Cornwall Council website more accessible for users

Recite Me accessibility and language tool ensures that residents can better access online content and services. 

An assistive toolbar has been added to Cornwall Council’s website to make it easier to use. Labelled ‘Listen & translate’ on the site, the Recite Me tool provides a range of accessibility and language options so that users can tailor the way information is provided on the site to best meet their needs.

The ‘Listen & translate’ tool is features prominently at the top of the Cornwall Council website

Those options include audio screen-reading functionality, multiple reading aids, customisable styling options and an on-demand live translation feature. The latter boasts more than 100 languages, including 65 text-to-speech and styling options. 

To access these options, visitors to the Cornwall Council site simply select ‘Listen & translate’ from the top right of the screen. The Recite Me toolbar then appears, from which the user can select the different language or accessibility tools as they wish. 

There is also a short, simply video guide to the new tool: 

How to use Recite Me from Cornwall Council on Vimeo.

Tracie Langley, Chief Operating Officer at Cornwall Council, says: ‘Being able to offer an inclusive experience is essential to supporting over 20% of the population who may encounter barriers due to having a disability, learning difficulty, visual impairment or if they speak English as a second language.   

‘A key part of our strategy as a council is to provide great value for money and a consistently good service for our customers. We are committed to ensuring all customers can access information and services in a way that best meets their individual needs, and this tool means even more people will be able to do this. 

‘Although we have been unable to find a translation service that provides information in Cornish, our Cornish Language team are developing a Cornish translation tool to deliver this option for our residents.’ 

Ross Linnett, Founder and CEO of Recite Me, adds: ‘It is important to provide an inclusive online experience, where everyone can use our digital world in a way which best suits their needs. As more organisations provide accessibility tools online, those who face online barriers can access information and services hassle-free. The digital world must be accessible for all.’ 

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