Web Accessibility

We are a quarter of the way into the 21st century and in line with that many municipalities are acting on pressure to increase web accessibility. While this website is self-hosted, it is using a Content Management System not dissimilar to that of CivicPlus and other municipal website providers. One of the on going goals for me in regards to this website, is a continued demonstration of web accessibility considerations and an adherence to web accessibility standards.

Just as the ADA has made much of the physical world easier to navigate for everyone, basic web accessibility improves everyone's lives. A scalable page is not only more accessible for those with vision difficulties but for individuals on mobile devices and niche scenarios. Keyboard navigation does not only help those using particular input devices, but allows for faster navigation for those that learn.

Due to the nature of this site, many of the accessibility standards do not apply, I will have very few images, not time based media, etc... However, similar to municipal websites, this will host documents and as such I will ensure that each document link not simply be a downloadable PDF but instead a full HTML webpage with proper tags and equivalent information to the original PDF with the option of downloading a properly tagged PDF file.

Many municipalities make improper use of the PDF standard and act as though because a document is in PDF format, it need not be up to web accessibility standards, this is an unacceptable approach to public access and public service. This approach creates unnecessary friction between communities and government bodies, wastes government time answering questions that should have already been provided on-mass, and similar inefficiencies. Again, web accessibility does not only help those with differing ability, but improves transparency and thus carries with it, for responsible governments, the potential to increase public trust.