Manchester council launches ‘high accessibility’ Web 2.0 website

Manchester City Council has launched a new "highly accessible" Web 2.0 website.

Following an accessibility audit and testing with a range of disabled users, the site was found to be "highly accessible" for a range of impairments, including motor control difficulties and sight and hearing impairments, by accessibility consultant AbilityNet.

Working with content management system (CMS) specialist Jadu, the council site also offers a range of Web 2.0 features, such as advanced Google Maps, social book-marking of content, dynamic A-Z services and a simplified navigation structure.

Residents will have the ability to search for their local councillor by postcode, and access a range of information, such as local events and education information, using search.manchester.gov.uk - an accessible "Google-like" search website.

Powered by the Jadu CMS with Google Enterprise Search, the new system will also enable council employees to publish information quickly and monitor which areas of the site are the most used, and adapt online content accordingly to fulfil the needs of the community.

Annette Hartley, senior project manager at Manchester City Council, said, "Jadu CMS provides a range of benefits for both the residents of Manchester and the staff at the council. It also enables us to meet compliance issues, national standards as well as the latest accessibility requirements."