University Communications

Web Accessibility

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Web Accessibility

Web accessibility involves creating sites and content that everyone can understand and use, including people with disabilities. This is vital for ensuring equal access to information and complying with relevant laws and policies.

Web Accessibility and Our Platforms

Brown's centrally-maintained digital communication platforms are built with accessibility in mind. We ensure the underlying code and templates are compliant with standards, providing content editors with a secure, accessible foundation. These platforms are designed to promote accessibility from the start, featuring default settings that meet standards for font size, letter spacing, keyboard navigation, and screen-reader compatibility.

The Critical Role of Content Editors

While Brown's communication platforms provide a solid foundation, editors are responsible for ensuring their content complies with accessibility standards. The choices editors make when creating and publishing content determines whether something is accessible and complies with relevant laws.

Web content editors make crucial decisions—from image descriptions to link text—that directly affect accessibility. To maintain Brown's web accessibility standards and compliance, all web content editors must:

Web Accessibility Standards

The internationally recognized standard for digital accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

WCAG is developed and maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the primary international standards organization for the internet. It serves as the technical benchmark adopted by governments, regulators, and organizations worldwide to ensure digital content is accessible.

WCAG defines different levels of accessibility conformance, and Brown adheres to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This level of conformance is the generally accepted standard for legal compliance and effective user experience.