Expression Australia
Expression Australia (EA), formerly known as VicDeaf, is a not-for-profit organisation and ambassador of Deaf culture and Auslan. Created by and for the Deaf community, EA proudly upholds social accessibility by using both Auslan and English to create a bilingual and bicultural workplace.
Poor website accessibility
Expression Australia identified several challenges that impacted user accessibility.
These included a clunky, difficult to navigate website that didn’t meet WCAG standards, content being overly skewed towards English rather than Auslan, and a website that didn’t represent the interests of Deaf and hard of hearing people in a competitive NDIS landscape.
User-informed redesign
EA commissioned Yump to redesign and redevelop its main website using a user-centred, bilingual and bicultural approach.
Our team attended Deaf awareness training before embarking on the project, to gain insight into how Deaf and hard of hearing people navigate the world.
We then ran usability testing and focus groups with 14 Deaf and hard of hearing users to gather real-world insights.
Empowering Deaf users with Auslan content
The comprehensive roadmap we developed resulted in a wide variety of key site improvements.
Functionality improvements include a service locator, a Shopify-integrated online shop, Raisely donation platform and training management to help visitors sign up for Auslan classes.
Short, sharp Auslan “signpost” videos that appeared as thumbnails on cards were extensively used to help Deaf users navigate the website, resulting in over 200 Auslan videos across the whole site. These are all welcome solutions to better include and inform Australia’s Deaf community.
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Positive Partnerships
Positive Partnerships is a national project funded by the Australian government and delivered by Autism Spectrum Australia. They work with Australian schools, communities and families to deliver free resources, workshops and online learning related to autism. This evidence-based content helps Positive Partnerships inform families and make a real difference in the lives of young people with autism.
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Energy And Water Ombudsman Victoria
EWOV (Energy And Water Ombudsman Victoria) is a not-for-profit ombudsman that seeks to resolve energy and water complaints in Victoria. As an independent dispute resolution service, EWOV aims to provide Victorian customers a sense of control and satisfaction with free, accessible, informal and fast dispute resolution.
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CMRI Jeans For Genes
Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is responsible for “Jeans For Genes Day,” one of the most recognised fundraising days in Australia. Contributions go towards the world-leading scientific research institute in the areas of cancer, neurobiology, embryology and gene therapy – making a life-changing difference to children, young people, and their families.
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Autism Spectrum Australia
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia’s largest national service provider for people on the autism spectrum.
It oversees one of the largest autism-specific school programs in the world and offers support and evidence-informed solutions designed to improve the lives of people on the autism spectrum and their families.
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Thankyou
Thankyou’s mission is to solve poverty by redistributing wealth from consumer spending. Using its innovative range of personal care and baby products, the social enterprise redirects profits to uplift 764 million people living in extreme poverty around the world.
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Sparkways
Sparkways is the new name for longstanding non-profit TRY Australia. Its services are focused on three key areas: childcare and kindergartens, mentoring for youth, and social enterprise. The organisation’s goal is to create foundations for thriving communities by supporting Victoria’s children and young people.