Creating an accessible school website is a commitment to inclusivity and ensuring every visitor has equal access to your school’s information and resources. Whether you’re a content manager or school administrator, understanding the essentials of web accessibility is crucial to meet WCAG compliance and support all users.
In this article, we’ll explore the main areas your school website must address to be truly accessible.
Why Web Accessibility Matters for Schools
Accessibility is a fundamental aspect of digital inclusion. Some people might browse your website using on a keyboard, whilst others people might depend on screen readers that can affect how they perceive content.
Adhering to WCAG standards means that your school website becomes easier to navigate and interact with for everyone.
Mastering Keyboard Navigation for Full Website Access
One of the main pillars of accessible web design is making sure your website can be fully navigated using just a keyboard. This helps people who can’t use a mouse.
Keyboard navigation on your school website means users can:
- Move through interactive elements like buttons, links, and form fields using the Tab and Shift + Tab keys.
- Scroll through pages using arrow keys, Page Up, Page Down, and Home/End keys.
- Activate elements through the Enter or Space keys.
- Navigate menus with arrow keys and close submenus with the Escape key.
Best Practices for Keyboard Accessibility
- All interactive elements should be reachable and operable via keyboard alone.
- Maintain a logical tab order that follows the visual layout of the page.
- Use visible focus indicators (like outlines) so users can see which element is active.
- Test keyboard navigation regularly to catch any traps or inaccessible elements.
Adding Meaningful Alternative Text for Images
Alt text is a needed for a screen reader user as it provides descriptions of images that cannot be seen. Unfortunately, many websites neglect this or use vague descriptions that don’t explain what the picture actually is.
For school websites, alt text should be thoughtfully written to give context and meaning. Instead of a generic phrase like “picture of a school,” effective alt text describes the image in detail, such as “front of the school in summer with students walking in”. This allows screen reader users to understand the image’s content and relevance.
Tips for Writing Effective Alt Text
- Keep descriptions concise but informative.
- Focus on the purpose of the image in context.
- Don’t include phrases like “image of” or “picture of” as screen readers already announce the presence of an image.
- For decorative images that add no informational value, use empty alt attributes (alt=””) to allow screen readers to skip them.
Ensuring Strong Text Contrast for Readability
Text contrast is another common accessibility challenge, especially with modern website themes that use subtle or pastel colour palettes.
Insufficient contrast between text and background colours can make website content difficult to read, especially for users with visual impairments or colour blindness.
Website managers can use tools like the Daycare University contrast checker to verify that text and background combinations meet the minimum contrast ratios specified by WCAG. This will give you the reassurance that all users can comfortably read your content without strain.
Contrast Checking Best Practices
- Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Test contrast for all text elements, including links, headings, and buttons.
- Consider the needs of users with different types of colour blindness.
- Implement accessible colour schemes early in the design process to avoid costly retrofits.
Handling Third-Party Integrations with Accessibility in Mind
Many school websites incorporate third-party plugins for social media or other interactive features. While these tools add valuable functionality, they can also introduce accessibility challenges.
For instance, social media plugins from platforms like Facebook often inject code that does not fully comply with accessibility standards. This can negatively affect your website’s overall WCAG compliance score and user experience.
When integrating external content, it’s important to:
- Review the accessibility of the plugin or embed before implementation.
- Use accessible alternatives or provide fallback content where possible.
- Regularly test third-party features with assistive technologies.
- Keep documentation of any accessibility limitations and planned mitigations.
Ongoing Commitment: Testing, Updating, and Improving
Accessibility is not a quick fix but an ongoing process. School websites are regulaly updated with new content. Each change can impact accessibility if not carefully managed.
Website administrators should regularly:
- Testing pages and features with keyboard navigation and screen readers.
- Using automated and manual accessibility testing tools.
- Updating alt text and contrast settings as new content is added.
- Monitoring third-party integrations for compliance.
- Training staff on accessibility best practices.
Tools to Support Your School Website Accessibility Journey
There are now many practical tools can help you maintain and improve accessibility compliance:
- Accessibility Plugins: These add features like high contrast modes and keyboard navigation enhancements to your site.
- Contrast Checkers: Tools such as the Daycare University contrast checker help verify colour contrast ratios.
- Screen Readers: Testing your site with popular screen readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) reveals how content is interpreted.
- Keyboard Testing: Regularly navigating your site using only the keyboard highlights any navigation issues.
Using these tools alongside best practices gives you the best chance to keep your schools website compliant
Accessibility Is a Commitment to Inclusivity
Meeting WCAG guidelines makes sure that your school’s digital presence welcoming and usable for everyone. From providing full keyboard navigation to maintaining strong text contrast, every aspect of your website matters.
For more information and resources on school website accessibility, or to design an accessible website for your school visit School Jotter.
