and you have not opted out of receiving such marketing communications. In line with direct marketing rules, where we send marketing communications to you by email, you can ask us to stop at any time by following the unsubscribe link in the email. Note that where you opt out of receiving these marketing communications, this will not apply to personal data provided to us as a result of engaging with our Services. As a general rule, we will not contact you through direct marketing, but if this changes in the future and we feel it appropriate to reach out to you, we will of course comply with applicable direct marketing laws. Who do we share your personal information with? We may share information that you have provided to us with the organisation that you work for, with Access to Work, or other charitable organisations acting on your behalf in order to report our assessment findings and quote for anticipated work for example. We may also share your personal information as necessary with other service providers acting on our behalf, who will only use the information to provide that service under appropriate contractual arrangements with Blazie. However, we will retain control of your information data and any third party service provider that we use must act in accordance with our instructions, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR Data Protection Act 2018. We may also share your personal information with a purchaser or potential purchaser of our business. In some circumstances, we may have to disclose your personal information for legal or regulatory purposes, such as where a court, the police or other law enforcement agency or regulatory body has asked us for it. Is your personal information transferred overseas? Blazie does not currently transfer personal information outside of the UK, but in the event that we do in the future, we will put in place contractual or other appropriate protections to ensure that your information is safeguarded to the same standards as UK data protection law. What rights do you have concerning your personal information? You may have various legal rights in relation to your personal information, such as the right to complain to the ICO (see section 9 below). This privacy notice does not list every right that you have under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR, but we have set out the ones we consider most relevant to the handling of your personal information by Blazie in the context of providing our Services to you. You may have the right to ask Blazie to: provide a copy of your personal information; correct any inaccuracies in your personal information; withdraw your consent at any time to Blazie handling your personal information, where we rely on consent as the legal basis to do this (see section 4); and delete your personal information, where there is no lawful justification for Blazie to retain it. You may also have the right to object to Blazie using your personal information, where we do this for direct marketing purposes or the purposes of our legitimate interests as outlined in section 4 above. If you lodge such an objection on the latter basis, we will stop using the relevant information unless we identify compelling legitimate grounds for continuing to use your personal information which override your rights and interests. To exercise or enquire about the above rights, please see section 13 below. Complaining to the ICO If you are unhappy with the way Blazie is handling your personal information, please let us know. Alternatively, if you do not agree with the way we have processed your information or responded to your concerns, you have a right to submit a complaint to the ICO: https://ico. org. uk/make-a-complaint/ How long do we retain your personal information for? We will hold your personal information for as long as is necessary for the relevant service you have requested or as required by law, or for accounting or regulatory purposes, or as otherwise described in this privacy notice. Children We do not typically provide our Services to children under the age of 18, but occasionally we may work with school students. Such interactions will of course take place after obtaining the child’s and/or parents’ consent as appropriate. How do we keep your personal information secure? We are committed to ensuring that any personal information that you provide to us in the course of using our Services is kept securely. This includes implementing appropriate physical and technological security measures, such as access controls and careful selection of staff and third party service providers. How can you contact us? If you have any queries relating to this Privacy Notice, please contact Blazie’s office manager, by emailing barry. webb@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-01-30 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/terms-conditions/ About our terms and conditions This website terms and conditions describes the terms that you agree to when you use this website. These terms and conditions are updated from time to time. The latest version is published on this page. The terms and conditions for this website were updated on 20 January 2021. Introduction These terms and conditions govern your use of this website. By using this website, you accept these terms and conditions in full. If you disagree with these terms and conditions or any part of these terms and conditions, you must not use this website. This website uses cookies. By using this website and agreeing to these terms and conditions, you consent to our company’s use of cookies in accordance with the terms of our company’s privacy policy and cookie policy. License to use website Unless otherwise stated, Blazie and/or its licensors own the intellectual property rights in the website and material on the website. Subject to the license below, all these intellectual property rights are reserved. You may view, download for caching purposes only, and print pages from the website for your own personal use, subject to the restrictions set out below and elsewhere in these terms and conditions. You must not: republish material from this website (including republication on another website) sell, rent or sub-license material from the website show any material from the website in public reproduce, duplicate, copy or otherwise exploit material on this website for a commercial purpose edit or otherwise modify any material on the website redistribute material from this website, except for content specifically and expressly made available for redistribution. Acceptable use You must not use this website in any way that causes, or may cause, damage to the website or impairment of the availability or accessibility of the website; or in any way which is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent or harmful, or in connection with any unlawful, illegal, fraudulent or harmful purpose or activity. You must not use this website to copy, store, host, transmit, send, use, publish or distribute any material which consists of (or is linked to) any spyware, computer virus, Trojan virus, worm, keystroke logger, rootkit or other malicious computer software. You must not conduct any systematic or automated data collection activities (including without limitation scraping, data mining, data extraction and data harvesting) on or in relation to this website without Blazie’s express written consent. You must not use this website to transmit or send unsolicited commercial communications. You must not use this website for any purposes related to marketing without Blazie’s express written consent. Restricted access Access to certain areas of this website is restricted. Blazie reserves the right to restrict access to other areas of this website, or indeed this entire website, at the company’s discretion. If Blazie provides you with a user ID and password to enable you to access restricted areas of this website or other content or services, you must ensure that the user ID and password are kept confidential. Blazie may disable your user ID and password in Blazie’s sole discretion without notice or explanation. No warranties This website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Blazie makes no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, Blazie does not warrant that: this website will be constantly available, or available at all; or the information on this website is complete, true, accurate or non-misleading. Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any legal, financial, or medical matter you should consult an appropriate professional. Limitations of liability Blazie will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contact, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website: to the extent that the website is provided free-of-charge, for any direct loss for any indirect, special or consequential loss, or for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data. These limitations of liability apply even if Blazie Engineering Ltd has been expressly advised of the potential loss. Exceptions Nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit any warranty implied by law that it would be unlawful to exclude or limit; and nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit Blazie’s liability in respect of any: death or personal injury caused by Blazie’s negligence fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of Blazie, or matter which it would be illegal or unlawful for Blazie to exclude or limit, or to attempt or purport to exclude or limit, its liability. Reasonableness By using this website, you agree that the exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this website disclaimer are reasonable. If you do not think they are reasonable, you must not use this website. Other parties You accept that, as a limited liability entity, Blazie has an interest in limiting the personal liability of its officers and employees. You agree that you will not bring any claim personally against Blazie’s officers or employees in respect of any losses you suffer in connection with the website. Without prejudice to the foregoing paragraph, you agree that the limitations of warranties and liability set out in this website disclaimer will protect Blazie’s officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, successors, assigns and sub-contractors as well as Blazie. Unenforceable provisions If any provision of this website disclaimer is, or is found to be, unenforceable under applicable law, that will not affect the enforceability of the other provisions of this website disclaimer. Indemnity You hereby indemnify Blazie and undertake to keep Blazie indemnified against any losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation legal expenses and any amounts paid by Blazie to a third party in settlement of a claim or dispute on the advice of Blazie’s legal advisers) incurred or suffered by Blazie arising out of any breach by you of any provision of these terms and conditions, or arising out of any claim that you have breached any provision of these terms and conditions. Breaches of these terms and conditions Without prejudice to Blazie’s other rights under these terms and conditions, if you breach these terms and conditions in any way, Blazie may take such action as Blazie deems appropriate to deal with the breach, including suspending your access to the website, prohibiting you from accessing the website, blocking computers using your IP address from accessing the website, contacting your internet service provider to request that they block your access to the website and/or bringing court proceedings against you. Variation Blazie may revise these terms and conditions from time-to-time. Revised terms and conditions will apply to the use of this website from the date of the publication of the revised terms and conditions on this website. Please check this page regularly to ensure you are familiar with the current version. Assignment Blazie may transfer, sub-contract or otherwise deal with Blazie’s rights and/or obligations under these terms and conditions without notifying you or obtaining your consent. You may not transfer, sub-contract or otherwise deal with your rights and/or obligations under these terms and conditions. Severability If a provision of these terms and conditions is determined by any court or other competent authority to be unlawful and/or unenforceable, the other provisions will continue in effect. If any unlawful and/or unenforceable provision would be lawful or enforceable if part of it were deleted, that part will be deemed to be deleted, and the rest of the provision will continue in effect. Entire agreement These terms and conditions, together with our privacy policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Blazie in relation to your use of this website, and supersede all previous agreements in respect of your use of this website. Law and jurisdiction These terms and conditions will be governed by and construed in accordance with the governing law of England and Wales, and any disputes relating to these terms and conditions will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England. Registrations and authorisations Blazie is registered with Companies House UK. You can find the online version of the register at the Companies House website. Blazie’s registration number is 03715365. Blazie’s VAT number is GB 735 4049 37. Blazie’s details The full name of Blazie is Blazie Engineering Ltd. Blazie is registered in England under registration number 03715365. Blazie’s registered address is 16 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5AH, United Kingdom. If you have any queries relating to this Privacy Notice, please contact Blazie’s office manager, by emailing barry. webb@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-01-29 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/testimonials/ This page is here just to create the /testimonials link to use in other pages. Archive is loaded from theme file archive_testimonials. php --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/understanding-screen-readers/ Understanding Screen Readers A screen reader is a software application that converts digital text into synthesized speech or Braille output, allowing people with visual impairments to interact with computers and digital devices. By audibly conveying the content displayed on a screen, screen readers empower individuals to access websites, applications, documents, and more, ensuring equal participation in the digital realm. The Evolution of Screen Readers The history of screen readers dates back to the late 1970s when the first crude versions were developed. These early screen readers provided limited functionality and often required users to possess advanced computer skills. However, as technology advanced, screen readers became more sophisticated and user-friendly, aligning with the growing demand for digital inclusion. Modern screen readers utilize complex algorithms to interpret and vocalize digital content accurately, enabling users to navigate websites, read emails, and even interact with graphical elements. How Screen Readers Work Screen readers rely on various techniques to present digital content audibly or in Braille. Some key functionalities include: Text-to-Speech Conversion: Screen readers analyze the structure and content of a digital document and convert it into audible speech. This includes reading aloud text, headers, links, and other elements. Navigation: Users can navigate through content using keyboard commands, skipping from one element to another, such as headings, lists, and links. Structural Analysis: Screen readers identify the structure of a webpage, enabling users to understand its layout, headings, paragraphs, and other elements. Alternative Text: When encountering images, screen readers provide alternative text descriptions, ensuring users comprehend the visual content. Forms and Interactivity: Screen readers guide users through forms and interactive elements, announcing instructions and providing feedback on user input. The Impact of Screen Readers Screen readers have revolutionized the digital experience for individuals with visual impairments. They enable independent access to information, communication, education, and employment opportunities that were previously limited. The impact of screen readers goes beyond mere access; it fosters inclusivity, empowerment, and equality. Choosing the Right Screen Reader Several screen readers are available, each with its unique features and compatibility. Some popular options include: JAWS (Job Access With Speech): A widely used screen reader that offers comprehensive functionality and supports various applications. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): An open-source screen reader that provides powerful features and regular updates. VoiceOver: Integrated into Apple devices, VoiceOver offers seamless accessibility for users of macOS and iOS. TalkBack: Designed for Android devices, TalkBack enables users to navigate and interact with their smartphones. Is Screen Reading Software Free? While some screen reading software, like NVDA and VoiceOver, is available for free, others, such as JAWS, typically require a purchase. Free options offer excellent functionality, making digital accessibility more accessible to a broader user base. Integrating Accessibility Through Screen Readers Web designers, developers, and content creators have a vital role in ensuring their digital content is screen reader-friendly. This involves implementing semantic HTML, providing meaningful alternative text for images, and optimizing interactivity for keyboard navigation. Creating an accessible digital environment benefits not only individuals with visual impairments but also enhances the experience for all users, including those with cognitive or motor disabilities. The Future of Screen Readers As technology continues to advance, the capabilities of screen readers are expected to expand further. Integration with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning could lead to more accurate content interpretation and enhanced user experiences. Embracing Digital Inclusion Screen readers are catalysts for digital inclusion, breaking down barriers and fostering equal access to information and opportunities. At Blazie, we're committed to championing digital accessibility by offering custom solutions, consultation, and training to ensure your digital assets are accessible to all. Join us on the journey towards digital equality. Let's create an inclusive digital landscape that empowers individuals and celebrates diversity. Speak to us today about how screen readers can transform your digital presence. Together, we can make the digital world accessible for everyone. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/wcag-accessibility-guidelines/ What Are WCAG Guidelines? WCAG, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is a set of internationally recognised guidelines developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for creating accessible web content. Blazie's team of experts is well-versed in WCAG guidelines and can help your organisation navigate and implement them effectively. Is WCAG 2. 1 a Legal Requirement in the UK? WCAG 2. 1 compliance is not a legal requirement in the UK; however, this doesn't mean that accessibility is not a legal concern. The Equality Act 2010 in the UK places an emphasis on preventing discrimination, which includes the obligation to make reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities. These adjustments also apply to digital services, including websites and mobile applications. While WCAG 2. 1 is not mandated by law, it is recognised as a robust framework for demonstrating compliance with accessibility standards. It is essential for organisations aiming to meet legal obligations, minimise legal risks, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity. Blazie, a leader in digital accessibility, can support your organisation in aligning with WCAG standards and making your digital content more accessible. How Many WCAG Guidelines Are There? WCAG guidelines are divided into four principles, each with a set of guidelines under them, 13 in total. Blazie offers comprehensive support in meeting each of these guidelines to ensure your digital content is fully accessible. Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be reliably interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. Blazie's team can help you meet these criteria effectively, ensuring compliance with WCAG guidelines. Why WCAG Is Important WCAG is crucial for various reasons: Accessibility: It ensures that people with disabilities can access and use digital content, promoting inclusion. Legal Compliance: Adhering to WCAG is a key step in meeting legal obligations related to accessibility. Blazie offers legal and compliance support to ensure your organisation stays on the right side of the law. User Experience: Accessibility improvements often enhance the user experience for all users. Blazie can provide user experience assessments to optimise your digital content. Business Benefits: Accessible content can expand your audience, improve your brand reputation, and minimise legal risks. Blazie's services encompass the full range of benefits, from business consulting to accessibility testing. Why Web Accessibility Matters Web accessibility matters because it ensures that the internet is available and usable by all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. It's a matter of social responsibility and legal obligation. Accessibility benefits people with disabilities, but it also enhances usability and the user experience for everyone. Blazie is committed to creating a digital world that is accessible to all users. WCAG Guidelines Checklist A WCAG checklist can help you assess your website's accessibility. It includes various criteria under each guideline to test if your content meets accessibility standards. Here's a simplified checklist: Perceivable Provide text alternatives for non-text content. Offer captions for multimedia. Ensure adaptable content. Operable Create keyboard-accessible content. Provide users with enough time to read and use content. Avoid content that could cause seizures. Understandable Make text content readable and understandable. Operate and navigate content consistently. Help users avoid and correct mistakes. Robust Maximise compatibility with current and future user agents. Blazie's experienced team can work closely with your organisation to ensure every item on this checklist is met. How Blazie Can Support WCAG Accessibility Blazie, a leading name in the field of accessibility consulting, can provide comprehensive support for your organisation's journey to achieve WCAG accessibility. Our services include: WCAG Compliance Audits: We conduct in-depth audits of your digital content to identify areas that require improvement to meet WCAG guidelines. Accessibility Training: We offer training programs for your team to ensure they understand the principles of accessibility and how to apply them. Accessibility Strategy: We can help you develop and implement a robust accessibility strategy for your organisation. User Testing: Our team performs user testing to ensure that the accessibility improvements made align with real user needs. Ongoing Support: We provide continuous support to keep users satisfied and ensure that their accessibility needs are always met. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-12-19 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/why-accessibility-is-important/ Embracing an Inclusive World Did you know that around one in five people in the UK have some form of disability, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)? This significant demographic underlines the gravity of the question: Why is accessibility important? Accessibility is not merely an optional extra or a corporate social responsibility checkmark. It is a fundamental human right, as emphasised by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It impacts approximately 20% of your customers or workforce. However, the importance of accessibility extends beyond statistics and legal requirements. Accessibility benefits all of us—whether you identify as disabled or not. Accessibility: Empowering Individuals, Boosting Businesses The implementation of accessible designs allows everyone, including people with disabilities, to fully participate in society. Whether it's shopping online, working remotely, accessing educational materials, or just socialising on a platform, everyone deserves an equal opportunity to engage without barriers. By ignoring accessibility, you're inadvertently excluding a considerable portion of your audience. From a business perspective, accessibility is a solid investment. Organisations that embrace accessibility increase their reach, enhance their brand reputation, and ensure they aren't losing potential customers or talented employees due to inaccessible environments or tools. Accessibility: A Procurement Requirement Accessibility is now a procurement requirement in many sectors. Consequently, the lack of accessible design can limit your company's opportunities. However, retrofitting an existing application or tool to meet accessibility needs can be a significant undertaking—both in terms of time and cost. The Case for Proactive Accessibility At Blazie, we advocate for a proactive approach to accessibility. It's crucial to consider accessibility from the outset of any project. This approach ensures you create products and services that are inherently accessible, rather than retrofitting them after the fact. Incorporating accessibility in the initial stages of design and development can: Increase Efficiency: Accessibility incorporated from the outset can speed up project timelines by avoiding costly and time-consuming adjustments later. Improve User Experience: Accessible designs tend to be more user-friendly, benefitting all users—not just those with disabilities. Enhance SEO: Many accessibility guidelines align with SEO best practices, thereby improving your website's visibility on search engines. Drive Innovation: Accessibility challenges can spark creativity and innovation, leading to better products and services. Digital Accessibility Consulting: We're Here to Help Understanding why accessibility is important is the first step. The next is acting on this understanding. At Blazie, we're here to guide you through this journey. We can help make your products and services more accessible and inclusive, catering to the needs of all your users. So let's embark on this path towards a more inclusive future. Speak to us today about how we can help to make your products and services more accessible. Remember, an accessible world benefits everyone. Contact Us --- - Published: 2024-10-30 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/cart/ You may be interested in... Your cart is currently empty! New in store --- - Published: 2024-10-30 - Modified: 2024-10-30 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/my-account/ Neil Burge Dashboard Orders Downloads Addresses Payment methods Account details Log out Hello Neil Burge (not Neil Burge? Log out) From your account dashboard you can view your recent orders, manage your shipping and billing addresses, and edit your password and account details. --- --- ## Posts - Published: 2024-10-14 - Modified: 2025-01-27 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/celebrating-200-years-of-braille-a-milestone-in-accessibility/ Braille is a tactile reading and writing system that enables blind and visually impaired individuals to access written information. The system uses raised dots arranged in specific patterns to represent letters, numbers, and punctuation. By feeling the raised dots with their fingers, Braille users can read and understand text. How Was Braille Invented? Louis Braille, who was blind from the age of three, invented the system in 1824. He was inspired by “night writing,” a code designed for soldiers to communicate silently at night. He modified and simplified the system, making it accessible for blind people to use for everyday reading and writing. This system of six raised dots has since empowered millions of people worldwide, giving them greater independence and access to information. A Brief History of Louis Braille Louis Braille was born in 1809 in Coupvray, France. After an accident that resulted in the loss of his vision, Louis was determined to continue his education. At the age of 10, he attended the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, where he learned about the night writing system used by soldiers. Recognising its potential for blind readers, Louis set out to create his own version, which he completed at the age of 15. His system was first published in 1829 and, while initially slow to gain acceptance, it became widely adopted and is now used globally. Louis Braille’s legacy is not only his tactile alphabet but the independence and educational opportunities it has afforded blind individuals for over two centuries. Braille and Technology: Modern Advancements Today, Braille has evolved from printed books to cutting-edge technology, allowing blind individuals to interact with the digital world. Braille displays, which convert digital text into Braille characters, enable users to read emails, websites, and documents via their fingertips. These devices are essential for visually impaired individuals who rely on them for professional tasks and personal communication. In addition to Braille displays, screen readers and Braille notetakers provide essential support, making it possible for visually impaired people to engage with the digital environment. These tools bridge the gap between accessibility and modern technology, ensuring that blind individuals can use computers, smartphones, and tablets just as efficiently as sighted people. RNIB’s Braille 200 Campaign To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s groundbreaking invention, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has launched a special campaign, Braille 200. The campaign highlights the importance of Braille in transforming the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals and showcases stories from Braille users who have benefitted from the system. The RNIB’s initiative is a powerful reminder of Braille’s lasting impact and its relevance in today’s society. You can learn more by visiting RNIB’s Braille 200 campaign. Contact Us for More Information As we mark this incredible milestone, we celebrate how Braille has opened up the world to millions of people. If you’d like to know more about Braille and its use in technology today, our team at Blazie is here to help. Reach out to us at info@blazie. co. uk to learn more about how Braille can enhance accessibility for your organisation or personal needs. --- - Published: 2024-09-18 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/how-microsofts-accessibility-checker-can-make-your-documents-presentations-and-sheets-usable-for-everyone/ What if you received an important email attachment but couldn’t read it? Imagine missing out on vital details because the document wasn’t designed with accessibility in mind. For many individuals with disabilities, this scenario is all too common. That’s where Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker comes in. This built-in tool helps ensure your documents are accessible to everyone by identifying and resolving potential issues that might make them difficult to use. Whether it’s a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, or Excel sheet, the Accessibility Checker empowers you to create content that’s inclusive for all. What is Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker? The Accessibility Checker is a built-in tool in Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that reviews documents for accessibility issues. It helps users identify and fix barriers that might prevent people with disabilities from fully accessing content. The tool scans documents and provides suggestions for improvements, allowing authors to make their files more user-friendly for people who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or voice recognition software. Why is the Accessibility Checker Useful? Promotes Inclusivity By using the Accessibility Checker, you can ensure that your documents are accessible to all users, including those with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments. This tool helps you design content that everyone can engage with, regardless of their abilities. Compliance with Accessibility Standards Many industries and organisations are required to meet accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These standards are not only good practice but may also help you avoid legal issues. The Accessibility Checker helps you adhere to these guidelines by flagging content that may not meet best practices. Improves User Experience Accessible content benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities. For example, properly formatted headings make it easier to navigate long documents, and alt text for images can be helpful for people with slow internet connections or limited device capabilities. Efficiency in Identifying Issues Instead of manually reviewing documents for accessibility, the Accessibility Checker automates the process, saving you time while ensuring that you don’t overlook any critical issues. How to Use the Accessibility Checker Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft Word’s Accessibility Checker: Improves User Experience Start by opening your Word document that you want to check for accessibility issues. Access the Accessibility Checker Go to the “Review” tab in the toolbar. Click on “Check Accessibility” in the “Accessibility” group. Review Accessibility Issues Once you open the tool, the Accessibility Checker pane will appear on the right side of the screen. The tool will categorise issues into three types: Errors These are the most severe issues that make it impossible for people with disabilities to understand your content. Warnings These issues may cause problems for users with disabilities but are not as critical as errors. Tips Suggestions for improving the overall accessibility of your document. Fix the Issues The tool provides detailed instructions on how to resolve each issue. For example, if an image is missing alt text, the checker will guide you on how to add it. Here are some common issues the tool detects: Missing Alt Text for Images Alt text is crucial for screen reader users. You can add a short description of the image by right-clicking it and selecting “Edit Alt Text. ” Unclear Link Text Instead of using generic phrases like “Click here,” make sure your hyperlinks are descriptive. The Accessibility Checker will flag links that may be confusing for users. Improper Heading Structure Headings should follow a logical order (H1, H2, H3, etc. ) to make navigation easier for assistive technology users. Low Contrast The checker will notify you if the contrast between text and background is too low, making it hard to read for users with visual impairments. Rerun the Accessibility Checker After addressing the flagged issues, rerun the Accessibility Checker to ensure everything has been resolved. Best Practices for Creating Accessible Documents While the Accessibility Checker is a great tool, there are a few best practices you can follow to make your documents even more accessible: Use Headings Properly Always use the built-in heading styles (H1, H2, etc. ) to structure your document. This makes it easier for screen reader users to navigate the content. Add Alt Text to Images Every image in your document should have a descriptive alt text. This helps users who cannot see the images understand the context. Use Descriptive Link Text Avoid generic text like “click here. ” Instead, use text that describes the destination of the link, such as “View the annual report. ” Ensure Proper Colour Contrast Make sure there is enough contrast between text and background colours. This is particularly important for users with low vision or colour blindness. Avoid Using Tables for Layout Tables should be used only for displaying data, not for layout purposes. Screen readers read tables in a specific way, and using them for layout can cause confusion. Improve Accessibility with the Accessibility Checker Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker is a powerful tool that makes it easy to create inclusive documents that can be used by everyone. Whether you’re preparing reports, presentations, or any other type of content, taking a few extra steps to ensure accessibility will benefit a wider audience and contribute to a more inclusive digital environment. In today’s world, where inclusivity is no longer an option but a necessity, using tools like the Accessibility Checker is a simple yet effective way to help ensure your documents meet the needs of all users. By following the guidance provided by this tool, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that is both professional and accessible. For more information on how to use this tool, check out Microsoft’s official support pages If you want to ensure your documents are truly accessible or need more guidance on how to improve digital accessibility, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always here to help. You can contact us at: info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2024-05-24 - Modified: 2025-01-31 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/introduction-to-aria/ For some, the word aria might summon up images of Pavarotti or Paul Potts, in the world of digital accessibility, however, it plays a different tune. aria provides a way to produce an accessible experience for users of all abilities, allowing developers to work towards WCAG compliance without compromising on the look and feel of their site. What is ARIA? Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA, often written aria) is an international standard which defines a programmatic way to describe the structure, roles and behaviour of elements in a web application so that accessible technologies (such as JAWS or Dragon), can read the page, helping users understand and interact with the app consistently and clearly. As such, aria can play a vital role in ensuring that your site or app complies with the latest WCAG standards. Though aria is designed to work with a range of web technologies, I’ll primarily be discussing websites written using HTML, in a browser such as Edge or Chrome. One of the strengths of aria is that, while web technology and browsers advance, providing new ways for webpages to display and manage content, aria can provide a solid foundation, allowing accessible technologies to interface with familiar roles and attributes, which will allow for a much better consistency, particularly if using older versions of e. g. JAWS. This is not to say that the aria standard is out of date, the latest standard ARIA 1. 2 was released in June 2023 and the latest draft version (1. 3) was released in January of this year. Limitations of ARIA Though I’ve been singing the praises of aria, it’s still important to understand its limitations. aria can only provide hints, and - particularly on large, complex or poorly structured pages - it may not always be possible for accessible technology to understand all the necessary information required for a UI element, leading to unpredictable behaviour and inaccurate information, even with thorough and consistent use of aria. This leads to the golden rule of accessible web design – use inbuilt HTML elements, it may not always be possible, depending on the project, but it will, in general, be easier to make a consistent and accessible solution than developing custom widgets. Standard HTML is going to be better supported by any browser than almost any bespoke widget, plus it makes it easier for accessible technologies to read and parse, even without aria. For example, using a standard button element will almost universally work for accessible technology users, using a styled div, on the other hand, will not be usable by out-of-the-box, it would need additional keyboard functionality, as well as a new aria role (more on that later) to even approximate the same level of accessibility and useability. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s possible to overuse aria. There is a fine balance of providing enough information so that a user can understand and use the page effectively, but not too much that it ruins a user’s experience of a page, which can severely affect how – or even if – they will use your website. The structure of ARIA aria provides information to accessible technology in two main forms – roles and attributes, each of which can be used to customise the behaviour and output to best help the user. An aria role describes the purpose of an element in the page, it not only refers to visual elements such as buttons and links, but also refers to the more structural elements of the page, such as a navigation bar, or even items in a list. Using aria roles, assistive technologies can tailor their behaviour depending on what a user might expect from the role, for example, in a table, a screen reader may help a user to navigate column by column and read out the column titles. aria then divides these roles into six further categories, depending on the purposes of each role: Abstract roles – These roles are used just used to help build the logic of aria, and should never be used. Widget roles – These are used to describe elements which a user interacts with, such as a button or combo box. Document Structure roles – These are used to describe the structural elements of a page, including headings and tables. Landmark roles – Used to signify specific regions of a page, such as a list of site links or a page footer. Live region roles – areas of the page that may change or update automatically, such as an alert toast. Without this role, many users may be unaware of important changes in the page. Window roles – windows, such as confirmation dialogues which appear on the screen. An aria attribute describes some state or property of an element. States, such as aria-checked, often reflect some frequently-changing state of an element. They can be particularly useful for screen readers, as states can often be indicated using some visual sign, and may not otherwise be obvious to the user. Properties, by contrast, are less likely to change, and can often reference a relationship to other elements. A very commonly used property is the aria-label attribute, which has been discussed in a previous blog. Like roles, the aria specification has split attributes into 3 categories: Widget attributes – These describe the state interactive components, such as the checked status of a checkbox, or whether a text box is unavailable. Live region attributes – These attributes allow you to define elements of the page as live regions, and loosely determine which parts of the region are recognised as live. Relationship attributes – These describe how different elements may relate to each other, making it possible to link two, perhaps visually related, elements which aren’t necessarily near each other in the document structure. There is a fourth category – Drag-and-Drop – which is in the process of being updated, and there are currently no applicable attributes. Adding aria to HTML If a site uses standard HTML (including button and input elements) as intended intended purpose, accessible technologies will be able to infer any relevant roles and attributes without the explicit use of aria, so it may not even be needed, especially for simpler sites. That said, it is always worth testing with relevant accessible technologies to make sure that they work as intended with your site. Adding aria to HTML is simple. To add an aria role, you would need to add the property “role” to an element with the appropriate role name as the value, to add an aria attribute add the name of the attribute, using one of the the allowed values. In the simple button example below, the button has been given a “role” property with value “button”, and the attribute aria-label with value “click to test this button”. This is a simplified example, and there are better ways (such as providing the label as text inside the button) to make a button accessible, but this should demonstrate how easy adding aria to your site can be. Conclusion aria can be a powerful tool in ensuring site is WCAG compliant and is a vital part of any web designer’s arsenal, but, like many tools, it’s easy to use, but hard to master. Too little aria can lead to confused users, who may not harm than good. Too little aria can lead to confused users, who may not even be able to use even the most basic parts of your app, overuse can ruin the user experience, sometimes leading to more confusion than if it hadn’t been used in the first place. Striking the fine balance between the two can sometimes require a lot of trial and error, but the results are often well worth the effort. If you need help in making sure your site is WCAG compliant, need help with your accessibility infrastructure, or have any other questions, feel free to contact us. --- - Published: 2024-04-26 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/understanding-the-evolution-wcag-123-and-beyond/ One of the main problems in a wide ranging and diverse field such as accessibility is finding new standards that can be consistently and rigorously applied to all websites. Especially, considering the huge range of technologies and platforms now available.  A unified set of standards enables developers, designers, and content creators to adhere to a single, comprehensive framework, thus facilitating greater accessibility for users with disabilities. Moreover, harmonization promotes interoperability and compatibility among different tools, software, and assistive technologies, streamlining the implementation process and enhancing the user experience for everyone. Over the years the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have become the cornerstone for ensuring digital content is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. As the digital landscape has evolved these guidelines have changed as well. In 1999, WCAG 1. 0 was established. This was a set 65 accessibility checkpoints across 14 broad themes of accessible design which were of three levels of priority: A, AA, AAA. With A being the most important. Very soon it became apparent that these were not going to be enough for a rapidly changing field and development of WCAG 2. 0 began. Finished in 2008, with 61 test criteria under four main principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Over time WCAG 2. 0 AA became the standard accepted as accessible by many government bodies and large organisations. Although this may leave some users with some difficulties, AA was seen as the correct level to exclude as few people as possible while not stifling innovation and creativity in web applications. WCAG 2. 1, published in 2018, was a significant step forward in making the web more accessible. It built upon WCAG 2. 0 by introducing new success criteria to address accessibility barriers not adequately covered before. Some of the notable additions in WCAG 2. 1 including: Mobile Accessibility, Cognitive and Learning Disabilities, Low Vision, and Aging Users. Building upon the success of WCAG 2. 1, the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) released WCAG 2. 2 in 2023, further refining and expanding accessibility guidelines. WCAG 2. 2 aimed to address emerging technologies and evolving user needs. Some key updates in WCAG 2. 2 are improved Mobile Accessibility, Focus on User Preferences, Enhanced Content Structure. At the moment development for the next stage of accessibility guidelines, WCAG 3, is being undertaken. The goals of WCAG 3 are to make it easier to understand and be more flexible and apply to a wider range of user needs and different technologies. In addition, there is expected to be a radical change in how conformance is measured allowing it to be more easily used in organisation risk models. WCAG represents crucial milestones in the ongoing effort to make the web more accessible to all users. By adhering to these guidelines, developers and content creators can ensure their digital products are inclusive and accessible to everyone. --- - Published: 2024-03-08 - Modified: 2025-01-27 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/reducing-verbosity-of-new-teams-notifications/ Question: With so many organisations moving from Classic Teams to New Teams, many users have been finding that although similar, the two versions are far from exactly the same. We have been contacted by a number of screen reader users who are finding the incoming chat notifications far too verbose and distracting in the New Teams asking if it is possible to reduce the verbosity. So, the question is: How do you reduce the verbosity without losing any of the key information such as the name of the sender and their message content? Answer: Due to the differences between how various screen readers announce Teams notifications, this is really aimed at JAWS users, who will be most impacted by the changes between Classic and New Teams notifications. Initially when we looked into how to amend the notifications with JAWS we could only either mute them entirely, or replace them with a piece of standard text; however, thanks to Nick, one of our amazing developers, we have managed to put together a set of instructions on how to remove the parts of the notification you don’t want and keep the relevant stuff. The notifications centre was added in JAWS 2022, therefore these instructions will work with any version of JAWS after and including JAWS 2022. By default, when you get a message in New Teams, JAWS will announce something like: Good morning! Katherine Turner olly. anthony@blazie. co. u... - Blazie. Having spoken with so many users, the consensus is that people want to remove the email address and organization at the end and keep the message text and the sender’s name, so it would be: Good morning! Katherine Turner. This solution uses regex which is a coding term meaning regular expressions and can allow you to get a little clever with how you create your rules. We won’t go into how this works exactly here, but the steps to do it are as follows. Note, these instructions contain specific punctuation which may not be automatically announced based on your verbosity settings, so it is best to read by character for the sections which outline what you have to type: Press Insert+Space to start a layered keystroke followed by N to open the Notification History. Focus will start in a list of notifications you have received over the past 24 hours (only notifications which were received while JAWS was running are shown). Arrow down until you find an incoming Teams chat notification. This will be easier if you have recently received a chat message notification. Either tab twice to the Create Rule...  button and press Enter to activate it or press Alt+C to activate it from the list. The Create Rule dialogue will open. Focus will start in the Rule Type combo box. Arrow down to Matches Pattern in the list. Tab to the edit directly after the combo box which will contain the text for the notification you selected. Select the part you want to keep, so in our case, we want to keep the message text and the name of the sender, and replace it with the following punctuation (. *)Leave the rest of the text as it is. The edit should now say something like (. *)olly. anthony@blazie. co. u... - Blazie Tab to the Limit to notifications in msedgewebview2 checkbox and ensure this is checked. This will limit our rule to Teams notifications. Tab to the Speech Action combo box and arrow down to Shorten. Tab to the next edit field and type in \1 As an additional option here, if you want your notifications to start that the message is from Teams, type \1 – Teams. Tab to the Preview Results button and press Enter to hear how JAWS will announce notifications once we implement this rule. If it doesn’t sound right, go back and check the previous steps. Tab to the Braille Action combo box. If you use Braille, you can amend this if desired. The default is to show the notification as a flash message on the Braille, but you can change this to show no Braille if you prefer. Tab a few times to the OK button and press Enter. You will be prompted with the Name Your Rule dialogue and focus will land in the Rule Name edit field. By default, this will contain the notification text, but it is best to change this to a meaningful name for the rule in case you need to find it again later. We have changed this to Teams Chat Notifications. Tab to the OK button and press Enter. The rule will be created and focus will move back to the Notification History window which you can close with Escape. You should note that if the way the Teams notifications are announced by default changes, you may have to create a new rule to allow for this. If you have any trouble with any of this, contact us at Questions@blazie. co. uk. If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2024-03-01 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/in-accessibility-consistency-is-king/ The alarm clock goes off and you struggle to open your eyes. Morning is here and you need a coffee to help deal with that fact. You get up and go to the kitchen like you do every morning. You open the cupboard to take out a cup, but to your surprise, you pull out a shoe! That’s not where the shoes are kept. The cups have always been in that cupboard. You know because you do this same thing every morning. Why has it changed? Where are the cups? Alright, I am adding a bit of artistic flare to demonstrate my point, but this is the kind of experience assistive technology users have on a disappointingly regular basis when faced with updated versions of applications and websites which they have been using for years. Element types have changed. The location of objects has changed. The terminology used has changed. Unexpected change is really my key point here. There are three sides to consistency in the digital world: being consistent within an individual application, being consistent when updating or upgrading an application, and being consistent with the rest of the world. Consistency within an Application When designing a website or application, consistency should always be at the forefront of your mind. It can relate to the location of objects, the types of elements, or the order of actions, to name just a few. Here are a few specific examples and how they can affect users.  Magnification users cannot see the whole screen at once and will rely on remembering where elements appear and so consistency in layouts is crucial. If you sometimes put error messages under the field they relate to, and other times list those errors at the top of the screen then it means the user may be looking in the wrong place, and if a process isn’t working but you cannot find an error message it can quickly become extremely frustrating. Those with cognitive disabilities may struggle to understand a text if different terms are repeatedly used to refer to one thing. Simplifying text by consistently using terminology can make it far easier to read and understand the content. Screen reader users can make use of all sorts of different elements to assist with efficient navigation. Headings are an extremely common example of this kind of navigation. If you have a programmatic heading (remember, just because something looks like a heading, doesn’t mean it is from a programmatic point of view) at the top of the main working area of a page, but fail to put one in the same location on other similar pages, it makes that type of navigation less useful as the user then has to remember where they can use it and where they can’t. Consistency when Updating/Upgrading When you are creating an upgrade to your application or a new version, of course, you want to include a new, updated look and features, but you shouldn’t be making a totally new application that isn’t recognisable as this makes it far more difficult for all users to adjust to. Recently, I had a training session with a screen reader user (we will call her Jane) who had requested some help with a new version of a web application that she had been using for years. Jane had never had any trouble before, but they had introduced a new version and she could no longer find anything she needed. During the session, we didn’t find a single accessibility or even usability issue with the application, quite the opposite, it was extremely well made; but because they had changed how it worked, where the search was located, and added new filters (amongst other things), Jane had really struggled when using it on her own. Another example would be changes to things such as built-in keyboard commands. I love it when a company builds in some keyboard shortcuts to make certain actions easier, but if they do not stay consistent, it ends up being a bugbear. Let’s say for example you use a softphone which has a keyboard command to answer an incoming call. When the new version is released, as a user, you would expect the same command to work, no? It is still a softphone produced by the same company with the same name and the same functionality for incoming calls is still there, so if the keyboard command is different, it is going to be an issue for a multitude of users, leave them confused or wondering if their machine has frozen. Consistency with the World Consistency goes far beyond the confines of your application or website alone. Your product should be consistent with the vast array of others in the world. This is a whole topic in itself, but a simple example would be if most of us saw a red button with a white X in the top right corner of a window (or some iteration of it), we would instinctively know that it was to close the window, because it is consistent across so many other applications. A different side to this type of consistency is using elements for their correct function. Buttons are used to trigger actions while links are used to take you to a different location and you should ensure that you are using the right element for its prescribed function. One thing that often throws assistive technology users is when a link has been used to perform an action. If nothing else, when someone is helping direct a screen reader user and tells them to look for the Submit button, but that “button” is in fact a link which has been styled as a button, it will just make it all the more difficult to find. The Take Away Consistency is key for all of us, whether it is knowing where you keep the cups in your kitchen, or how to carry out a basic task in an application at work, but consistency plays an even more critical role when it comes to people with disabilities and assistive technology users. It can be the difference between someone being able to carry out a process or do their job or not. --- - Published: 2024-02-08 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/unlocking-accessibility-the-power-of-dragon/ When most people hear the word “Dragon,” they might envision a mythical creature breathing fire and guarding treasure. However, in the realm of accessibility, Dragon takes on a different form, serving as a powerful tool that can revolutionise how we interact with technology. In this post, we’ll explore the multifaceted capabilities of Dragon and its potential impact on accessibility. What is Dragon? Dragon is not a fire-breathing lizard but rather a sophisticated software solution designed to enhance accessibility by replacing traditional keyboard and mouse inputs. While its most renowned feature is its dictation function, Dragon offers a comprehensive set of tools that enable users to navigate their computers hands-free. Who Might Benefit from Dragon? Two primary groups stand to benefit from Dragon’s capabilities: neurodiverse individuals and those with manual dexterity issues. For neurodiverse individuals or anyone struggling with spelling or translating thoughts to text, Dragon’s dictation feature provides invaluable support. Additionally, for those experiencing discomfort or limitations when using traditional input devices, Dragon offers a welcome alternative. Dragon as a Dictation Tool One of Dragon’s standout features is its exceptional accuracy, even without customisation. This entire blog post has been crafted using Dragon for dictation, correction, and formatting—a testament to its reliability. Moreover, Dragon’s ability to learn and adapt to users’ vocabulary ensures accurate transcription, even with technical or specialised terminology. Dragon as a Navigation Tool Beyond dictation, Dragon empowers users to navigate their computers effortlessly. From opening and closing applications to clicking on items and scrolling webpages, Dragon offers a suite of tools for seamless interaction. Whether users require mouse emulation or voice-activated commands, Dragon simplifies navigation for a more accessible computing experience. Why Choose Dragon Over Built-in Features? While platforms like Office 365 and Windows 11 offer basic dictation capabilities, they lack the robust configuration and correction options essential for long-term use. Dragon’s customisation abilities set it apart, enabling tailored adjustments to suit individual needs and preferences. For those reliant on accessibility software, Dragon provides unparalleled versatility and reliability. Scripting and Dragon In rare instances where Dragon encounters compatibility issues, custom scripting can bridge the gap, ensuring smooth interaction with specific applications or websites. At Blazie, we offer custom Dragon scripting services to enhance accessibility and usability across diverse digital environments. Explore Accessibility with Blazie At Blazie, we’re dedicated to fostering digital inclusivity and accessibility. Whether you’re a business striving for inclusivity in your digital offerings or an individual seeking to explore the possibilities of assistive technology, we’re here to support you. Reach out to us for assistance with Dragon, accessibility solutions, custom scripting, or any other inquiries—let’s embark on a journey towards a more accessible and inclusive digital future together. In conclusion, Dragon isn’t just a mythical creature—it’s a game-changing accessibility tool that empowers users to navigate technology with ease and efficiency. By embracing Dragon and other inclusive technologies, we can create a digital landscape where everyone can participate fully, regardless of ability or circumstance. --- - Published: 2023-11-16 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/jaws-stops-reading-in-microsoft-word/ In this instalment of the Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at an issue where JAWS appears to stop reading a document in Word and subsequently crashes the application. Question: Hi Blazie Can you please help me with this problem? Whenever I create a new document in word, save it and then try to read it, JAWS will only let me read the first paragraph or so and will not let me read any further, it appears to crash Word, notwithstanding that the entire document is visible on-screen. This is highly frustrating and has only just started happening. Thanks, John AT Agony Aunt Says: Hi John This has been a puzzling one. We tried in the office and half of us could replicate this issue every time and the others couldn’t experience it at all. After a lot of trial and error we think we narrowed down the issue to one specific version of Word, Version 2307. An update to version 2308 should resolve this and allow you to read an entire document from beginning to end. To check the version of Word you are running do the following: Open Word. Press Alt+F to open the File Menu. Press D to move to the Account Area and then A to open the about details. The version will be read out automatically, you are listening for the number immediately after the Word version. If you are on version 2307 you will need to perform an update, this will not necessarily be possible if you are running an enterprise version of Office. If you have the ability to update do the following: Open Word. Press Alt+F to open the File Menu. Press D to move to the Account Area and then R to open the update options. Choose Update Now from the options. Word will check for updates, and if there is one to apply it will do so. This process can take some time to complete, and will usually ask to force Word to close. If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2023-11-16 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/what-is-jaws/ In a cinematic context, JAWS might evoke images of suspense and danger. However, in the tech realm, JAWS signifies liberation, opening up new possibilities for those who are blind or visually impaired. Imagine experiencing the internet not through sight, but through sound — this is the essence of JAWS (Job Access With Speech). This groundbreaking screen reader acts as a digital guide, audibly narrating the online world to ensure equal access and participation. Demystifying JAWS: A Gateway to Digital Inclusion Here at Blazie, when we mention JAWS, we’re not talking about the menacing great white shark from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster. Instead, we’re referring to the revolutionary and best selling screen reader that transforms how individuals with visual impairments navigate the digital landscape. How Does JAWS Work? In the world of JAWS, the screen is not the primary interface; it’s the ears. Using synthetic speech, JAWS interprets and vocalises the content displayed on the screen. Picture having a personal guide narrating the digital landscape, describing everything from written text to interactive elements. Breaking Down Digital Barriers For someone new to the concept of screen readers, the idea of web surfing without seeing might raise questions. How does one click on a link? How is formatting conveyed? Here’s where JAWS excels: Navigating Links and Buttons: JAWS provides a list of links or buttons on a page, allowing the user to navigate through them and make selections. Reading Text: Whether it’s an article, email, or social media post, JAWS smoothly reads out the text content, ensuring that users don’t miss a word. Headers and Formatting: JAWS recognizes headers, lists, and other formatting elements, offering a structured understanding of the content. Forms and Interactivity: Filling out forms and interacting with web applications is made possible through JAWS, which guides users through input fields and options. What is JAWS Scripting? JAWS scripting is the art of customising the behaviour of JAWS to enhance its functionality with specific applications or websites. At Blazie, we specialise in providing JAWS scripting solutions. When standard JAWS configurations might not perfectly align with a particular application, our scripting services step in. This ensures that users have a seamless and efficient experience, tailored to their unique needs. Why JAWS Matters: Beyond Accessibility JAWS isn’t just a tool; it’s a gateway to independence and equal access. Consider the importance of online information in our daily lives—from news updates to educational resources, job applications to entertainment, JAWS ensures that individuals with visual impairments can participate fully in the digital age. Digital Inclusion and Accessibility The significance of JAWS extends beyond individual empowerment. Embracing technologies like JAWS contributes to building a digitally inclusive society. Websites and applications designed with accessibility in mind become usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities. Explore the World of Accessibility with Blazie At Blazie, we’re passionate about making the digital world accessible to everyone. If you have questions about JAWS, accessibility, JAWS scripting, or creating inclusive digital experiences, we’re here to help. Whether you’re a business striving for digital inclusivity or an individual curious about the possibilities, get in touch with us. Let’s embark on a journey towards a more accessible and inclusive digital future. --- - Published: 2023-09-29 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/microsoft-word-paste-formatting-menu/ In this instalment of the Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at a feature in Office that may have appeared without your knowledge, the Paste formatting menu. Question: HiI am experiencing something weird when I press the Control key in Word. Sometimes instead of it stopping the speech it will say something about paste recovery, what is happening and can I stop this? Thanks Michael AT Agony Aunt Says: Hi Michael Thank you for reaching out with this question. This is a common question asked by many JAWS users, but it is not always talked about. In about 2010, Microsoft introduced a feature into the Office Suite so that after pasting items the type of formatting could be chosen, rather than having to do so beforehand. This relates to the visual style such as the font, size and colour that the pasted text is shown in. This paste formatting menu is accessed via pressing the Control key after pasting something. This functionality only happens if you haven’t typed anything after pasting the content. If the text has been navigated via the arrow keys it is still possible to press Control and access the formatting menu. This menu can be dismissed by pressing the escape key immediately after pasting something. The paste formatting can be a useful feature to ensure that the content you are using matches the visual style that you are writing in. Once the Control key has been pressed you can arrow through the options and then press Enter to select the one that you wish. To make sure the formatting matches what you are typing choose the “Keep Text” option. However if you prefer not to use it, you can easily turn it off through the settings menu in each Office application where you don’t want to see it. If you know the type of formatting you always want to apply this can be applied at the same time. Here’s how you can turn off the Paste Formatting options in Office 365: Open the Office application where you want to disable the paste options. Press Alt+Q to move to the Microsoft Search Field. Type “options”. Press the Down Arrow until you get to Options, then press Enter. Press Down Arrow to Advanced. Press Alt+W twice to move to the first item within the Cut, Copy and paste options. The first 4 items to tab through are the formatting styles that will be applied when you paste from different sources. To move to the option to turn off the Paste Formatting button press Alt+O until you get to “Show Paste Options button when content is pasted”. Press the Spacebar to uncheck this option if you don’t want the button to appear. Press Enter to apply your changes. If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2023-06-16 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/navigating-the-web-with-clarity-the-importance-of-proper-labelling-for-web-accessibility/ Whenever a user reads a webpage, they need to understand what they can do with the page, if a user is filling in a form, how can they tell which field they’re in? There may be a simple prompt written next to the field, but if the user requires a screen reader, or is using magnification software, for example, they may not even know it is even there, let alone what they need to put in the box. Making sure that each interactive element has an associated label is a quick way to increase the accessibility and usability of your site and is a crucial first step in ensuring your website complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). What are associated labels? Labels are everywhere, they’re just text describing what a part of the page does, you might see them inside buttons, part of the text of a link, or next to the field of a form, if properly used, screen readers and other assistive technologies (AT) can use them to help users interact with and understand the page. For labels to be effectively used by AT, one question needs to be answered “What is the label of this element? ” This question is not always easy to answer, if the text is inside, you can probably be sure that the label is this text, however, if the text is next to a form you want a label for, it’s not so straightforward – but you can help. By associating the label to the field, you can say “this label is for this element” which greatly simplifies the problem, making understanding page more consistent and accurate for the user. There are a couple of ways to associate a label with a field: The label element The label element is a part of HTML and should be compatible with all modern browsers and Assistive technologies. The element can be used in two ways: Instead of putting the label text inside the field, the field can be placed inside the label element, which should associate the field with the element. By giving the form field a unique id value, it can be associated with the label by using the same value in the label’s for attribute. It’s important to note that only some types of fields are intended to have labels and may be ignored by AT even if used correctly otherwise. If not using a HTML-standard element (such as an input element) you may need add a role attribute so that the relevant assistive technology can identify the input as a labelable element and help the user appropriately. Labelling with Aria What is Aria? Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) standard is a way you can tell assistive technologies about the behaviour and content of elements of a website. In fact, we’ve seen it already, the role attribute can be used to tell AT what the intended behaviour of an element is. For example, if you have remodelled an HTML div element to behave and look like a button, a screen reader may not allow users to press the button because a div is not an interactive element and that’s all it sees. Using a role=button attribute will signify to the screen reader that the element is a button and can be pressed. NOTE: ARIA was designed with a range of technologies in mind, and just because features exist in ARIA they may not always be necessary. In general, using native HTML elements and properties is a much better way to ensure consistent behaviour for all users, AT, or no. The aria-labelledby property An alternative to the HTML label element is the aria-labelledby property, which allows you to define the label for a particular element. The advantage of aria-labelledby is that the label could be any element, such as a div and is not bound to the specific structure required by the label element, simplifying the website design process. To use the aria-labelledby attribute, add the attribute to the labelled element, whose value is a unique id pointing to the label. It should be noted that aria-labelledby should only be used when there is text of the label is normally on screen, if there is no label visible an aria-label is preferred. aria-label aria-label provides a way of labelling elements when there is no label on screen, this may be useful, for example, in giving labels to styled buttons which may not have any accompanying text. Using an aria-label is a simple as giving the labelled element the attribute with the relevant text inside. aria-describedby Though not technically used for labelling, the aria-describedby attribute has an important role in helping users understand the page. As the name suggests, aria-describedby is used to provide additional descriptions for elements and is particularly useful for screen reader users, for which the description may be hard to find. A common use case for the aria-describedby attribute is to add descriptions to text fields, such as for password fields which may list required characters for potential passwords. The usage of aria-describedby is just as for aria-labelledby, give the labelled element the property with an id referencing the describing element. Conclusion Labels help users better navigate and understand webpages, and their use is an essential part of making the web a more accessible and usable place. Oftentimes - especially with simple input fields such as buttons – the text of an element can act as a label. However, when this is not possible, generally the quickest, easiest, and most reliable way of labelling content is the native HTML label element, which is most useful for elements like text input fields. ARIA provides a few methods of labelling and providing descriptions for text, aria-describedby and aria-labelledby allow you to use on-screen text to describe and label elements of the page, whereas the aria-label allows you to provide custom labels for the page. --- - Published: 2023-04-17 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/what-in-the-world-wide-web-is-wcag/ For the uninitiated, WCAG can be quite intimidating. We give you a brief primer on what WCAG is, why it matters, and why it makes good business sense to include it in your web products and services. What is WCAG? In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the internet has become an indispensable tool for people all around the world. From online shopping to news portals to service providers, websites have become an essential part of our daily lives; however, it is crucial to recognise that not all users have the same level of access when it comes to using websites, especially those with disabilities. To address this need for inclusivity, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) - a set of principles that websites should adhered to in order to make website content accessible to as many people as possible. The guidelines were initially developed in 1999 and introduced the well-known conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA. Since that time, the W3C has continually improved and updated the guidelines to make them better fit the ever changing landscape of the internet, and to keep up with developments in assistive technologies. The current version of the guidelines is WCAG 2. 1; however, WCAG 2. 2 is set to be released in May this year, with the draft version potentially including the addition of nine new criteria across the three conformance levels. Is WCAG a requirement? Many countries around the world have adopted, or make heavy reference to, WCAG as the standard for web accessibility. In several countries, compliance with WCAG has become a legal requirement to some degree. For example, in the UK, since 2018, the external-facing websites of all public sector bodies, as well as some charities and non-governmental organisations, have had to be AA compliant. The United States takes this a step further under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires all federal agencies, their contractors, vendors, and partners to ensure their websites meet AA standards. For the majority of those in the UK private sector, companies are not currently required by law to meet any level of WCAG compliance on their customer-facing websites; however, that doesn’t mean that it will not be introduced in the future. That being said, the Equality Act 2010 does require that when providing services, a company does not put “a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with persons who are not disabled” and must “take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage”. This could potentially leave a company open to litigation if their website is not accessible. In the past, many firms have been taken to court due to their websites being inaccessible, such as in the 2021 case in the US, in which Domino’s Pizza was forced to pay a visually-impaired user $4,000 for being unable to use their website and mobile app to order food using a screen reader. What’s the business case for being accessible? Legal considerations should not be the only reason to put accessibility front and centre. Ensuring your website or mobile app is accessible is best practice for a number of reasons: first and foremost, it should be a moral obligation for us all to guarantee equality, it demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and diversity; it enhances brand reputation; and it helps organisations expand their reach to a wider audience. The disability market, also known as the Purple Pound, represents a significant (and often overlooked) sector of the economy that includes people with disabilities, their families, friends, and caregivers. With an estimated global market value of over £7 trillion, the Purple Pound presents a vast potential market for businesses, moreover, one that can easily be accessed. Implementing WCAG in your organisation Accessibility needs to be taken into consideration throughout the full lifecycle of a website or mobile app, from concept to design, from development and testing to later updates and additions. It is crucial to establish internal policies early on to ensure this is done and promote accessibility throughout the development process. Automated testing can be a key tool for both testers and developers to help identify many accessibility issues, but it is not enough on its own. Manual testing carried out by an accessibility professional will uncover far more issues and prevent them from making it in front of users on the live application. Staying updated with the latest guidelines, such as the upcoming WCAG 2. 2, and incorporating them into website design and development processes is also crucial for organisations that want to ensure accessibility compliance and create inclusive online experiences for all users. If you want to check the accessibility of your website or mobile app, Blazie can provide you with a full accessibility audit. Our team of experts can help you identify and fix accessibility issues, ensuring that your website or app meets the latest WCAG guidelines. For more information, please email info@blazie. co. uk. --- - Published: 2023-03-16 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/discover-the-new-accessibility-features-in-windows-11/ Make Your Computer Work for You Accessibility is an important consideration when it comes to technology. For people with disabilities or impairments, simple tasks like using a computer can be difficult. Thankfully, Microsoft has made an effort to improve the accessibility settings in Windows 11. In this article, we will take a look at some of the accessibility settings available in Windows 11 and how they can be helpful. Where to Find the Settings All accessibility settings can be found in the settings centre under the Accessibility Banner Tab. Once you open the tab, you will see a range of options to customise your Windows 11 experience. They can be easily accessed by pressing Windows Key+U. Vision Windows 11 has a range of visual settings aimed at making items on the screen easier to read. You can modify the text size, change the colour contrast, or use speech feedback. Additionally, visual effects can be toggled on or off, such as always showing scrollbars, transparency effects, animation effects, and the speed at which pop-up notifications disappear. Mouse Pointer and Touch For those with difficulty locating the mouse pointer, the mouse pointer settings can be adjusted. There are four built-in options: white with a black outline, all-black, inverted colour, and colourful. You can also adjust the size of the pointer via a slider. If your computer has a touchscreen, you can modify the thickness of the visible notification of the region touched. Text Cursor For users with visual impairments, the text cursor settings allow you to add an indicator that appears when you are typing. You can modify the size and colour of the text cursor, making it easier to see. You can also increase the thickness of the text cursor. Magnifier The magnifier settings allow you to modify the magnifier area, turn it on and off, and access minimal screen reading functionality. You can also turn on the magnifier by pressing the Windows+Plus keys on the keyboard, increase the magnification using the same shortcut, and decrease it by pressing the Windows +Minus keys on the keyboard. The magnifier can be turned off by pressing the Windows+Escape keys. Colour Filters The colour filters can be used to modify on-screen colours to make them easier to see for people with colour blindness. There are a number of built-in settings to choose from, and you can turn this on and off with the Windows+Control+C keyboard shortcut. Contrast Themes The contrast themes put the entire computer into a higher contrast mode. There are four built-in settings to choose from. You can also turn this on and off using the Alt+Shift+Print Screen keystroke. Narrator The narrator is a basic screen reader that reads out the text on the screen. This can be helpful for people with visual impairments. While dedicated software would be used for more advanced functionality, the narrator can be a useful tool for those who need basic assistance. Hearing The settings in Hearing are aimed at making the experience of using a computer better for someone with hearing difficulties. Within these settings, stereo audio can be turned off, and visual cues to audio notifications can be turned on. Captions can also be turned on to convert all spoken audio into captions that appear on a banner at the top of the screen. Interaction The settings in interaction are aimed at improving the experience of somebody with motor control issues. For example, speech settings allow you to control your computer by voice using Voice Access. There are also options to turn on voice typing. Additionally, the keyboard settings allow you to use sticky keys to make complex keystrokes easier, filter keys to ignore repeated keystrokes, and toggle keys to improve the notification of the ‘lock’ keys. The mouse setting gives the ability to use a mouse with the number pad. Eye Control settings can also be used if a physical eye tracker is present. Conclusion With Windows 11, Microsoft have made great strides in helping those with disabilities and impairments use computers to their full potential, but these in-built settings are only the tip of the iceberg, and additional software or modifications may be required to get the most out of your Windows experience. If you feel these settings aren’t good enough or are struggling to access the apps you need, please get in touch to see how we can help. If you have any questions or comments about this blog post or accessibility in general, try our Accessibility Agony Aunt for more advice - all queries will get a response and the most popular queries will be published on our website. --- - Published: 2023-03-09 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/emojis/ In this week’s Accessibility Agony Aunt, we look at the use of emojis in workplace emails and messages and how to use these in an accessible way. Letter Hi Kelvin, I’ve noticed that people are using emojis a lot more now in emails and interestingly, JAWS appears to be identifying them, e. g. , winking face, etc. I know how to create the smiling face emoji using colon, hyphen and right bracket, but I was wondering whether other emojis can be created using JAWS? Thanks, Sana AT Agony Aunt Says: Thanks for your query. Believe it or not, this has been a popular question since we launched the Accessibility Agony Aunt on our website. It is hard to remember a time before emojis, although I’m sure many of us still remember a time when hammering out 555 666 and 555 or all sorts of combination of letters and punctuation on a Nokia 3210 were cool ways to express ourselves in text messages. As you say, these days emojis don’t just seem to be reserved for the endless short-form messages we all send. They’re creeping their way into the longer, and traditionally more formal, email. In fact, I can feel a blog coming on just thinking about emojis and the informality of written communication these days. Anyway, thanks for humouring me. Let’s get back to your specific question. To produce a graphic based emoji - and by that I mean not just a combination of characters which resemble a smiling or sad face - you simply need to hit the Windows key and full stop. This will bring the emoji panel into focus. The visual appearance of the panel will depend on your Operating System. I use Windows 11 which has additional sections for GIFs, and while the Windows 10 panel is a bit more basic, the general use of the panel is similar. Simply use your arrow keys to navigate left, right, up, and down and the screen reader should announce the different emoji options (if using Windows 11, be careful you haven’t entered a different section. If you start hearing mentions of GIF, you’ve gone too far). Select the emoji you’re after and hit the Enter key, hit Escape and hey presto! You’re done . A couple of other points to note: The emoji panel can be searched and GIF images in Win 11 are read out by screen readers like JAWS in the panel, but not detected in the body of text currently. Thanks again for your enquiry and keep an eye out for a blog on emoji in the upcoming weeks as you’ve inspired me and the team with this topic. If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2022-07-31 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/quickly-starting-jaws/ For our first Accessibility Agony Aunt, we answer questions about JAWS crashing and how to effectively navigate the ribbon menu in Microsoft Outlook. Letter Hello, I keep having issues at work where my JAWS crashes. Whenever this happens, I have to manually restart JAWS which I find quite difficult without sighted assistance and sometimes I just have to reset the computer. I was wondering if there was a keystroke to do this? Thanks Rick Setting Up a JAWS Shortcut Key Hi Rick, Having to restart JAWS manually can be tricky. There is no inbuilt keystroke to start JAWS; however, you can set a shortcut key yourself quite easily to do this by doing the following: Go to your desktop and navigate to the JAWS icon. Press the Applications Key or Shift+F10 to open the context menu. Arrow Down to Properties (Arrowing Up is actually quicker here as the menu loops) and press Enter to open the Properties window. Tab through the fields until you get to the Shortcut Key field. When in this field, press the key combination you want to use to start JAWS (we normally suggest Control+Alt+J as this doesn’t conflict with any other standard keystrokes). Press Enter to save the changes. At this point, you may get a message that you require admin privileges to continue. Press Enter on the continue button and if you have the required permissions, the new shortcut key will be added and you can press it to start JAWS the next time it crashes. You can set up a shortcut key in the same way for anything you have on the desktop. You just have to be careful that the keystroke you choose doesn’t conflict with an existing keystroke (and remember some keystrokes can be global and others can be application specific). If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2022-07-31 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/microsoft-office-365-ribbons/ AT Agony Aunt, please help me! My work have done something to the ribbon menus in Outlook and now the keystrokes I used to use to accept meeting invites don’t work. How can I accept invites now? Katie AT Agony Aunt Says Hi there Katie, Unfortunately, without taking a look at your machine, I can’t tell you what the new keystrokes would be, but don’t worry, there is actually a really useful bit of functionality in Microsoft Office 365 which allows you to search to functions from the ribbon menus (among other things). The really useful thing about this is that you only have to remember one keystroke to find anything in the ribbon menus and not long strings of keystrokes for different actions. In the meeting invite, press Alt+Q to move to the Microsoft Search field. Here you can type a key word or phrase to search for the function, so to accept a meeting, type ‘accept’. Arrow down through the search results until you find Accept and press Enter. Voila! This is a great feature which can be used in Outlook, Word, Excel and other MS Office applications in order to do anything you need from the ribbon menus. Enjoy your meetings! If you need a hand with your assistive tech, whether it is a screen reader, magnifier, speech to text system, mind mapping tool or anything else, you can ask the Accessibility Agony Aunt for help. Email your questions to Questions@blazie. co. uk - we aim to respond to all questions within 5 working days. --- - Published: 2022-07-22 - Modified: 2025-01-28 - URL: https://blazie.co.uk/getting-started-with-the-outlook-calendar-using-jaws/ Whether using it to keep track of your work meetings and tasks to complete throughout the day, or for personal use to not miss a doctors appointment or virtual catch up with friends, the Outlook calendar is one of the most fundamental tools that any of us will use on a daily basis. Here, we will introduce you to the basic features of the calendar, including how to navigate, how to create appointments, and how to reply to meeting invites so that you can get started with the Outlook calendar with JAWS. Keystrokes Quick Reference ActionKeystrokeSwitch to calendar viewControl+2Move between appointmentsTab / Shift+TabNavigate by 30-minute time slotArrow KeysGo to todayControl+TSwitch to Day ViewAlt+1Switch to week viewAlt+MinusSwitch to month viewAlt+EqualsOpen an appointmentEnterClose an appointmentEscapeCreate a new appointmentControl+NAdd invitee fieldsControl+Shift+QMove to Office 365 function searchAlt+Q Basic Navigation The first step to using the calendar is getting to it. When you open Outlook from your Start Menu, it will load the email view by default. To switch to the calendar view, press Control+2 (you can switch back to the email view at any time by pressing Control+1). When you press Control+2 it will switch to the calendar, and put your focus on (or close to) the current time and day. Once you are in the calendar, there are 2 ways to navigate: If you use the Arrow Keys, you will move between time slots. The Up and Down Arrow will move between 30-minute time slots in the current day. The Right and Left Arrow will move from a 30-minute time slot, to the same time slot on the next (Right Arrow) or previous (Left Arrow) day. This kind of navigation is more commonly used when creating appointments. The second basic navigation form is to use the Tab key to move between appointments in your calendar. Pressing Tab will move to the next appointment in your calendar. You can move backwards through appointments by pressing Shift+Tab. When an appointment takes focus, JAWS will announce the key information, such as the title of the appointment, the start and end times, who created it, and which appointment it is of the day, e. g. 1 of 3 means it is the first appointment of three on the current day. Note, when using Tab to navigate, JAWS will not stop at the last appointment of the day. Instead, when you press Tab on the last appointment of a day, it will move to the first appointment of the next day. Similarly, Shift+Tab will move to the last appointment of the previous day when you move past the first appointment of a day. If you navigate to a different day and want to return to today, simply press Control+T and it will switch to the start of today’s calendar. Note, if you are not in day view (see below) this will put you at the start of whatever view you are currently on which may not be today. Viewing Appointment Details When using Tab to navigate the calendar, JAWS will announce the key details of the appointment, but you may want to get more detailed information such as details the organizer has included. You can easily do this by navigating to the appointment you want to view using Tab, then pressing Enter to open it. When you press Enter, it will open the appointment in a new window which will be called the same thing as the appointment title with –Appointment or -Meeting at the end (depending on the type of appointment). You focus will land in the main body of the appointment details which the organized has written. You can navigate this with your normal reading keys to read the text and find any additional information, phone numbers, or links. Once you have finished reading the details, press Escape to close the appointment window and return to the Outlook calendar. Calendar Views Outlook has the ability to display a single day on the calendar, or multiple days up to a whole month. You can change the view by pressing Alt and a key on the number row from 1 to equals. For example, Alt+1 will switch to single day view, Alt+2 will display 2 days, Alt+Minus will switch to week view and Alt+Equals will switch to month view. You can use whichever view works best for you, but one thing to bear in mind is that the more days that are displayed at once, the more appointments there are to display and visually, they often to not always fit onto the screen and get hidden. As a general rule, we normally suggest using Day View (Alt+1) to make sure the maximum number of events (usually all of them except in rare circumstances) are displayed. Creating a New Appointment Creating appointments in your calendar is an easy way to ensure you don’t miss anything important in your day. You have two options when creating an appointment. You can navigate to the day and time you want to create it on using the arrow keys, or you can simply type the date and time once you are in the new appointment screen. For now, we will just go through the later as this tends to be much quicker. From anywhere in your calendar, press Control+N to create a new appointment. This will open a new window and put your focus in the Title field. Type the title for your meeting and then Tab to the next field, which is the Start Date. Type the date you want the meeting to start (Note, you can use dashes, forward slashes, backslashes or full stops between the day, month, and year) and press Tab to move to the next field. Type the time you want your meeting to start using a 24 hour clock and then Tab to the next field. The End Date will automatically be set to the same as your Start Date, but you can change this if you need to in the same way as above. The End Time will be set to 30 minutes after the Start Time, but again, you can change this as you need. As you continue to Tab through the fields, you will find an All Day checkbox. If you have an all day event, such as annual leave, you can press Space to check this rather than set a start and end time. You will also find a Time Zones checkbox and a Location edit. We won’t cover these for now to keep things simple. By tabbing, you should then come to an edit which is just labelled Edit. This is the main body of your appointment where you can type any details you want to in the same way as an email or Word document. Once you have finished completing the appointment details, press Alt+S to save it. The new appointment window will close and put focus back in your calendar. Inviting People to Meetings If you want to create a meeting and invite people to it as well so it appears in their calendars, the process is exactly the same as above with one extra step. After pressing Control+N to create a new appointment, you need to change the appointment to include invitee fields by pressing Control+Shift+Q. This will change the appointment layout so that after your Title field, you will tab to a Required field. Here you can type a name or email address and select it with Enter just like when adding recipients to an email. After the Required field, there is an Option field for optional invitees which works in the same way. Other than this, the whole process of creating the appointment is the same as previously described. Replying to Meeting Invites If someone invites you to a meeting, you will receive an email invite. You will need to reply to this so that person knows if you can make the meeting or not. You can do this via the ribbon menus in the email you receive. The keystrokes for this tend to be different on different systems, so instead, we recommend using the Microsoft 365 function search (assuming you have Office 365). Open the invite and press Alt+Q to move to the search edit. Type Accept, Decline or Tentative, depending on how you want to reply and then Arrow Down through the functions list to the appropriate reply. You will notice that JAWS will announce “submenu”. This is because there are multiple ways to reply. Press the Right Arrow to open the submenu and Arrow Down to the way you want to respond, e. g. sending a reply, not sending a reply, and then press Enter to respond. --- ---