An official State of Delaware site.

Official websites end in .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use https://

The https:// at the beginning of the delaware.gov address means you are safely connected to the government website. Any information that you provide is securely transmitted.

GIC logo
Government Information Center

Accessibility Expectations

As stewards of Delaware’s official government digital presence, it is a requirement and a responsibility of all online contributors to actively work toward digital accessibility compliance.

That means agencies must work actively toward making all online content compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Here are the expectations for specific types of content, and for specific roles within an agency digital presence (website, social media, YouTube, or other).

Official state seal of Delaware.

Oversight Roles and Responsibilities

DTI – Department of Technology and Information

  • Delaware’s DTI is the state’s central IT organization, chartered to exercise governance over Delaware’s technology direction and investments.
  • DTI has contracted accessibility software tools that any state agency can utilize. DTI is responsible for accessibility training for state agencies.
Logo for the Delaware Department of Technology and Information

GIC – Government Information Center

  • GIC is responsible for the Common Look and Feel that is expected of all Delaware state websites.
  • GIC also supports and maintains dozens of state agency and municipality website, ensuring the code base is accessible.
  • GIC also offers an open-source, accessible website design system called Lighthouse, available for anyone to use.
GIC logo

Delaware State Agencies and Municipalities

  • State agencies and municipalities are responsible for keeping the editable content of their websites, social media, and other online communication in compliance. This includes any downloadable files, whether they were created by the agency or by an outside source.
  • It will be up to the agency to respond to any complaints, even if a vendor manages the website.
Official state seal of Delaware.

Expectations of Agency Employees

Leadership
  • Communicate consistently the importance of inclusion and accessibility.
  • Incorporate accessibility automated and manual testing into design/development phase.
  • Ensure that accessibility compliance is required for final sign-off on new projects.
  • Budget and plan for accessibility training and resources for staff.
  • Track vendor accessibility commitments in contracts.
Developers
  • Conduct accessibility testing for pages and applications during design and development.
  • Add accessibility checklists to QA testing and maintenance criteria.
  • Build evaluations/audits into your calendar to continuously update and modify code as conditions, WordPress or Windows updates dictate.
  • Track accessibility goals and accomplishments for internal measurement and to provide evidence of these efforts in response to an accessibility complaint.
Content Creators
  • Make accessibility a non-negotiable aspect of any new content creation.
  • Conduct accessibility testing and fix all issues prior to posting content.
  • Address most common accessibility issues.
  • Complete all recommended/provided accessibility training.
Other Agency Employees
  • Make sure that all new written content including news releases, memos and inter-office bulletins is created to pass digital accessibility standards; whether or not the text ends up online, it may be read by disabled colleagues now or in the future.
  • Ask for help and training if unclear on best ways to achieve accessibility compliance. 
Vendors & Contractors
  • Accessibility must be a required criterion, not an add-on, in contracts and purchasing decisions.
  • Vendors should provide documented WCAG conformance and commit to remediation and ongoing compliance.
  • Contractors should adhere to the same standards and policies that apply to state employees.

Expectations for Online Content

Office Documents

Remember that website attachments are subject to the same accessibility rules as web pages. Use built-in styles for headings and lists, provide meaningful alt text for images, and ensure sufficient color contrast. Tables must have header rows and simple structure, and documents should be fully usable with a keyboard and screen reader. Use the “Check Accessibility” button under “Review” in Word.

PowerPoint Presentations

Use built-in slide layouts to ensure correct reading order, add alt text to all meaningful images, and keep text concise and high contrast. Avoid conveying information through color or animation alone, and ensure any audio or video includes captions. Use the “Check Accessibility” button under “Review” in PowerPoint.

PDFs

PDFs must be properly tagged with correct reading order, headings, lists, and table structure. All images require alt text, form fields must be labeled, and the document should pass accessibility checks before publishing.

Email

Use semantic structure (headings, lists, descriptive links) and avoid image-only messages. Ensure adequate color contrast, concise subject lines, and that content is readable when images are disabled or with assistive technologies.

Social Media

Provide alt text for images, captions for videos, and avoid relying on color or emojis alone to convey meaning. Use plain language, CamelCase for hashtags, and keep content readable and concise.

Videos

All videos must include accurate captions and, when needed, audio descriptions for visual-only information. Controls must be keyboard accessible, and any flashing content must meet seizure-safety standards.

Ask Any Accessibility Question

Really- anything! This Accessibility Inquiry Form will be reviewed by the GIC and responses will be made as soon as possible.