ReachDeck FAQs

How do I install ReachDeck to my website?

The ReachDeck Toolbar is the only part of ReachDeck that you'll need to add to your website. To do this, follow the instructions on our page 'Support your visitors. Add the ReachDeck Toolbar'.

When it comes to the ReachDeck Auditor, it isn’t installed on your website. It scans it remotely, emulating a user browsing every page on your website. It will scan any URL regardless of what Content Management System (CMS) is used. The ReachDeck Editor is an online editor that can be used by anyone across your organisation. It can be used by users of any platform or web browser.

How should I use ReachDeck to make best use of the software?

ReachDeck has been designed as your all-in-one solution to improving accessibility. Use the ReachDeck Auditor to scan your URLs for accessibility errors. Then, download the reports to help you prioritise and discuss fixes with your team. Make sure you keep using the ReachDeck Auditor to monitor WCAG errors as you change and update your website.

To make sure all the content that you add is inclusive, use the ReachDeck Editor. It helps you to write content that's easy for everyone to understand. And helps to make sure that your content is written with readability in mind, right from the start.

Finally, add the ReachDeck Toolbar to your website. It'll help your visitors to read and translate your content. They can use it to change the format to suit their needs.

What do the red/amber/green colours mean in the dashboard?

The ReachDeck dashboard and reports show a colour coded summary for the errors on your website. The colour chosen indicates how widespread problems are across your website;

• Green means you have very few or no issues on your website.
• Amber means you have some errors on your website and there's room for improvement.
• Red means you have a lot of errors on your website and need to take action.

It’s possible to have a low accessibility error count and a high readability error count. So, you could see green in your Compliance report and red in your Readability report.

How do I scan my website for issues?

When you are first set up as a ReachDeck customer, your website will be initially scanned to check for compliance issues, readability problems and broken links. You'll be able to view your report in the ReachDeck dashboard.

Following your initial scan, you can run a scan on demand using the Scan Now option on the ReachDeck dashboard. To run a scan, ReachDeck Auditor doesn’t need to be installed on your website. It scans it remotely, emulating a user browsing every page on your website. Head to the portal and access the ReachDeck dashboard.

Do you do the work to make my site accessible or do I?

It's a partnership! The ReachDeck Auditor identifies WCAG compliance errors quickly and at scale. Saving you 30 minutes of manual testing per web page (that’s around 500 hours for a 1000 page site!). It also provides your results in a handy downloadable report. So it’s easier for you to prioritise where to start. Meaning you have more time to focus on what’s important - actioning the fixes.

It's important to note that accessibility is an ongoing project. As content is added and updated, your website is forever changing. It's important to audit your website from time to time so that you can discover and fix accessibility barriers. Head to the portal and get started.

Which WCAG guidelines does ReachDeck check for?

The ReachDeck Auditor scans for 370 WCAG compliance errors on your website at Level A, AA and AAA. And provides handy downloadable reports to help you to prioritise fixes. Organisations should aim to meet WCAG Level AA standard. Read our best practice guide to understand more.

How does the ReachDeck Editor measure content readability?

The ReachDeck Editor highlights jargon words, long sentences and reading age. These elements are determined based on best practice advice and research. For example, the reading age is based on research that determines the average age of acquisition of words. For example, the word “team” has an age of acquisition of approximately five years old, while the word "manager" has an average age of acquisition of about nine years old. After each unique word in the writing is assigned its age of acquisition, the age that is approximately the 95th percentile is ascribed across an age range. For more information about readability, read our page all about best practice.

Is the ReachDeck Auditor and Editor usable by employees with disabilities?

Accessibility is at the heart of our whole organisation and all of our products. The ReachDeck portal is WCAG compliant and fully navigable by a keyboard. We are currently seeking feedback from our own employees as they use ReachDeck. In addition to our customers. If you have any thoughts and suggestions, we would love to hear them too. Please feel free to share by filling in this short form. 

What support does the ReachDeck Toolbar provide users who would already have Assistive Tech in place?

The ReachDeck Toolbar supports many different types of users. Some may have Assistive Tech in place, and some may not. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only one in 10 people in need have access to assistive technology. Many people rely on built in functions within apps etc. So providing an assistive technology toolbar can support those who are living without the assistance that they need.

Additionally, the ReachDeck Toolbar can support users that might not have a diagnosis. And therefore don't have the opportunity of support. It helps everyone to read and translate content on your site. And helps users to change the format of your information to suit their needs. Going beyond users of assistive technology, it also supports people who are non-native speakers, and those who could benefit from reducing visual stress too. If you haven't done so yet, add the ReachDeck Toolbar to your website.

How do I provide feedback for ReachDeck?

There’s a feedback link on your dashboard, or you can go directly to our feedback form here.