Follow This Page
You must be signed in to subscribe to updates for this page.
Every website owner is charged with selecting the appropriate accessible platform that meets their community’s needs and their technology skill level.
Do Your Research
A few things to keep in mind when researching the best platform for your website:
Accessibility
When choosing a website platform, you need to ensure that it meets the WCAG 2.0 Guidelines at a level AA. That includes:
- Being completely navigable at a 200% zoom
- Having “Skip to main content” links for tabbing through
- No auto-play on the site
- The ability for users to tab-through content, including all the alerts, navigation and sub-navigation, videos, galleries, chats, etc.
- The ability to exit each of the above using the tab AND Escape keys
- Remember …
- automated testing only captures about 30% of all digital accessibility issues.
While an accessible platform helps, accessibility is easily compromised if posts are not created in an accessible format. Be sure to follow all the guidance we have outlined on the Making Accessible Content page.
Questions to Ask Potential Vendors
- Be sure to discuss all aspects of a platform’s support for accessibility with its reps before making a commitment. Questions to ask:
- Require the vendor to provide a completed GSA Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
- If the vendor is unwilling to share their VPAT, they are not committed to accessibility.
- Can you update the site yourself? Or do you submit content to someone on their staff?
- If the latter, how long is the turnaround time?
- Do they have an WCAG 2.0 AA digitally accessible template? Provide template name and example site?
- Do they have built-in web-based accessibility checker?
- How much support do they give you?
- Do you have to learn how to code?
- Do you need to stay on top of addons to keep it accessible?
- What type of training do they provide?
- Can the platform support the level of interactivity, messaging, and frequent updates your website needs?
- Require the vendor to provide a completed GSA Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
Cost
- Some websites offer a free version--and at an additional cost, you can purchase more features/support. Be sure to talk with their representatives for more specific pricing information.
- Find out what happens if you decide to move from a paid-for service back to the free one?
- Others offer only fee-based services.
- Identify what that cost gives you and your website.
Which platforms are most accessible?
Fee-based platforms
The three highest-scoring fee-based vendors are eChalk, Edutech Studio and Edlio. They each have accessible templates, and all also rank high for customer service.
Free / low-cost platforms
The highest-scoring free/low-cost vendor with a demonstrated commitment to accessibility is Wix:
- Wix has worked with the NYC DOE to create an accessible template. They also have developed a built- in digital accessibility checker and developed workarounds to meet some basic accessibility requirements.
- Google does not have an accessible template or built-in accessibility checker. They have recently added accessible functionality like “Skip to main content” and “Skip to main navigation." However, their color contrast issues require dark text on a light background in order to be accessible.
Vendor Resources and Recommendations
The vendors below are listed in high to low order based on their demonstrated commitment to accessibility. and include links to resources both onsite and off. But you shouldn’t pick a platform without talking to the vendors yourself.
eChalk
Recommended: Yes
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
- eChalk vendor page
- eChalk accessibility guidance
- See a model of an accessible school website (note: it’s a fictional website used for educational purposes only)
EduTechStudio
Recommended: Yes
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Edlio
Recommended: Yes
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Wix
Recommended: Yes
Paid/Low Cost: Free and paid for options--see vendor page for details cost
Resources
- Wix vendor page
- Wix Accessible template (needs adjustments from webmaster)
- Color contrast adjustment instructions
- Video guidance
- Sample Wix Accessible Website
- Note: This model accessible site:
- uses Wix’s accessible template AND
- required the use of the color contrast treatment identified above to ensure that the template became accessible.
- Wix accessibility guidance
- Wix Accessibility Checklist
Google Sites
Recommended: No
Paid/Low Cost: Free
Resources
Blackboard/Schoolwires
Recommended: No
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
WordPress
Recommended: No
Paid/Low Cost: Free and paid for options--see vendor page for detail
Resources
- WordPress vendor page
- Make WordPress Accessible Handbook
- Quick start guide
- WordPress Accessibility Plug-in
- Webmasters have shared that WordPress requires a significant investment in staff time to make one’s site accessible. As per WordPress’Quick Start Guide you must add in all the accessibility features by hand. The bulk of their existing templates do not have accessibility built in.They say they have a number of free accessible-ready templates. However, a number of them have been found lacking by the US DOE.
Weebly
Recommended: No
Paid/Low Cost: Free
Resources
- Weebly was bought by Square and has changed its focus. They are not supporting accessibility. If you currently use Weebly, we suggest you consider another platform.
Squarespace
Recommended: No
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
SchoolMessenger
Recommended: No--especially as SchoolMessenger is currently blocking our website accessibility report partners from assessing their sites.
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Schools' Current Website Vendors & Latest Accessibility Report Scores
The list below is in order of most-to-least accessible website vendors. Note that:
- This is as of the latest Website Accessibility Reports (January, 2023)
Vendor / # Average Weighted Errors | # DOE Sites | Score 5 | Score 4 | Score 3 | Score 2 or less | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | eChalk / 1.44 | 285 | 88% | 12% | 0% | 0% |
2 | EduTechStudio / 2.30 | 35 | 86% | 14% | 0% | 0% |
3 | Edlio / 2.43 | 176 | 77% | 22% | 1% | 1% |
4 | Google Sites / 8.9 | 193 | 27% | 48% | 18% | 7% |
5 | Wix / 12.31 | 178 | 17% | 48% | 13% | 21% |
6 | SchoolMessenger / 13.1 | 25 | 4% | 60% | 28% | 8% |
7 | Wordpress / 13.49 | 162 | 25% | 35% | 19% | 21% |
8 | Weebly / 14.93 | 64% | 11% | 42% | 22% | 26% |
9 | Squarespace / 17.51 | 68 | 9% | 43% | 22% | 26% |
10 | Blackboard / School Messenger / 24.50 | 10 | 40% | 40% | 0% | 20% |
Guidance for Vendors
All vendors have an obligation, as per the NYC DOE’s agreement with the US DOE’s Office of Civil Rights, to provide products, information, and resources–even print ones–in a digital format that is accessible to people with disabilities and/or who speak a language other than English.
That includes providing:
- A completed General Services Association Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
- Content that meets the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines at the AA 2.0 level, as a minimum level of compliance.
- Accessibility Statements links to digital version of print materials
- A periodic review of accessibility third-party tools within their sites/applications/resources.