Website ADA Guidelines
LCSD1 Leadership Required Website Criteria
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LCSD1 has adopted a website accessibility policy that establishes minimum standards of web accessibility for individuals with disabilities regarding websites and web pages that are used to conduct LCSD1 business and activities. That includes all web pages served by LCSD1's Content Management System (CMS), as well as all other web pages under the “laramie1.org” domain.
Compliance with the LCSD1's website policy, including the training and use of the accessibility tool, is required of everyone at LCSD1 who develops, maintains and contributes content to the district web pages.
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We were recently selected for an Office of Civil Rights website compliance review and are working towards creating and maintaining an ADA compliant website.
- All documents attached to the website must be ADA compliant
- PDF is the preferred type of document to attach to the website
- In the concern for making everything translatable on the website, we have started using Word documents
- We can continue to use either format as long as the document is ADA compliant
- Leadership has asked that no personal work email address be listed on our website due to phishing and more types of attacks.
- All videos must have closed caption or have a transcript. The cc or transcript must be reviewed for content clarity
- All pictures must have ALT text, on the website and any documents that contain images that are attached to the website must have ALT text
- Color contrast must meet ADA requirements. You must know how to use a tool to check this.
Check to make sure websites displays properly on a mobile device since most parents and students access your website that way.
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The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.
Wherever possible, LCSD1 will aim to adhere to level AA of the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which states that sites should be:
- Perceivable - Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable - User interface components and navigation must be operable.
- Understandable - Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.
- Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
As part of our efforts to achieve WCAG 2.1 A A compliance, we use Acquia Web Governance (formerly known as Acquia Optimize) as an ongoing monitoring service.
Report a Technology Accessibility Barrier
If you need to report any issues or barriers you might experience on the website. You can complete this online Technology Accessibility Barrier reporting form.
If you have problems with using or accessing the Technology Accessibility Barrier reporting form, you may contact the Service Desk at Phone: 307-771-2242 (in-district ext.10630) or E-mail: servicedesk@laramie1.org
What is Accessibility?
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Introduction to Web Accessibility
When websites are properly designed and coded, people with disabilities can use them. However, currently many sites and tools are developed with accessibility barriers that make them difficult or impossible for some people to use. Making the web accessible benefits individuals, businesses, and society. International web standards define what is needed for accessibility. -
ADA - National Network
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is proud to announce a video series covering a variety of topics on digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology, applicable Federal regulations, and identifying and remediating barriers to access. -
W3C - World Wide Web Consortium
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops standards and guidelines to help everyone build a web based on the principles of accessibility, internationalization, privacy and security. -
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
We pay for a service through Aquia (formerly Monsido) to help us stay in compliance with the ADA laws and policies on our website. However, there are many items that have to be checked by a human to make sure it is ADA compliant. A help articles that explains more about ADA and websites. -
Aquia (formerly Monsido)
Accessibility Handbook Web accessibility simply means that your website – and everything on it – can be used by anyone regardless of how they use the internet.
Documents & Readability
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The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines suggest writing at a lower secondary education level, a Level AAA guideline. However, this level of strict compliance may not be suitable for all documents. For instance, content for an advanced college chemistry class may exceed the reading level appropriate for high school freshmen.
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What is plain language?
Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. -
Creating accessible documents in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is widely used among individuals with a variety of disabilities, and is fairly accessible. Text within Word documents can be read by assistive technologies such as a screen reader. In order for Word documents to be fully accessible, anyone authoring a Word document must follow the primary guidelines below. -
Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible
This topic gives you step-by-step instructions and best practices for making your PowerPoint presentations accessible and unlock your content to everyone, including people with disabilities. -
Creating accessible documents as a PDFs (PDF)
The goal here is to preserve your accessibility features in your Word document. Be sure not to use the print to PDF option as this will not carry through any accessibility features. -
Overview of creating accessible PDFs (PDF)
This PDF will cover how to create accessible documents in authoring tools such as MS Word and Adobe InDesign, as well as how to convert them into PDF. I will also cover how to check a PDF for accessibility once it has been created. -
Color reliance, using hue, shade, tint, or tone as the sole means of conveying information, affects users with color vision deficiency, blindness, and may pose challenges for those with low vision. Blind individuals are inherently color blind, and screen reading software typically doesn't convey colors. Some users with low vision might have difficulty perceiving certain colors and may adjust document colors to enhance visibility based on their preferences.
Three Best Practices
In summary, the top three practices to mitigate color reliance are:- Organize your content distinctly.
- Include text labels.
- Utilize images with alternative text.
By comprehending the consequences of color-reliant information and adopting these best practices, your documents will be enhanced for users with color vision deficiency, low vision, and blindness.
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A simple, well-designed table can make it much easier to understand complex information.
- Watch this video for an overview of Tables
Keeping tables simple ensures accessibility for all users, including those employing screen readers in navigation mode and individuals with neurodiverse conditions (e.g., ADHD, autism, dyslexia).
Avoid posting images of tables, as screen readers may treat them as images, not datasets. Tables should not be used for layout control, as they can disrupt the document or webpage reading order, crucial for screen reader users who rely on sequential information presentation.
A heading preceding a table is a good method for providing users with a description of the table's content.
Graphics & Videos
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Captioning YouTube Videos
You can add and edit captions for videos owned by your YouTube account. -
For most text, WCAG mandates a minimum 4.5:1 contrast, while larger text, like a Word Heading or a PowerPoint slide Title, should have a minimum 3:1 contrast. "Large text" is defined as 18 points or larger, or 14 points and larger if bold.
Poor contrast negatively impacts all sighted users. Users with low vision, color blindness, or reading disabilities may be impacted even more significantly.
- Explore an online color contrast tool provided by a third-party - WebAIM : Contrast Checker
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Creating Accessible Videos
Video and audio content can help make web pages and course curricula more engaging. However, they can also erect barriers unless delivered with accessibility in mind.
Tools
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Accessibility Tools
Understanding the accessibility checkers in the programs we use every day! A quick reference guide for programs we use at LCSD1. -
University of Wyoming - Website Accessibility
At the University of Wyoming, digital accessibility is an essential part to create an inclusive and equitable environment. We strive to ensure that all users, regardless of their ability can access and interact with our digital content and services. -
WebAIM : Contrast Checker
Explore an online color contrast tool provided by a third-party -
Web Accessibility in Mind
Expanding the potential of the web for people with disabilities by empowering individuals and organizations to create accessible content.
