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Accessibility statement
This prototype is designed to meet WCAG 2.2 AA, the standard that applies to the District under the federal ADA Title II web rule, with a compliance date of April 26, 2027.
Our commitment
The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County serves a broad public, including older residents and visitors using the site on a phone. Accessibility is not a finishing touch here; it is the foundation of the redesign.
This prototype is built to conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA, and Section 508. Specific measures include:
- Semantic HTML landmarks (
header,nav,main,footer) and a working “Skip to main content” link - Visible keyboard focus on every interactive control
- Text and controls that meet AA color-contrast ratios
- Tap targets of at least 44 by 44 pixels, meeting WCAG 2.2 target-size guidance
- Labelled form fields with clear required-field indicators and helpful error messages
- Descriptive alternative text and decorative icons hidden from assistive technology
- Content that reflows to a single column on small screens without horizontal scrolling
Why the platform move matters
A focused June 8, 2026 automated sample found two moderate issue types across four nodes on the FPWC homepage and five issue types across twelve nodes on the FPWC Golf homepage, including serious link-name and image alternative-text issues. The redesign addresses those patterns at the source. The findings below are representative observations from a quick review, not a full audit; a complete audit and remediation plan are part of the engagement.
| Observation | WCAG criterion | Level | How the redesign resolves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homepage heading-order and landmark containment patterns | 1.3.1 Info and Relationships / 2.4.6 Headings and Labels | AA | Page templates use semantic landmarks, ordered headings, and labelled navigation regions from the first build. |
| Golf homepage image-role elements without text alternatives | 1.1.1 Non-text Content | A | Every meaningful image and image-role element carries descriptive text; decorative images are hidden from screen readers. |
| Golf homepage links without discernible text | 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value / 2.4.6 Headings and Labels | A | Interactive controls and links receive accessible names; non-essential carousel controls are replaced with clear, labelled navigation. |
| Small tap targets on mobile | 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) | AA | All buttons and links meet the 44-pixel minimum target size, sized for an older, mobile-first audience. |
| Layout that does not reflow cleanly on small screens | 1.4.10 Reflow | AA | Responsive layouts collapse to a single column with no horizontal scrolling at 320 pixels wide. |
| Inconsistent visible focus indication | 2.4.7 Focus Visible | AA | A high-contrast focus ring is applied consistently to every interactive element. |
Found a barrier?
If you encounter content on this site that is difficult to use with assistive technology, we want to hear about it. In the production site this section provides a direct, monitored contact path so issues can be fixed quickly.