Cobb Chamber upgrades site accessibility

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce announced on Wednesday that it has implemented new technological measures to make its website more usable for people with various disabilities. The update targets the digital experience for blind users, those with motor impairments, and individuals with visual or cognitive challenges.

The chamber stated that it aims to follow the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at the AA level. This standard provides specific rules for making web content accessible to a wide range of users. By adhering to these guidelines, the organization seeks to ensure its site is available to the widest possible audience.

The new system uses an AI-based application that runs in the background of the website. This tool constantly optimizes the site’s accessibility level. It remediates the website’s HTML code and adapts the site’s behavior for screen readers and keyboard functions. The system also processes images to provide accurate alternate text descriptions for users who rely on auditory information.

Users with screen readers will receive a prompt to enter a specific profile upon entering the site. This allows them to browse and operate the website effectively. The chamber noted that the system is compatible with popular screen readers such as JAWS and NVDA on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

The website now supports specific keyboard shortcuts for users with motor impairments. These include using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys for navigation and the Enter key to trigger buttons and links. Users can also press specific letter keys to jump to menus, headings, forms, buttons, or graphics. A background process manages popups to keep keyboard focus on the active element.

The chamber said it has worked to support major browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, and Microsoft Edge. These platforms cover over 95 percent of the user market share. The organization acknowledged that some pages or sections may still be in the process of becoming fully accessible.

The group invited the public to report any malfunctions or ideas for improvement via email. It stated that it is continually adding and updating accessibility options as new technologies become available.