GovTech launches A11y Playground to advocate for more accessible digital services

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) launched today A11y Playground, a website aimed at advocating for inclusivity by helping organisations translate accessibility knowledge into meaningful action, helping them to build more accessible digital services.

A11y Playground, launched by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, is an upgrade from the earlier Project Playground. A11y Playground now offers a suite of assessment tools to make digital products more accessible to people of diverse needs, such as a technical checklist to support developers, designers, and digital service owners in adopting inclusive design practices in their products to ensure they meet accessibility standards.

To further drive home the significance of digital accessibility for everyone, A11y Playground also features stories and an interactive game that help users understand and experience the challenges that persons with disabilities (PwDs) face when navigating everyday tasks that can be taken for granted at times.

A11y Playground can be accessed via https://a11y.tech.gov.sg/

Said Ms Joy Ng, Principal UX Designer of Government Digital Products at GovTech Singapore, who led the team behind the development of A11y Playground: “There are digital products that still fall short of being truly accessible. Everyone involved in building software, including designers, developers, and product managers, has an important role to play. We need to shift our mindset and change our current methods to ensure accessibility is baked in from the start. Through A11y Playground’s stories and interactive elements, we hope to foster greater awareness and empathy. For digital service owners unsure whether their websites or apps meet accessibility standards, we urge you to try the free assessment tools and use the technical checklist as a starting point to create inclusive digital experiences for all.”

The launch of A11y Playground at the Enabling Village on 29 July 2025 marked the start of GovTech Singapore’s Inclusive Design Week 2025, which Minister Teo was the Guest of Honour. Around 150 attendees including advocates for inclusive design from the public- and private sectors, as well as members of the PwD community, came together for this annual digital inclusion learning event for public officers. This initiative is part of the Singapore government’s broader effort to realise its Enabling Masterplan 2030 and to build a digitally inclusive Smart Nation 2.0.

Previously known as A11y Week, which started in 2020, Inclusive Design Week reflects a growing shift towards embedding accessibility into the design process from the outset, rather than as an afterthought, and reinforces the importance of inclusivity, not just for PwDs, but also for seniors and individuals with diverse needs.

Inclusive Design Week is also part of GovTech Singapore’s inaugural Design Festival, a month-long initiative to strengthen internal design capabilities. The Design Festival presents an opportunity for GovTech Singapore staff – both within the agency and externally deployed to other government agencies – to learn from one another, adopt innovative practices, and explore tools to solve real-world problems. It also seeks to build design mindsets and habits that empower teams to create meaningful impact for stakeholders.

For more information on the Inclusive Design Week 2025, visit: https://www.tech.gov.sg/events/inclusive-design-week-2025

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING GROUP

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY AGENCY OF SINGAPORE

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About Government Technology Agency of Singapore

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) is the lead agency driving Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative and public sector digital transformation. As the Centre of Excellence for Infocomm Technology and Smart Systems (ICT & SS),

GovTech Singapore develops the Singapore government’s capabilities in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Application Development, Smart City Technology, Digital

Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity. GovTech Singapore builds tech for public good to improve the lives of Singaporeans and the economy, and supports public agencies in managing enterprise IT operations. Its other responsibilities include overseeing and safeguarding key government ICT infrastructure, as well as regulating public sector ICT procurement, data protection and cybersecurity. GovTech Singapore is a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

For more information, please visit www.tech.gov.sg.

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