Perkins School for the Blind
Enhancing the User Experience for Visitors of All Abilities
Scope
Project Overview
Vital collaborated with Perkins School for the Blind and Perkins Access (their digital accessibility resource hub) to transform their complex website into a streamlined, accessible, and user-friendly platform. The original site was difficult to navigate, lacked clear purpose, and had grown unwieldy over time. Our goal was to create a more intuitive user experience, highlight key programs and services, and effectively communicate the Perkins story while adhering to strict accessibility standards.
Mapping It Out
Our goals for this project were four-fold:
- Improve the user experience (UX) by simplifying navigation and highlighting key services and programs.
- Enhance the site’s visual appeal while meeting accessibility requirements for visitors with visual impairments.
- Reorganize and reduce the amount of content while merging multiple sites into one cohesive platform.
- Develop a flexible, scalable platform that could adapt to future needs and accommodate different branding styles.
One Step at a Time
We began by conducting extensive workshops with the Perkins team to audit existing content and identify areas for improvement. Our analysis of the site’s architecture led to strategic recommendations for content consolidation and improved navigation. The development process involved close collaboration with Perkins Access, ensuring that every design and development decision met stringent accessibility standards. We also employed programmatic imports to efficiently transition content from Drupal (their old CMS) to WordPress.
Finding Our Footing
The Perkins brand is transposed across multiple sub-brands (including Perkins Access, Perkins India, BlindNewWorld, etc.), so the main site needed to accommodate different branding styles and customizable navigation options across various subdomains.
Updated Content
As for updating their content — well, when we say the old Perkins site had a content overload, we mean it. With all hands on deck, we carefully sifted through the vast amount of content and consolidated it into an easy-to-navigate digital library. The existing site architecture was also complicated and needed significant restructuring, which is where the customizable WordPress platform came in clutch.
Accessibility for the Win
When all was said and done, this project exemplified true partnership, with Vital working as an extension of the Perkins team. Through constant collaboration, we delivered a website that not only meets the highest standards of accessibility, but also serves as a flexible and scalable platform for Perkins’ bright future.
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