3.2.2.1 Involve a diverse user group in the design
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Ensure your user testing and feedback collection includes a diverse range of users. Include users with disabilities and those from various backgrounds and experiences. This approach helps identify potential accessibility and inclusivity issues that might be overlooked by individuals without these experiences.
To create a service that caters to all users, you must understand their unique capacities. Consider factors like:
Time available
Financial situation
Ease of access to an interface (device or person)
Interface capability and confidence
Service process-related confidence
Awareness of the service, its purpose, and access options
Ability to comprehend information
Mental health/emotional capacity
Trust in service robustness, security, reliability
Ability to provide required information
Willingness to use the service, at all or in the most cost-effective way
With this understanding, identify the potential barriers users might face when accessing and using the service. These barriers could be,
Physical: Disabilities that affect a person's ability to interact with interfaces.
Technological: Limited access to high-speed internet, up-to-date devices, or the latest software.
Cognitive: Cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, or language barriers that make the service hard to understand or use.
Economic: Economic limitations that restrict access to necessary technology or internet access.
Geographical: Limited internet access in rural or remote areas, or cultural or language differences in different regions.
Privacy and Security: Concerns about personal data usage or protection.
Having understood user capacity and potential barriers, you should design your service to be as inclusive as possible. This could involve simplifying processes, offering alternative access methods, or providing additional support where needed.
While digital public services offer many benefits, they may not be suitable or preferred for all users. Some users may lack the necessary technology or digital literacy, while others may simply prefer traditional methods. In these cases, consider offering alternative mechanisms for accessing the service, such as phone support or physical locations.
In all aspects of your design process, ensure principles of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) are adhered to. It means your service should be accessible and fair to all users, irrespective of their gender, age, ethnicity, disability status, income level, etc.
Example
In a public healthcare service, implementing GESI principles led to the development of a more inclusive appointment scheduling system.
It was noticed that many women, especially from lower-income backgrounds, were unable to attend appointments during standard working hours due to their caregiving responsibilities. By extending service hours to evenings and weekends, and providing childcare services, the service became more accessible to this demographic, significantly increasing attendance rates.
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