GovTech website helps organisations build more inclusive digital services

With a twitch of her eyes, Ms Jasmine Yau, 31, can play computer games and browse the internet thanks to Eyegaze, a device that uses eye movements to control what is on the screen.

- Zhaki Abdullah

But simple tasks such as filling up a form or typing in a one-time password—essential for transactions on many official websites—can be tricky, as she may run out of time before completing them.

The 31-year-old was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle wasting, when she was two years old.

Meanwhile, seniors with hand tremors have problems using the facial recognition system of national digital identity platform Singpass and other websites, said retired civil servant Jee Su Giam, 63, a volunteer who helps seniors get connected online.

So, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) set up Ally (pronounced "ally") Playground, a new website with a suite of assessment tools, to help organisations build digital services that are more accessible to those with special needs.

One of the tools is a checklist for developers and designers to ensure that their products meet accessibility standards.