Mertz Middle School

When creating content for and on your website, it is necessary to ensure the content is accessible. Whether it’s text, images, links, or files, every website visitor needs to have access to the same information in spite of any impairments. 

• Individuals with visual impairments may need to use screen reader software to have the content read out loud to them.
• Visitors with hearing impairments may need to rely on captioning in videos.
• People with physical impairments may need to navigate your site via their keyboard instead of using a mouse.
• Individuals with cognitive impairments may need shorter, simpler pages.

Ensuring your site meets the AA standard of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a legal requirement for schools and districts. The Office of Civil Rights opens a investigation when they receive a complaint they’ve determined to be valid. The complaint could be about scanned PDF documents not compatible with a screen reader, pervasive color contrast issues such as light blue text on a white background, or many other things. 

Much the way a ramp at a building entrance is used by more than people in wheelchairs, making your website accessible makes it better for everyone.

There are 10 key things to remember to ensure your content is accessible:

1. Use proper heading structure.
2. Use the built-in list tools. 
3. Add links and files using descriptive clickable text. 
4. Include descriptive alternative text for all images.
5. Only use tables to present data, not for layout.
6. Mark header rows on tables.
7. Embedded videos must include captioning (or a transcript). 
8. Ensure content is below 10th grade reading level.
9. Use only colors that meet the minimum required contrast ratio.  
10. All documents you upload, link to, or display on your website must be accessible.  

Content on your website, and the website platform itself, needs to meet the following criteria as outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG):

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust

Below are just a few examples of content that does not meet requirements. It is not an exhaustive list.

Perceivable

Yellow text on a white background is not perceivable to someone with low vision. Text that is embedded in an infographic is not perceivable by someone relying on alternative text read by a screen reader. 

Operable

The website is not considered operable if it cannot be navigated solely with a keyboard, or if it presents content that can cause a seizure, such as a flashing GIF. Additionally, links do not behave in a consistent, predictable fashion affects the operability of the website.

Understandable

Information written at a college reading level and presented in a cluttered way is not understandable to many visitors.

Robust

A website that is not compatible with assistive technologies is not robust.