Gov.br Portal: Contrasting the Results of an Accessibility Assessment by Automated Tools with the Analysis of a Person with Low Vision

Governments worldwide have increasingly adopted centralized models for delivering public services to citizens. In 2019, Brazil launched the Gov.br portal, which consolidates the digital channels of all federal government agencies and provides unified access to information and services. This study aims to assess the accessibility of the Gov.br portal using three automated evaluation tools (ASES, AccessMonitor, and TAW) and a contrast verification tool (Contrast Checker), in addition to a manual evaluation conducted by a low vision web accessibility specialist. This qualitative and exploratory analysis reveals that, despite Gov.br achieving favorable scores in automated evaluations, significant challenges remain regarding the user experience of individuals with low vision. The most frequent issues identified include the portal’s lack of responsiveness when displayed at maximum zoom on smartphones, insufficient color contrast, and the absence of contextual information in links. As a contribution, the study proposes corrective measures to enhance the website’s accessibility, thereby promoting inclusive access for all users.