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Press Release: Digital Agency Certifies its Team in Web Accessibility

Press Release: Digital Agency Certifies its Team in Web Accessibility

photos of all Dufferin Media Team

Press Release: Digital Agency Certifies its Team in Web Accessibility

 

 

 

Orangeville, ON June 1st — Dufferin Media team members complete Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) training in an effort to bring Web Accessibility to more businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Dufferin Media announced earlier this year that their goal was to have all team members trained in Web Accessibility by the end of May, and they have completed that goal.  Three members also completed the certification process including the newly appointed Accessibility Officer.

The team at Dufferin Media believes that we ALL have a part to play in making the web an inclusive place for everyone.

Worldwide, there are about 1.3 billion people with disabilities. 22% of Canadians aged 15 or older are living with at least one disability that affects accessibility.  Key areas of digital accessibility address items such as colour contrast, closed captions on videos, text transcripts for audio files, as well as adding alternative text to all images.

“I am so proud of our team for embracing this incredibly important initiative.  I am thrilled at the opportunity to increase awareness and help with solutions for accessibility,” said Sarah Clarke, founder of Dufferin Media.

 

“I had no idea how limiting it can be to access a website if not properly coded and formatted. Completing the accessibility course opened my mind to the challenges and barriers that are often faced by individuals with disabilities. The premise of Access For All not only helps to improve everyone’s experience but also improves the evolution of technology and the way the world interacts together online – and that’s exciting!”  – Christy Brighton, Account Manager.

Aside from the fact that making the web a more inclusive space is the right thing to do, in the Province of Ontario, all public, private and nonprofit organizations with 50 employees or more will need to make their public website compliant under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by the deadline of June 30, 2021. Legislation like this is being enacted in Governments all over the World.

Dufferin Media is now offering Accessibility Audits, Consulting, and solutions for businesses and nonprofits to become Compliant.

 

Founded in 2012, Dufferin Media is a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in branding, website creation, social media management, internet marketing, and public relations. Dufferin Media has grown to service numerous organizations both locally and internationally. The team believes in helping businesses and nonprofits grow through branding, strategy, and implementation.

For media inquiries, contact:

Sarah Clarke, Founder

sarah@dufferinmedia.ca

1-866-647-1057

www.dufferinmedia.com

 

 

 

More quotes from the team:

I found the accessibility training to be very eye-opening, informative, and also extremely helpful. Before I took this course, I had no idea how many things on a website can make it inaccessible for someone with a disability. It was really great to understand and get firsthand knowledge from those who are disabled, how they navigate websites and the processes and methods they use in order to access them. One of the main takeaways for me was that by making your website accessible, you are going to reach a wider audience, which is going to give credibility to your brand and create a positive representation in the eye of the public, your peers and also your industry, which is extremely important now more than ever. I also found it incredibly crucial and interesting to know that having an accessible website not only makes your site more usable, it also makes your site more likely to be found by improving SEO, and for being in digital marketing industry, that is extremely important to know.

Overall, I found this course to be very beneficial and I feel that it has enhanced my skills as a digital marketer and creator, and also made me more aware of websites, their design and their accessibility when viewing them on a daily basis.  – Stephanie Adams, General Manager

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“While I knew about many of the accessibility challenges facing a large portion of the general public, who suffer from a disability or injury, I was shocked to learn I was just scratching the surface. It is important that everyone learn more and understand that performing even the simplest actions on a website may be impossible for many if the website is not accessible to the tools and systems they require. Anyone with a website needs to make it a point to ensure accessibility, not only from an ethical standpoint, but to improve your business traffic through your online presence. If someone cannot navigate your website, not only will you lose their business, but potential future business as well.” – Ryan Hancock, Digital Marketing Evaluator

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I have a niece with a physical disability and this course made me realize the difficulty she faces every day, especially now with online school. This is a great way to understand that everyday things we take for granted.  – Kelly McConnell, Graphic Designer