Our goal is to ensure that CBOX OpenLab is accessible for all users by complying with WCAG 2.0 accessibility standard level AAA. CBOX OpenLab includes features specifically designed to promote accessibility:
- Zoom: CBOX OpenLab functions well in an enlarged or “zoomed in” state. When zoom is maximized, CBOX OpenLab switches to a mobile layout. CBOX OpenLab can be zoomed in and out as needed without causing functionality issues from the transitions.
- Contrast: We seek to attain at least a contrast ratio of 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text to correspond to the WCAG level AAA recommendation for foreground and background colors. CBOX OpenLab avoids using color as the sole method of conveying information.
- Moving areas and animations: CBOX OpenLab does not contain videos or animations that autoplay. There is a slider on the homepage, but it can be overridden using the “tab” key to view a static version.
- Skip Links: Users can hit the “tab” key on any page to skip to the admin bar to log in, check messages, or to skip to the main content on the page.
- Tab navigation: CBOX OpenLab follows the visual order of the page. The user can combine visual and keyboard navigation without jumping around the page unexpectedly.
- Keyboard navigation: Search and Admin Bar can be used with a keyboard navigation.
- Screen Reader Accessibility: The Homepage Slider can be advanced with the tab key so that the user does not have to listen to all of the slides to continue. Buttons are labeled to make sense when read aloud. Icons are hidden from screen readers so that the name of the icon is not read aloud. If the action of a button or link is not clear from its label, additional information is included for screen readers. Images are labeled clearly for screen readers. Hierarchy of headings on a page communicates information.
Commons In A Box is built using WordPress and other software created by the WordPress community, which is committed to being as inclusive and accessible as possible; see WordPress’s accessibility statement for more information.
Some features and functionality currently in development may not yet fully comply.
The WordPress block editor (also known as Gutenberg) is currently the default for CBOX OpenLab, and has been the default WordPress editor since version 5.0 was released in December 2018.
While the block editor’s accessibility continues to improve over time, there have been a number of concerns raised, including those discussed in the results of the WPCampus Accessibility Audit, released in May 2019.
We recognize that each CBOX OpenLab community may want to take a different approach to the implementation of the block editor. As such, CBOX OpenLab admins can install the Classic Editor plugin, which allows for a number of different options. These include the option to use the classic editor as the default but allow members to choose which editor to use on a per-site and per-post basis, or to make the block editor the default and allow members to choose their preferred editor on a per-site and per-post basis. CBOX OpenLab Admins can install the Classic Editor plugin in Dashboard > Network Admin > Plugins.
Find an accessibility issue? Please report it to us via the CBOX OpenLab Support Forum.
Note that it’s important to educate members of your CBOX OpenLab community about their responsibility to ensure that their work is accessible for others. See this help post on City Tech’s OpenLab for an example of how you might do this.
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