What is Web Accessibility?
People who use the web have a growing variety of characteristics. …We can not assume that all our users are accessing our content using the same web browser or operating system as we are, nor can we assume they’re using a traditional monitor for output, or keyboard and mouse for input. Consider these user characteristics:
- Unable to see. Individuals who are blind use either audible output (products called screen readers that read web content using synthesized speech) or tactile output (a refreshable Braille device).
- Has dyslexia. Individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia may also use audible output, along with software that highlights words or phrases as they’re read aloud using synthesized speech.
- Has Individuals with low vision may use screen magnification software that allows them to zoom into all or a portion of the visual screen. Many others with less-than-perfect eyesight may enlarge the font on websites using standard browser functions, such as Ctrl + in Windows browsers or Command + in Mac browsers.low vision.
- Has a physical disability. Individuals with physical disabilities that affect their use of hands may be unable to use a mouse, and instead may rely exclusively on keyboard or use assistive technologies such as speech recognition, head pointers, mouth sticks, or eye-gaze tracking systems.
- Unable to hear. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are unable to access audio content, so video needs to be captioned and audio needs be transcribed.
- Using a mobile device. Individuals who are accessing the web using a compact mobile device such as a phone face accessibility barriers, just like individuals with disabilities do. They’re using a small screen and may need to zoom in or increase the font size, and they are likely to be using a touch interface rather than a mouse. Also, Apple’s iPhone and iPad do not support Adobe Flash.
- Limited bandwidth. Individuals may be on slow Internet connections if they’re located in a rural area or lack the financial resources to access high-speed Internet. These users benefit from pages that load quickly (use graphics sparingly) and transcripts for video.
- Limited time. Very busy individuals may have too little time to watch an entire video or audio recording, but can quickly access its content if a transcript is available.
An accessible website works for all of these users, and countless others not mentioned.
Source: https://www.washington.edu/accessibility/web/
Accessible Website Initiative
The Greenfield Public Schools (GPS) is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience (including students, faculty, staff, and the general public), regardless of technology or ability. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and in doing so adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines.
This website endeavors to conform to level Double-A of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.
These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines will help make the web more user-friendly for all people.
For more information about the Federal standards, please visit the Section 508 website or the Federal Access Board website.
This site has been built using code compliant with W3C standards for HTML and CSS. The site displays correctly in current browsers and using standards compliant HTML/CSS code means any future browsers will also display it correctly.
GPS strives to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability as comprehensively as possible on this website. The GPS website has been and continues to be tested and improved using leading web accessibility technologies.
Portable Document Format
Request Alternate Format
We are continually seeking solutions that will bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility. If you experience difficulty with the accessibility of any webpage or document, or if you have questions or concerns about accessing information on this website, please send an email to webmaster@gpsk12.org (or call Lauren Rice, 413.772.1322) to request the materials in alternate format. Please allow up to 2 days for a response.