Areas of Emphasis

Home page slide shows

Currently, the slide show on LSA site homepages offer one truly accessible mode. We are researching how to take some of the functionality that currently exists and make it more accessible. For example, letting the automatic transitioning slide show end after a certain number of rotations. We anticipate this being resolved in March 2013.

The content of our websites

Our greatest opportunity for improvement lies within the content being created by our CMS users. (Are alt tags being added to images appropriately? Are transcripts and subtitles being added to audio and video files? Do users place heading sizes in the right order on text pages?) Largely decentralized in content governance, helping our users work toward this is an ongoing process done through the avenues of sharing best practices within the user group community and the initial training of the CMS.

Accordion displays

This display is attractive because it allows CMS contributors to place a large amount of information on a web page in a very succinct manner. Keyboard controls for this type of content needs to be standardized across all sites.

Download files

The manner in which downloadable documents and other files needs to be consistent. While we do a good job with our document content type, there are other areas of our sites where downloadable files are referenced but not noted for screen reading software.

Assistive technology navigation

Coding that allows users to easily navigate the site in a logical, orderly manner needs to be standardized across all presentation templates. Additionally, the Web Services team has added code to disable the generation of links that open in new windows and is in the process of working with users to eliminate this practice and to correct previously created links that behave in this manner.

Form field labels

Screen reading software requires non-visible cues that allow users to "see" what type of information is required for input in the form. Part of the development roadmap includes the ability for CMS users to create fully-accessible forms, and currently we are in the process of verifying that our third-party utilities generate forms that meet standards.

Links with teaser text that include the word "More"

LSA sites have some visual cues that may not translate into specific enough information that translates well for screen reader software used by the visually impaired. We have made great strides in this area and are still assessing the work required to transform the code base as well as the best means of educating CMS contributors to not use phrasing like "Click here." 

Colors and design

While the design of the LSA sites has been largely unified, the appearance is unique to each department and unit web site. We are currently implementing a plan to assess style and design matters (e.g. contrast ratios of text over colored backgrounds) so that the visually impaired have a better opportunity to explore the site as it is intended.