In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced new regulations to strengthen enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a specific focus on web and digital content accessibility. These regulations require state and local governments, as well as other public entities such as school districts and libraries, to ensure that their websites, digital documents, and online platforms are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The goal is to provide equitable digital access in compliance with recognized standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The timeline for compliance varies based on population size. Public entities located in areas with 50,000 or more residents must comply by April 24, 2026. Those in areas with populations of 49,999 or fewer have until April 26, 2027. Despite the ample time, it is important to begin reviewing and adapting our digital content and platform habits now in preparation for the deadline. Familiarizing ourselves with the new requirements and seeking clarification or assistance when needed is essential to supporting accessibility and ensuring compliance.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a comprehensive and internationally recognized set of standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They offer clear guidance on how to make digital content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. At the core of WCAG are four essential principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—commonly referred to by the acronym POUR. These principles serve as the foundation for creating inclusive and accessible digital experiences. Click here for more information.
Perceivable - Content must be easily recognizable and perceivable
Operable - User interface must be usable and easily navigable
Understandable - Information and controls must be clear to users
Robust - Content must work well with devices or assistive technologies
Best Practices
Color Contrast
Individuals with visual impairments, such as color blindness or low vision, can struggle to read and understand content when there isn't enough contrast, like dark text placed over a dark background, or vice versa. It can even be difficult for individuals without impairments depending on how the content was designed. Before publishing your digital content, always make sure to check the color contrast.
To check if your content is accessible, use a color contrast checker. These tools allow you to enter the HEX codes for both the background and text colors to see if the contrast meets accessibility standards. (If you're using platforms like Canva or Adobe, they’ll display the HEX codes for you. If not, plenty of websites can help you find them.)
Here are some examples:
❌
Failed the color contrast test
✅Passed the color contrast test
Alternative Text (Alt Text)
Providing an alternative text is vital for three reasons: (1) Allows disabled individuals who need screen readers to describe the image for them. (2) In case of an image failing to load due to slow internet or technical issues. (3) Increases the chance of an image ranking higher on the image search results.
When typing in your alt text, be sure that you’re sufficiently descriptive. You do not have to provide every single detail in the photo, just a general overview of what the picture looks like. Here is an example:
Alt Text: A black and yellow football scoreboard under installation, with a Bobcat excavator positioned in front.
Avoid PDFs, Use Plain Text
PDFs are best used for printing out flyers or sharing documents amongst each other. However, they are not an ideal format for sharing information to the public. Here are just a few reasons why we should stop using PDFs.
- They are not easily translatable. In our multilingual community, it’s essential to provide materials that can be quickly and clearly translated. Since PDFs are fixed documents, the content can’t be easily adapted or translated on the spot. In contrast, our website features a translation tool that works with plain text. Social media platforms also offer language preference settings, making content more accessible in various languages.
- Screen readers may struggle with PDFs. To make a PDF compatible with screen readers, you often have to sacrifice design and formatting. The content must follow a clear reading order, with tags that define the document’s structure and alt text for any images. Even then, those tags can sometimes be misread, creating further accessibility issues.
- It can frustrate users. Beyond accessibility concerns, simply opening a PDF can be a challenge. The file might load slowly, be inaccessible due to permissions, appear blurry, or contain links that don’t open properly.
- Plain text is easier to update. Unless you own the original PDF file, updating it can be time-consuming—you may even need to recreate it entirely. On the other hand, plain text content on a website can be quickly edited and kept up to date, saving time and effort for everyone.
Avoid Infographics or Charts
Using infographics can pose significant challenges for individuals who rely on screen readers. That’s because screen readers cannot interpret image-based or visually complex designs. Instead, they read content in a linear, chronological order.
The screen reader cannot grasp the concept of “read point 1 and its contents,” and then “move to point 2,” and so on. Instead, it will literally read the infographic as if it were a book—line by line, in a continuous, linear order. This often results in a confusing or meaningless experience for users who rely on assistive technology.
More Things to Keep in Mind
- Reserve QR codes for flyers only. Do not include them on the website or any digital space as most of our community uses their phone to get our information.
- Avoid acronyms if at all possible. Spell it out entirely.
- Use captions for videos.
- Use tags instead of changing colors or fonts (Read more)
- Avoid text over images unless you include a background behind the text. Example:
Depending on the image and the placing of the text, it can present an accessibility issue.
Include a background over the text with a strong enough color contrast.