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Accessibility Statement

SWAN is committed to providing accessible software and services to our member libraries to serve people with a wide range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability. We currently use the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as our evaluation standard.

SWAN's accessibility efforts include:

As of 2021, in an effort to further improve the accessibility of patron-facing services:

  • SWAN will not integrate any third-party services or e-resources into the library catalog that do not meet accessibility standards -- this includes chat widgets and other features libraries may purchase independently.
  • SWAN will not pursue group purchases of e-resources that do not meet accessibility standards.

You can learn more about how SWAN evaluates resources for inclusion in the catalog.

Ultimately, a fully accessible library experience depends on SWAN, member libraries, and library vendors all taking responsibility to ensure access for people with disabilities. SWAN acknowledges that accessibility is an iterative, ongoing effort, and not all of our core supported services meet our accessibility standards. We are documenting our efforts to work with vendors through our supported platforms database.

Report a Barrier

Please report any barriers to access that you experience with SWAN supported websites and software.

Digital accessibility means that websites, tools, and applications are designed and coded so that people with disabilities can use them.

Disabled Americans represent 12.6% of the civilian, non-institutionalized population according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and they are disproportionally affected by the digital divide and issues of racial and social inequality. Many people with a disability would not identify as being disabled, and many disabilities are invisible. Disabilities that affect access to the web include:

  • Cognitive disability (e.g. dyslexia)
  • Physical disability (e.g. chronic pain)
  • Auditory disability (e.g. hard-of-hearing)
  • Visual disability (e.g. color-blindness)

Disabilities can also be temporary (such as a broken arm) or situational (unable to listen to audio on a loud train).

Observing best practices for digital accessibility improves the experience for people without disabilities as well. For example, complying with color contrast standards helps everyone to more easily read a website, not just people with low vision or color-blindness.

See Accessibility Fundamentals from the Worldwide Web Consortium's (W3C) for more information about digital and web accessibility.

A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User Experiences, by Sarah Horton and Whitney Quesenbery (2014), is also an excellent resource.

SWAN and member libraries work with many third-party resources that include databases, eBook platforms, video conferencing software, chat services, and reading program platforms.

While we may not be able to directly control accessibility standards for these third-party resources, we can influence and work with vendors to improve accessibility, especially at the point to purchasing and negotiating contracts.

Evaluating SWAN supported services

As of 2021, SWAN requests a VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, for any new contracts, and we look for compliance with World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. A VPAT will outline the areas where the vendor is fully, partially, or not compliant with accessibility standards. Keep in mind that a VPAT does not ensure a product is accessible, but a good VPAT should address where the product is compliant and where it is not.

If a VPAT is not available, SWAN will request an alternate accessibility statement and/or evaluate web-based services using automated testing tools and manual evaluation. An evaluation can identify development requests to include in a contract.

For platforms in use that do not comply with accessibility standards, SWAN works with the vendor to bring the product up to standards.

SWAN updates our supported services list with accessibility information, including VPAT availability, alternate accessibility reports, and ongoing efforts with vendors that are not compliant.

Evaluating library resources

SWAN strongly encourages libraries to keep accessibility in mind when purchasing any new resources.

As of October 2021, SWAN will not integrate any services into the library catalog that are not in compliance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 . Be sure to contact SWAN about any purchases you are considering that would integrate into the catalog. This could include chat widgets, tutorials, or library mapping tools.

SWAN will evaluate any new services added to the catalog using the vendor's VPAT (if available), automated testing tools for web-based services, and manual evaluation methods, such as testing that the interface can be navigated without a mouse. For platforms in use that do not comply with accessibility standards, SWAN works with the vendor to bring the product up to standards. However, in the case of the public catalog, SWAN will not integrate resources until they are compliant.

To help libraries evaluate e-resources before purchase, SWAN has partnered with RAILS to collect and update VPATs in the RAILS VPAT database.

Automated testing tools

SWAN relies on the following automated testing tools:

Note that reliable automated testing tools for mobile apps are not available. SWAN will require a VPAT for mobile apps.

 

SWAN engages in accessibility awareness and training through our user groups and connecting our members with ongoing training.

User groups

The E-Resources Advisory Group regularly covers topics around accessibility for databases and eBook platforms. The Discovery and User Experience Advisory Group (DUX) explores topics around usability and accessibility of the public-facing catalog, as well as catalog integrations. View user group meetings.

Grant-funded training

SWAN organized a training with Deque Systems funded by the RAILS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Grant on September 21st, 2021. This training was not recorded due to stipulations from Deque.

SWAN continues to explore grants to fund accessibility education.

SWAN is directly responsible for the SWAN support site and the SWAN patron site, which also includes SWAN developed applications that include online patron registration.

The SWAN patron site and support site comply with current WCAG standards, as evaluated using the aXe Dev Tools Chrome Extension, manual testing, and the FAE Accessibility Evaluator 2.1.

SWAN updates our supported services list with accessibility information, including VPAT availability, alternate accessibility reports, and ongoing efforts with vendors that are not compliant.

Please report any barriers to access that you experience on SWAN supported websites.