Overview
The career centers’ websites are not fully accessible. We determined that all five of the career centers’ websites contained webpages that were not accessible in accordance with WCAG 2.1 for user accessibility, keyboard accessibility, navigational accessibility, language, error identification, or color accessibility. We tested webpage samples consisting of 5 Bristol, 5 New Bedford, 10 Brockton, 10 North Central, and 20 Lowell career center webpages. During our testing, we identified webpages that contained sections that had improper reflow when zoomed to 200% or 400%, broken hyperlinks, hyperlinks without sufficient contrast, keyboard navigation issues, and forms without error identifications. Common effects of noncompliance with WCAG 2.1 are listed below.
- Improper reflow when zoomed in to 200% or 400% can significantly impact users with visual impairments who rely on zoom functionality to read and navigate content.
- Broken or faulty hyperlinks limit users from having equitable access to critical information and key online services offered by MDCS. They also increase the likelihood that Massachusetts residents and users may either access outdated or incorrect information or be directed to webpages that no longer exist.
- When hyperlinks are not identifiable because of poor color contrast or a lack of other distinguishable visual cues (e.g., underlining, bolding, color differentiation, or hover effects), users may struggle to identify interactable elements within a body of text. This may also result in users missing a hyperlink that could have provided them with important information.
- When keyboard accessibility is limited (e.g., users cannot tab through the webpage), those with mobility issues may be unable to access certain features or content.
- If users are not informed of errors when inputting data, then they may be unable to identify their errors and retrieve the content they need.
This lack of accessibility not only impacts user experience but also undermines MDCS’s ability to provide equitable access and digital inclusiveness.
We tested 5 Bristol, 5 New Bedford, 10 Brockton, 10 North Central, and 20 Lowell career center webpages. The table below details the results of our testing.
Career Center Web Accessibility Testing
| Success Criterion | Bristol Instances of Noncompliance | New Bedford Instances of Noncompliance | Brockton Instances of Noncompliance | North Central Instances of Noncompliance | Lowell Instances of Noncompliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4.10: Reflow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 2.4.5–2: Multiple Ways | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| 1.4.1: Use of Color | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 20 |
| 2.1.1: Keyboard | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 3.3.1: Error Identification | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total Instances of Noncompliance | 7 | 5 | 14 | 22 | 66 |
Authoritative Guidance
WCAG 2.1 states,
Success Criterion 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA)
Content can be presented without loss of information or functionality, and without requiring scrolling in two dimensions for:
Vertical scrolling content at a width equivalent to 320 CSS pixels
Horizontal scrolling content at a height equivalent to 256 CSS pixels
Except for parts of the content which require two-dimensional layout for usage or meaning.
Success Criterion 2.4.5 Multiple Ways (Level AA)
More than one way is available to locate a web page within a set of web pages except where the Web Page is the result of, or a step in, a process.
Success Criterion 1.4.1 Use of Color (Level A)
Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
Success Criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A)
All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user’s movement and not just the endpoints.
Success Criterion 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A)
If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text.
Reasons for Issue
MDCS management stated that MDCS does not routinely review the accessibility of various website links. Issues are reviewed and corrected following notification of problems by a customer or end user. This was reportedly due to the sheer volume of websites and the limited staff members assigned to this function because of budgetary restraints.
Recommendations
- MDCS should implement and enforce a policy for its career centers to review their webpages periodically for WCAG 2.1 compliance.
- MDCS should collaborate with EOTSS and the career centers to develop a web maintenance schedule to review and update their webpages on a periodic basis (e.g., quarterly or semiannually).
- MDCS should require its career centers to assign designated staff members to oversee accessibility compliance and website updates.
Auditee’s Response
See response 1. Additionally, MDCS will continue to collaborate with EOTSS and local career centers to support compliance with the latest WCAG standards. This will include a periodic review of all career center websites to ensure consistency with regard to language and website accessibility.
As part of the annual monitoring review performed by the MDCS Field Management & Oversight team, we will review local areas to ensure the career centers are following the determined scheduling (e.g., quarterly or semiannually) and any other required updates.
Auditor’s Reply
Based on its response, MDCS is taking measures to address our concerns regarding this matter.
| Date published: | May 27, 2025 |
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