MUSE Gold

2025

Making Documents and Forms Accessible

Entrant Company

Anthro-Tech

Category

Branded Content - New Category: Government

Client's Name

Washington State Office of Financial Management

Country / Region

United States

The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) found a major accessibility issue: their online human resources (HR) forms were inaccessible to customers with disabilities, particularly those who use screen readers. OFM hosts multiple state agencies' HR forms, including job applications, time-off requests, and performance reviews. This accessibility gap created an inequitable experience for applicants, managers, and employees with disabilities, while also violating important accessibility rules such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 508.
Together with Anthro-Tech, OFM made their online HR form more accessible. We audited, remediated, tested, and improved Word documents, ensuring they worked with assistive technologies. Some HR forms were turned into accessible PDFs, while others became user-friendly online data tables. Testing with screen readers and usability studies ensured they were accessible, compliant, and usable. This helps everyone follow essential HR processes, regardless of ability.
Our partnership with OFM went beyond compliance. Today, people with disabilities can easily use their HR forms, promoting inclusivity within the agency. Our digital accessibility experts also taught OFM to become a more accessible organization.
Together, we aligned OFM with its core value of inclusion and turned its vision of, “working together for the equitable future of every Washingtonian” into real, meaningful action.
Project Toolkit
ACCESSIBILITY
• Review and manual testing using assistive technologies
• Analysis of Word and PDF forms
• Document remediation
• Design and content guidelines that follow WCAG
USER RESEARCH
• Usability study with participants using screen readers
Facts & Figures
• 350% increase in usability scores.
• 5/5 perfect usability score.

More Gold Winners
Website
2025
MUSE Advertising Awards - Active AI: Making AI Literacy Education Accessible

Entrant Company

Active AI

Category

Website - Best User Experience

Country / Region

United States

Outstanding Agency
2025
MUSE Advertising Awards - Walkers ‘Best Seat in The House’

Entrant Company

Splendid Communications

Category

Outstanding Agency Awards - Best PR Campaign

Country / Region

United Kingdom

Video
2025
MUSE Advertising Awards - Lumi's foster mom teaches her that humans can be kind

Entrant Company

The Humane Society of the United States

Category

Video - Nonprofit

Country / Region

United States

Event
2025
MUSE Advertising Awards - 2024 New Taipei City Indigenous Peoples Joint Cultural Event
Indigenous Peoples Department New Taipei City Government

Entrant Company

Indigenous Peoples Department New Taipei City Government

Category

Event - Cultural

Country / Region

Taiwan