It’s essential for school districts to have accessible websites that provide equal access and opportunities for all users, including students, parents, and educators. Accessibility is not only a legal requirement but also a vital step toward creating an inclusive online environment. 

In many public school districts, there’s a lack of website accessibility experts, and many schools are left scratching their heads wondering where to start on the journey of website accessibility.

To complicate things, many website accessibility tools for schools that check your site’s content against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are so detailed they leave you in a tailspin of confusion trying to interpret accessibility acronyms and use cases.

As you begin reviewing and editing your district’s website for accessibility, you can build a website that is welcoming and usable for everyone.

Consider these tips to help you with your journey!

1. Designate an accessibility team

A crucial first step in creating an accessible website is to designate an accessibility team. It’s important to define a team — or someone — from your district who will serve as the “expert” around accessibility.

This role is best served by a person who is familiar with the website and the tools that already exist to meet the desired level of accessibility, like a webmaster, communications officer, or public relations leader.

After all, this team will be responsible for ensuring that accessibility is a priority throughout your school district's online presence. Having a dedicated team promotes accountability and responsibility, making it easier to manage and maintain your school district's website accessibility.

As you assemble your squad, remember that each member brings unique expertise and insight to the team, helping to create a well-rounded approach to accessibility. Your team members should be trained on accessibility standards, like the latest WCAG guidelines and ADA compliance. Work together to create an accessibility policy and guidelines that outline the school district's commitment to accessibility.

It's also important to communicate accessibility goals and progress to stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is aware of the ongoing efforts to create an inclusive website. Many districts, like Virginia Beach City Public Schools, post their goals for web accessibility — a great way to communicate your district's intentions and welcome feedaback from users.

2. Ensure all new digital content is accessible

Once the accessibility team is in place, the focus should shift to ensuring that all new digital content is accessible and meets your desired level of accessibility standards.

Naturally, the best way to ensure that new content is accessible is to educate the individuals who have access to edit the website. That training will provide editors the necessary skills to not only understand accessibility standards but to also utilize best practices around digital content, both on the website and elsewhere.

As new content is added, creators should be aware of accessibility best practices, such as using descriptive headings and alternative text for images and keeping in mind the POUR principles of school website accessibility standards: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Encourage feedback from users with disabilities to identify potential issues and make improvements, and be prepared to implement changes as needed to address any accessibility concerns.

It’s important to remember that achieving accessibility compliance is not a destination, but instead a journey. As new content is added and removed from your site, the process of checking and ensuring that content is accessible is still important. 

3. Monitor compliance

After you designate a digital accessibility coordinator, develop a plan for new content, and provide training, the next step is to monitor compliance.

Utilizing an accessibility checker is the easiest way to do this, as most will automatically scan your website and report back on potential areas of concern.

If you’re searching for web accessibility testing tools, consider one that provides built-in guidance to editors around accessibility guidelines as well as the ability to provide alternative versions of content. This will not only assist your editors in feeling more comfortable with achieving accessibility, but it will also help the end-user feel supported in an inclusive environment.

Luckily, if your district is using Finalsite’s content management system, Composer, you can access the built-in accessibility check for common issues with alt text, color contrast issues, and considerations for individuals with disabilities.

Utilizing an accessibility partner like AudioEye can also flag important issues for your team to tackle in just a few clicks. Ossining Union Free School District's AudioEye integration allows users to customize their experience based on their preferences.

Remember:

• Regular audits should be conducted to identify any potential issues and ensure that your district and its individual websites remain accessible.
   
• Focus on critical and high-traffic content first, and develop a plan to address accessibility issues over time.
   
• Establishing a schedule for routine accessibility audits and utilizing accessibility evaluation tools and resources can help streamline this process.

Key takeaway

Accessible content is better content for all users. By designating an accessibility team, ensuring that all new digital content is accessible, and monitoring compliance, your school district can create an inclusive experience that benefits everyone. Take the first step on this journey and pave the way for a more accessible future in your school district.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.