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Apps for all challenge 2014

Apps for all challenge 2014

Do you have a favourite app that you love or one that makes your life better or easier as a deaf person?

Every minute 47,000 apps are downloaded worldwide, but most of them are not accessible for people with disabilities.
The first ever Apps For All Challenge 2014 is Australia’s first and only competition for accessible mobile apps. The competition is a partnership between ACCAN and the Australian Human Rights Commission
An accessible app is designed with the largest number of people in mind – including people with disability and older Australians.
Making apps accessible means developers can reach millions more customers who were previously locked out of the app market. In honouring Australia’s most accessible apps, Apps For All wants to raise awareness and encourage Australian developers to be world leaders in accessible mobile technology.
The winning apps will be announced at the ACCAN National Conference in September 2014, with the challenge to continue on an annual basis.

The categories

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

  1. Most accessible mainstream app
  2. Most innovative app designed for people 
with disability or older Australians
  3. Most accessible children’s app
  4. Most accessible gaming app

What exactly makes an app accessible?

Accessibility means that an app can be used by the most people possible without the need for modification, considering the needs of people with impairments related to vision, hearing, cognition or mobility.
For example, if an app uses video, the video should have captions for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. For users who are blind or vision impaired, control buttons should include an “alt tag” to alert users of the button’s purpose.
Apps incorporating the following features will be reviewed more favourably:

  • Ease of use – including ease of download and installation
  • Market gap – apps which fill a market gap for one or more user groups
  • Value for money – apps which provide good value for money and do not require people with disability to pay more for the same functionality
  • Universal design – the app is accessible across all user groups
  • Availability – available across multiple operating systems

Things to remember

  • Apps must be Australian developed
  • An app can only be nominated for one category
  • Nominated apps must be designed for one or more of the following mobile operating systems; iOS, Android, Windows.
  • Existing apps can be nominated
  • The nominated apps will be evaluated by an independent panel of Australian accessibility experts. The panel will shortlist the best three apps in each category, with the winning apps announced at the ACCAN National Conference in September 2014.
  • Nominated apps should conform to the values and vision of both the AHRC and ACCAN.

How to nominate an App

Anyone can nominate an app. Send your nominations to [email protected] or call ACCAN on 02 9288 4000 / TTY 02 9281 5322.
Nominations close on Monday 14 July 2014. If you have any questions please email [email protected]
[button url=”http://accan.org.au/our-work/app” class=”button” size=”small” color=”green-2″ target=”_blank” lightbox_content=”” lightbox_description=””] For more information go to the ACCAN website [/button]

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