Low contrast vision and how it affects web design
I’ve mentioned before that one of the reasons I started investigating digital accessibility is because I have poor contrast vision – that means that there is stuff I can’t see if the contrast between foreground and background isn’t big enough.It doesn’t impact me in my day to day life hugely. I can still get around…
How your website can encourage people to get involved
All good websites, whether for charities or commercial, are most successful when they draw people into their story, getting them involved and engaged so that they’re more likely to buy. For charities it’s even more important because you’re trying to get your site’s visitors involved when it may benefit someone else rather than themselves. And,…
Cleveland Family History Society
Cleveland Family History Society (CFHS) are one of my oldest clients and (shh! Don’t tell anyone else!) one of my favourites. They are a community group based in, wait for it!, Cleveland, and they research and hold archives about families from Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham. They have a worldwide membership of many thousands…
What makes traffic lights accessible?
I’ve been thinking recently about traffic lights and accessibility. ‘Why on earth would you do that???’ I hear you scream. Well, because traffic lights were designed with people with colour blindness in mind. That’s why, unless there are logistical reasons, they’re always in a vertical configuration – so if you can’t tell the difference between…
Why do I like working with charities and the non profit sector?
When I first started Jackdaw Web Design back in 2016 I was happy to work with anyone – non-profit, commercial, small business, corporate. I think this is common amongst start ups as not only can they not afford to turn work down, but they are also learning about who their ideal customers are. And getting…
Heads Up CIC
Heads Up CIC are a wonderful organisation run by two women who go into primary schools to teach children how to look after their mental health. They, quite rightly in my opinion, work on the premise that it’s never too young to learn. And they do it without scaring or stressing the youngsters. They use…
The importance of language for accessibility
Why do so many people make it so hard for people to understand what they do, or what they sell? As I’ve said many times before, accessibility isn’t just about visual impairment, it’s about everything that could make it difficult for anyone to use your website, and one of those things is language. Sometimes it…
Friends of St George’s, Cullercoats
This little website was a long time coming, but I hope it was worth the wait.The Friends of St George’s Cullercoats are a volunteer group whose aim is to “to beautify and assist in the maintenance of the parish church of Saint George, Cullercoats in the Diocese of Newcastle and to preserve St. George’s as…
Beach Access North East
Website accessibility is growing in conversation weekly and is now a topic on a national platform in the UK, especially amongst charities. Every day there is something in the news about someone committing to do it properly, or an organisation being called out for not doing it well or at all. Passionate about accessibility and…
How a website can demonstrate the social impact of your charity
Anyone who knows me, knows I can struggle with hearing or seeing organisations showing their social impact when they have missed some of the simplest tricks to boost that impact. According to Good Finance, social impact can be defined as the effect on people and communities that happens as a result of an action or inaction,…
Norton Hive
Press release published on BDaily. The Norton Hive Library and Community Hub has invested in a new website that is helping them communicate better with their community about events, what’s on, room hire and much more. Built by Jackie Latham at Jackdaw Web Design, the website features accessible details, so the website is easy for…
Is there such a thing as an accessible shed?
After being on the waiting list for about three years, and dreaming of owning an allotment for the best part of 40 years, I finally got one recently. It’s great, I love it. It’s full of weeds and brambles but I can see the potential, I can visualize all the beds and the fruit and…