Accessibility Policy

InnovateUS is committed to providing programming that empowers every public service professional to participate and grow so that they can deliver more effective and equitable policies and services to the people they serve. At InnovateUS, we firmly believe that diversity enriches the learning experience and that everyone deserves the opportunity to engage in meaningful education. 

True inclusivity goes beyond compliance; it is about creating an environment where every InnovateUS learner feels valued and supported. To achieve this, we continuously assess and update our accessibility practices, seeking input from our community to better address the evolving needs of our learners. 

Read below to learn more about our commitment to accessibility across our website, online training programs, live workshops and more. 

InnovateUS platforms

Website 

This website is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard.

Communications and social media

InnovateUS regularly sends out email communications and posts on social media to alert learners of new program offerings. Our communications adhere to the following accessibility best practices:

• Descriptive subject lines that clearly convey the content and purpose of the email

• Descriptive alternative text for images

• Descriptive hyperlinks that are meaningful out of context

• Logical reading order to ensure that screen reader users can understand the information in a meaningful sequence

• Semantic HTML used to structure the email content for better navigation and understanding

• Responsive design so that our email is mobile-friendly and responsive to different screen sizes and devices

• Readable fonts and contrast to enhance readability for users with visual impairments

• Clear and concise language making our content simple to understand for a diverse audience

• Information conveyed by color alone is also available through text or other visual cues

• Testing with assistive technologies to identify and address any accessibility issues before emails are sent

• Interactive elements can be easily navigated and activated using a keyboard alone

• Text versions of the email and non-text content (e.g., videos)

Self-paced online courses

InnovateUS hosts free, self-paced online courses through Moodle LMS, an open-source eLearning software. You can review the commitment Moodle has made on the Accessibility page of their website. Moodle is committed to following the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

In addition to accessibility support through the Moodle LMS platform, InnovateUS also conducts audits of our online training content to ensure it meets best practices. 

Live workshops

InnovateUS hosts regular live workshops through Zoom, a virtual meeting platform. You can review the commitment Zoom has made on the Accessibility page of their website. They are compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA Standards. Zoom allows for closed captioning and supports custom settings for the display, keyboard accessibility and screen reader support. 

Before the workshops

Learners can sign up for workshops through our registration form hosted by Airtable. If for any reason, a person cannot use our registration form, they can email our team at [email protected] to request additional support. 

If a learner needs additional accommodations, such as previewing the material in advance through an accessible PDF or plain text format or technical assistance before or during the workshop, they may request support during the registration process.

Every person who hosts a workshop with InnovateUS is asked to design slides and visuals with accessibility in mind, using clear, high-contrast visuals and providing descriptive alt text for images.

During the workshops

We provide technical support for every workshop to resolve any problems that arise for learners. We can be contacted through the Zoom Chat or by email at [email protected]. 

We ask our workshop instructors to follow our best practices including:

• Encouraging diverse forms of participation, such as written comments, in addition to verbal contributions, to accommodate different communication styles

• Using inclusive and clear language throughout the workshop, avoiding jargon, and explaining technical terms as needed

After the workshops

When a workshop is complete, we include a recording of the event under the “Recorded Workshops” tab on our Workshops page. Recordings are hosted through Zoom and include closed captions. Videos can be downloaded as MP4s. 

Feedback and contact information

If you encounter any difficulties or issues while navigating our programs, we encourage you to report the challenges to us. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to improve accessibility and ensure that our content is accessible to everyone.

To report any problems or share your accessibility concerns, please message us at [email protected]. We appreciate your assistance in helping us create a more inclusive online environment and are committed to addressing any issues promptly.

Thank you for your collaboration as we work towards making our website accessible to all users. Your input is crucial in our ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience for everyone who visits our site.