Website Vendors

Every website owner is charged with selecting the appropriate accessible platform that meets their community’s needs and their technology skill level. A few things to keep in mind when researching the best platform for your website:

ERMA Compliance

Completed

• eChalk
• Edlio
• Educational Networks/SchoolSitePro
• Edutech Studio/Edutech Computer Services
• Google Sites
• SchoolMessenger/Intrado
• SchoolBlocks
• Wix

In Progress

• Squarespace

Not on ERMA

• Behively
• Blackboard/FinalSite
• Blogger
• Drupal
• Go Daddy
• Membership Toolkit
• Mobririse
• School Webmasters
• Squarespace
• Weebly
• Wordpress.com

Accessibility

When choosing a website platform, you need to ensure that it meets the WCAG 2.1 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.

Accessibility 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 2.1 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 add-ons 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?
  • Is your website vendor's status in ERMA? If not, have you initiated it and connected them with the requirements below?

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 Edutech Studio, eChalk, 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.