Strengthening Digital Accessibility Requirements for Providers of Essential Consumer Services for Persons with Visual Impairments
Ministry of Digital Development and InformationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Government intends to introduce or strengthen digital accessibility requirements for essential consumer service providers to assist persons with visual impairments. Miss Rachel Ong asked about ensuring compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies across services like supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, and utilities. Minister Mrs Josephine Teo responded that the Government provides tools and resources, such as GovTech's open-source web accessibility testing tool, Oobee, to identify and resolve accessibility issues. Furthermore, GovTech launched the A11y Playground to equip service providers with technical checklists and design resources early in development. The Government will continue partnering with essential service providers in sectors like healthcare and finance to embed digital accessibility from the outset.
Transcript
33 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether the Government intends to introduce or strengthen digital accessibility requirements for providers of essential consumer services, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and utilities, to ensure compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The Government has provided tools and resources for organisations, including providers of essential consumer services, to improve digital accessibility.
GovTech has developed and introduced Oobee (formerly known as Purple A11y), a practical open-source web accessibility testing tool that helps any digital service provider identify and address accessibility issues, such as unlabelled buttons and links, which, when corrected, enables persons with visual impairments using screen-readers to independently access digital services without needing assistance.
In addition, GovTech has launched the A11y Playground, a website that equips developers, designers and digital service providers with resources to design more accessible digital services. This includes a technical checklist that guides service providers in incorporating accessibility provisions early in the development process, reducing implementation barriers and saving time.
We will continue to partner with providers of essential consumer services, such as those in healthcare and finance, to embed digital accessibility as a consideration from the outset of the development.