HORSHAM Rural City and West Wimmera Shire councils have made its websites more accessible with a text-to-speech option.
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Together, the two councils purchased new technology that allowed people to listen to content on their websites rather than read.
Horsham Council’s community services director Kevin O’Brien said the ReadSpeaker software could increase community engagement.
“It provides greater accessibility for people who have visual impairments, limited literacy skills or English as a second language and cater for the growing elderly population,” he said. “Text-to-speech is also great for people who are on the go as they can comfortably listen to council news hands-free.”
Mr O’Brien said people could access the service by clicking a button at the top right of any page on the council websites. It will talk users through the information on the page.
Daina Oliver
Daina Oliver is digital journalist based in Launceston. She was previously a local government reporter at The Daily Advertiser and The Wimmera Mail-Times after joining ACM in 2017. She is originally from Whyalla, South Australia, and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2016 with a Bachelor of Media with a specialisation in journalism. Got stories? Get in touch. daina.oliver@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Daina Oliver is digital journalist based in Launceston. She was previously a local government reporter at The Daily Advertiser and The Wimmera Mail-Times after joining ACM in 2017. She is originally from Whyalla, South Australia, and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2016 with a Bachelor of Media with a specialisation in journalism. Got stories? Get in touch. daina.oliver@austcommunitymedia.com.au
