Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance Plan

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is committed to ensuring that all persons who may have one or more disabilities has complete access to all the resources, communications, and services available to all citizens.   JWB is currently reviewing and updating the JWB website (www.jwbpinellas.org) to ensure that both the overall website and all documents posted thereon, are available and provided in alternative, accessible formats.  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 Level AA, below is our website accessibility implementation plan:

 

Phase One: Planning

1. Work with current website development firm to conduct full site audit.
2. Develop an implementation plan for making web content accessible in accordance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 Level AA.
3. Create and publish an accessible webpage featuring the implementation plan.
4. Add notice to top navigation bar and bottom page footer stating that we are in the process of updating our website to ensure ADA compliance and that includes the following:
   1. Telephone number and email address for visitors to request accessible information or services, or to give feedback or input into how accessibility can be improved
   2. Link to internal accessible webpage where visitors can view ADA compliance implementation plan
5. Consult with legal counsel to ensure we abide by accessibility laws and guidelines to include, but not limited to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 Level AA.
6. Post on social media that we are in the process of making our website ADA compliant for transparency.

Phase Two: Implementation

To ensure that all new and modified web pages and content are accessible:

1. Check the HTML of all current and new webpages to ensure accessible coding is used.
2. Ensure website can be viewed or displayed using the color and font settings of each visitor’s browser and operating system.
3. Add “alt” tags or long descriptions for all images, logos, icons, and graphics on the website.
4. Label each control on web pages to include buttons, light boxes, and search/text fields with a descriptive HTML tag.
5. Label each control on online forms and tables to include buttons, check boxes, drop-down menus, light boxes, and search/text fields with a descriptive HTML tag.
6. Ensure hyperlinked text on all web pages has descriptive HTML tags.
7. Provide HTML or a text-based format for all PDF documents posted on the website.
8. Ensure videos published on our website compliant by providing:
   1. Audio descriptions of images to include changes in setting, gestures, and other details.
   2. Audio descriptions of sounds and musical interludes, when applicable.
   3. Provide text captions (closed captioning) synchronized with the video images to ensure videos and audio tracks are accessible.

Phase Three: Quality Assurance, Testing, and Maintenance

1. Consider seeking an additional web development consultation to ensure full ADA compliance.
2. Enlist disability groups to test our pages for ease of use.
3. Update notice to top navigation bar and bottom page footer stating that we are ADA compliant and continue providing a telephone number and email address for visitors to request accessible information or services, or to give feedback or input into how accessibility can be improved
4. Periodically enlist disability groups to test web pages for ease of use; use the feedback they provide to increase the accessibility of the website.
5. When updating web pages, remember to ensure that updates are accessible. For example, when images change, the text equivalents in “alt” tags and long descriptions need to be changed so they match the new images.
6. Ensure key staff and contractors responsible for website receive ongoing training to stay current on ADA compliance standards and requirements.