Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities

Voluntary Action Plan for Accessible Websites

• Establish a policy that your web pages will be accessible and create a process for implementation.

• Ensure that all new and modified web pages and content are accessible:

  • Check the HTML¹ of all new web pages. Make sure that accessible elements are used, including alt tags, long descriptions, and captions, as needed.

  • If images are used, including photos, graphics, scanned images, or image maps, make sure to include alt tags and/or long descriptions for each.

  • If you use online forms and tables, make those elements accessible.

  • When posting documents on the website, always provide them in HTML or a text-based format (even if you are also providing them in another format, such as Portable Document Format (PDF)).

• Develop a plan for making your existing web content more accessible. Describe your plan on an accessible web page. Encourage input on improvements, including which pages should be given high priority for change. Let citizens know about the standards or guidelines that are being used. Consider making the more popular web pages a priority.

• Ensure that in-house staff and contractors responsible for web page and content development are properly trained.

• Provide a way for visitors to request accessible information or services by posting a telephone number or E-mail address on your home page. Establish procedures to assure a quick response to users with disabilities who are trying to obtain information or services in this way.

• Periodically enlist disability groups to test your pages for ease of use; use this information to increase accessibility.