HeX Productions

Accessibility and inclusion in the Milano Cortina 2026 strategy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 has developed an accessibility and inclusion strategy with two objectives: to ensure that the Games are fully accessible to everyone and to create a lasting legacy for the future.

For the first time in the history of the #Olympic and #Paralympic Games, people can select disabled tickets during the purchasing process, which enables people to facilities such as quiet spaces, noise-cancelling headphones and identification lanyards for non-visible disabilities: zurl.co/PBdi8

The title “HeX in Ireland - Enhancing digital experiences and helping workplace culture to bloom” is above a montage of photos in Dublin, Ireland, with James Hall presenting to a Culture in Bloom event, members from Ahead Ireland showcasing the HeX-built WIDE Framework, and both teams sitting together in a pub smiling towards the camera.

Last week, our team travelled to Dublin for a couple of inspiring days with the Ahead team, centred around collaboration, #accessibility, and shaping better digital and workplace experiences.

Read our blog to find out about this exciting trip: zurl.co/bqPDC

#DigitalAccessibility #EDI #Inclusion

A silver laptop is on a blue desk next to a mobile phone that is displaying HeX Productions homepage. Text reads “Our web agency provides an array of inclusive services, making us a one stop solution for all your digital accessibility needs. Including inclusive services in: Web Development, Upskilling Training, Website Management, Branding & Design, Marketing & PR, Consultancy & more. Visit www.horlix.com”

#Accessibility isn't about ticking boxes, it's about creating better experiences for everyone.

If you're ready to build a more inclusive, compliant, and customer-friendly digital experience, find out how we can assist you: zurl.co/cAr5r

#A11y #DigitalAccessibility

Supporting neurodiverse educators and learners: why inclusion must start with the workforce “When we design education for only one type of mind, we fail all of them.” Across the world, education systems are starting to become more diverse. However, they are not necessarily more inclusive. As a neurodivergent educator and researcher, I have had first-hand experience of how much potential is lost when classrooms and workplaces are designed around narrow expectations of how people should be thinking, communicating, or processing information.

#Education systems are becoming more diverse. However, they are not necessarily more inclusive. This article shares why inclusion must start within the workforce itself to better support neurodiverse students: zurl.co/SoVCQ

#HigherEducation #Neurodiversity #Inclusion

Dyslexic Thinking: Invisible In Class, Powerful In The Boardroom An estimated 900,000 children in England have dyslexia, yet are being supported. That’s 900,000 kids who could be the next generation of innovators and business leaders.

Virgin founder Richard Branson and Josh Turner, founder of Stand4Socks, share how their early struggles in #education became a secret toolkit in building creative thinking, persistence, and the courage to take unconventional routes: zurl.co/fMQVG

#Dyslexia #Dyslexic #Neurodiverse #Neurodiversity

An illustrated teacher is standing in front of a white board teaching maths to a Deaf student who is wearing a hearing aid. Test reads “Teachers, to support children with hearing loss seat the child at the front of the class, ensure there is proper lighting, face the child when speaking, encourage peer support. Support hearing, support learning.”

Without the right support in place, many children with hearing loss struggle to keep up in #education and miss out on equal learning opportunities.

Learn ways to create accessible learning resources for #Deaf and #HardofHearing students: zurl.co/Y18ZY

#WorldHearingDay #DeafAwareness #Accessibility

15-year-old visually impaired boy develops apps for the blind At 15, Tinafi Akawu cannot see the world clearly, but he is building technology to help others navigate it. Born with congenital nystagmus — a condition in which the eyes move rapidly and uncontrollably — the teenager has developed multiple apps, including one that guides the blind and another that detects food poisoning.

At 15, Tinafi Akawu couldn't see the world clearly, due to having a condition which caused his eyes to move rapidly and uncontrollably. Today, he is building technology to help others navigate the world: zurl.co/AFYnR

#VisuallyImpaired #Blind #Accessibility #Technology

The title “Turning conversations into positive action “ is in a hexagon above a team that are sitting in a meeting room, facing a TV screen that says collaboration across it. Below reads “Conversation is where change begins, action is where it counts. Our inclusive services can empower you to create experiences that work for everyone” Visit www.horlix.com.

Here at HeX, we build #accessibility into everything we create - removing barriers and making the digital world better for everyone.

If you're ready to start your #DigitalAccessibility journey, have a conversation with our team to create positive action for your organisation: zurl.co/xIqRh


#A11y

How the sound of sport is being reimagined for deaf fans New technologies tested at the Deaflympics in Tokyo are creating new ways of experience the atmosphere at sporting events.

"Fans do not simply watch a match – they feel it"

Find out the new technologies, which have been tested at the Deaflympics in Tokyo, that are creating new ways for Deaf fans to experience the atmosphere at sporting events: zurl.co/Km6at

#Deaf #DeafAwareness #Sport

Ha’penny Bridge on a sunny day has a plane flying over the top of it next to text reading “HeX Is Ireland Bound - Enhancing platforms and breaking down barriers. Tuesday 03 March there will be a creative brainstorming development session where HeX and Ahead join forces to plan Phase 2 of our digital benchmarking tool, Widening Inclusion of Disability in Employment (WIDE) across Ireland. Wednesday 04 March, James Hall -will be a Guest Speaker at a Culture in Bloom (a season for transformation) Event, sharing practical ways to embed digital accessibility from design to delivery.

HeX are #Ireland bound! We'll be brainstorming with our friends at Ahead for Phase 2 of Widening Inclusion of Disability in Employment (WIDE) and guest speaking at a Culture in Bloom event - sharing how to embed #DigitalAccessibility into every stage of the design process.

#Accessibility #A11y #EDI

An alt Decision Tree Accessibility resources free online from the international standards organization: W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

For beginners, it can be difficult to know what to put in alt text, as well as when alt text is needed and when it isn't. This decision tree from the W3C helps you determine what to do, based on specific situations.

www.w3.org/WAI/tutorial...

Bridging the gap: Incorporating digital acceptance to maintain digital accessibility through engagement Mike Taylor highlights the barriers to digital accessibility and the importance of understanding access challenges in project planning

Launching any project or significant strategy incorporates various strands, including people, time and money. Often, an aspect that is overlooked is incorporating digital accessibility into project planning. This article provides ways to bridge the gap and enable independent access: zurl.co/2eDEt

'Train travel can be scary as a blind passenger' Visually impaired travellers say there are issues with the reliability of pre-booked assistance.

From boarding a carriage to finding a seat and being able to tell if a toilet is engaged, travelling by train as a #VisuallyImpaired passenger is fraught with challenges.

This article draws attention to the #accessibility problems passengers face daily: zurl.co/3TTXm

AI tools promising automatic accessibility fixes are tempting, offering a quick and easy solution to often overworked staff. However, real accessibility still requires human engagement.

This article explores areas where human oversight is still necessary: zurl.co/XtuwN

An infographic displays inclusive workforce needs, listing quotes of accessibility barriers. These are: 1. “I’m excluded from meetings & events”, with the solution being to use live captioning to include Deaf and HoH colleagues. 2. “My screen reader can’t access work documents & forms” - to fix the problem run accessibility checks e.g. within Word & Adobe. 3. “I can’t use a mouse, so I can’t use our intranet”, we advise taking an audit to test its compatibility with assistive technology. 4. “I can’t access our pay, pension or wellbeing apps” It’s important to ensure any external apps are also accessible for all the workforce. 5. “I find our policies confusing and overwhelming” - Check policies are user-friendly and written in plain language. 6. I can’t complete mandatory training” - Check that all media is inclusive, e.g. with captions/transcripts.

Although organisations are starting to make their sites accessible, the workplace is often overlooked. With intranets, policies and e-learning now being digital, #accessibility can no longer be ignored.

Learn #DigitalAccessibility best practices and how to assess your accessibility: zurl.co/tIAD1

'AI mirrors' are changing the way blind people see themselves Artificial intelligence is helping blind people access visual feedback about their bodies, sometimes for the first time. The consequences are only just emerging.

AI is helping #VisuallyImpaired people access visual feedback about their bodies, but the emotional and psychological consequences are only just starting to emerge.

This article explores the pros and cons and what #AI tools people are utilising online: zurl.co/5W04R

All Of Me Cartoon CJ sits in a dimly lit room infront of a desk, watching a lady sign via a laptop screen. Living with multiple illnesses, disabilities, and daily challenges has taught me a great deal—not ju…

“the world is loud. Wearing #HearingAids requires my brain to work significantly harder to process & filter #sound in order to make sense of it all. This leads to something called #listening fatigue.”: buff.ly/ZTByCvK

by @mustlovedon.bsky.social
#Deaf #HearingLoss #disability

Technology is a game changer with #accessibility. Simply adding a feature such as a 360 virtual tour, like rail operator Lumo has recently put on their site, can give neurodiverse or anxious visitors confidence in knowing what to expect before travelling: zurl.co/FFnw0

Three devices are displaying HeX-built websites for Over, Vision HR, and Ahead’s WIDE framework. Above text reads “HeX productions - where accessibility meets user experience. Developing accessible user- centred websites”

Every HeX-built site not only meets WCAG 2.2 AA standards, they're developed to deliver a seamless, intuitive user experience for all.

We don't just build new websites, we also transform existing ones into accessible, user-friendly experiences: zurl.co/eRTsa

#Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility

Three good things: UK projects to improve access for deaf people From ordering a coffee to classroom learning and accessing vital services, these three UK projects are revolutionising accessibility - and inclusivity - for deaf people

From ordering a coffee to classroom learning, and accessing vital services, here are three UK projects that are revolutionising accessibility and inclusivity for Deaf people: zurl.co/rI50B

#A11y #Accessibility #Deaf #DeafAwareness #BSL #Inclusion #Disabilities

Accessibility audit testing done the right way. We test accessibility the way people use your products, because users aren’t automated. We assess usability and accessibility through Software scans, Manual testing using assistive tech, Expert code reviews, Readability scoring, and even performing Social media checks. What you’ll receive: A full report of discovered errors, Demonstrations of how errors are impacting users, and accessibility consultancy.

HeX #accessibility audit testing goes beyond scanners - we test the way people actually use your product or service.

Our manual testing uncovers real barriers that tools miss, so you don't only meet standards - you meet user needs.

Sign up for a free #DigitalAccessibility site test: zurl.co/5gtMg

Italy and its art-filled, archaeological cities haven't always been overly welcoming to visitors with #disabilities. However, it's incredible to see the creative steps forward in recent times as it works to make the country more accessible for #VisuallyImpaired people: zurl.co/Tq8VA

#Accessibility

When you pair data with narrative, accessibility becomes visible, meaningful, and aligned with shared goals. This post shows how to turn metrics into meaning, and how to use AI tools to generate visuals that bring those stories to life: zurl.co/rfJt8

#Accessibility #AI

Process and Control Today | University of Huddersfield design competition challenged students to find 3D printed solutions to accessibility needs

We love this from @huddersfielduni.bsky.social, who recently launched a competition to challenge students to create a 3D prototype designed to address real-world accessibility needs: zurl.co/KWQ96 👏

It would be great to see more schemes like this in education!

#Accessibility

Setting titles and language. Assist screen reader users by setting a descriptive document title and the language that the PDF is in. Both of which can be found within ‘Document Properties’ (under File in the main menu).

Run an accessibility check. Even if you’ve run a check in Word, running one in Adobe is a must. This will flag any errors and how to fix them. Please note, this will only work on text-based documents (not scanned ones). To run an accessibility check, head to the the ‘Tools’ area.

Assessing the reading order. It’s important to check the reading order is in a logical structure, so it makes sense for assistive tech users. Within the ‘Accessibility’ menu, select the ‘Show Order Panel’. These can be dragged into the correct order or you can tag new areas, such as headings, in ‘Fix Reading Order’.

Adding alt text. If alt text has not been added in the original document, this can still be achieved in a PDF itself. Image descriptions can be added in the ‘Accessibility’ menu. Here decorative images may also be set.

Even if a #PDF is accessible, users are forced to navigate away from a site to get information - this is why content should be on a web page. However, there are times when this is unavoidable. Here's how to check the #accessibility of PDFs: zurl.co/24mOl

#InclusiveDesign #DigitalAccessibility #A11y

Making Teams work for you: New inclusivity and accessibility features

If you're wondering how you can make Teams more accessible for your organisation, @bournemouthuni.bsky.social has shared some inclusive features that can make collaboration easier, clearer, and more personal for everyone: zurl.co/6ma89

#Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y

How AI tools can redefine universal design to increase accessibility

Google has introduced a framework for creating more accessible applications through multimodal #AI tools.

Learn more about Natively Adaptive Interfaces (NAI) that adapts to a user's unique needs and has been co-developed with the #accessibility community: zurl.co/jt18k

Android's #accessibility features house some really useful tools. While they are primarily designed to help users with #disabilities navigate their devices more comfortably, their usefulness goes well beyond that.

This article looks at 5 top features: zurl.co/BXlZQ

#A11y #DigitalAccessibility

Below Newark & Sherwood District Council’s logo, text reads “Empowering visitors to know What’s On across the district. Building a dynamic events management platform - read the case study at www.horlix.com”. Underneath is the striking homepage for the Council’s new What’s On events Calendar, a tablet displaying an event’s listing, and a mobile device showing a form organisers can use to submit entries.

Read our case study to see how we developed a dynamic, streamlined events management platform that empowers the residents of Newark & Sherwood to easily see What’s On across the district: zurl.co/IN69r

#A11y #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #PublicSector #Events #WebDevelopment #TerminalFour

Four hands are holding up social media love hearts, comment boxes, and emojis with love heart eyes. Inside a social post, text reads “Gain more love on social media. Include all followers. Create inclusive posts by: Writing alt text image descriptions, not using lowercase or capital hashtags, Captioning all videos, and only using emojis at the end of a post.”

You can't love what you can't access. Creating posts with #accessibility in mind helps more people to connect, participate, and feel included.

Gain more love this #ValentinesDay and beyond - learn how to create inclusive social posts: zurl.co/DRNJM

#DigitalAccessibility #Disabilities #Disabled