Accessibility

The Digital Solutions team fosters an innovative, collaborative approach to guiding and shaping the web and digital presence for the state of North Carolina.

The platform incorporates federally mandated Section 508 compliance standards and best practices recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium’s latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Digital Commons aims for the success criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA).

State agency websites on the Digital Commons platform are designed to reduce barriers to content for visitors with disabilities by implementing requirements that allow an inclusive, accessible online experience for users with assistive technology. Examples of the platform’s accessible design include:

  • Easy and logical navigation
  • Access to information in a clear, consistent manner for screen readers
  • Keyboard accessibility
  • Legible fonts and high-contrast colors for easier readability.

We are continuously working to increase accessibility standards and meet all levels of accessibility conformance and guidelines. Some of those included are: 

  • Text alternative fields for non-text elements
  • All information conveyed with color that can also be understood without color
  • Legible fonts and high-contrast colors for easy readability
  • Web page design so that all content presented without an associated style sheet does not lose information or structure
  • Identified row and column headers in data tables
  • Keyboard accessibility, where all functionality is available through the use of a keyboard and without the use of a mouse
  • “Skip to main content” link at the top of each page permitting users to skip repetitive navigation links
  • A mechanism for the user to pause, stop or hide moving or scrolling information that starts automatically, lasts more than 5 seconds and is presented in parallel with other content
  • Online forms designed to allow assistive technology to access the information, field elements and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues

Report a Digital Accessibility Issue

Editoria11y 

Since end of 2020, the Digital Commons platform uses the Editoria11y accessibility checker. The checker runs automatically when you edit content. This new tool helps content creators identify potential accessibility issues and tells how to correct them.

Managers of state websites can find additional accessibility resources on the Digital Commons support site.