Accessibility

MidSouth Development District  —  midsouthdd.org

Last updated: July 1

Our Commitment to Accessibility

MidSouth Development District is committed to ensuring that our website and digital services are accessible to people with disabilities. We want everyone who visits our site to feel welcome and to be able to find and use our information and services.We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.As a recipient of federal funding, we also work to meet our obligations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published a rule adopting WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for web accessibility for state and local government entities under Title II.

How We Approach Accessibility

WCAG is organized around four core principles. We use these as the foundation for our accessibility work. Accessible content should be:

  • Perceivable — Information and interface elements are presented in ways people can perceive, such as text alternatives for images and sufficient color contrast.

  • Operable — Navigation and interactive elements can be operated in different ways, including using a keyboard alone.

  • Understandable — Information and the operation of the interface are clear, predictable, and easy to follow.

  • Robust — Content is built to work reliably with current and future tools, including assistive technologies such as screen readers.

Conformance Status

We are actively working toward full conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. A recent accessibility review of our website identified a number of areas that need improvement. We consider our site to be partially conformant at this time, meaning some content does not yet fully meet the standard. We are committed to addressing the items below and to improving continuously.

Known Issues and Areas We Are Improving

In the interest of transparency, we are sharing the accessibility issues we are currently aware of and working to resolve. Disclosing known barriers and our plans to fix them reflects the good-faith, ongoing-effort approach that the Department of Justice encourages.

  1. Text descriptions for images: Some images across the site — including photographs of staff, regional maps, and other graphics — do not yet have text descriptions (“alt text”) that screen readers can announce. We are adding meaningful descriptions to these images. Relevant standard: WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content

  2. Site logo / home link labeling: The logo that links to our homepage needs a confirmed, descriptive label so that screen reader users hear it announced clearly as the link to our home page. We are verifying and correcting this label. Relevant standard: WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value; 2.4.4 Link Purpose

  3. Keyboard access to navigation menus: Some drop-down menus in our main navigation may be difficult or impossible to open using only a keyboard. We are working to ensure every menu can be reached and operated without a mouse. Relevant standard: WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard

  4. Social media link wording: Our LinkedIn link currently displays as a long web address rather than clear, descriptive text. We are replacing it with a properly labeled link or icon. Relevant standard: WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose in Context

  5. Text color contrast: Some text on the site may not have enough contrast against its background to be easily readable for people with low vision. We are reviewing color combinations and darkening text where needed to meet the required contrast ratios.Relevant standard: WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

  6. Placeholder “Bio Coming Soon” links: A small number of staff entries include “Bio Coming Soon” links that do not currently lead anywhere, which can confuse people using assistive technology. We are removing or correcting these non-functional links. Relevant standard: WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose; 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  7. Page language setting: We are confirming that every page identifies its language to assistive technology, so that screen readers pronounce content correctly. Relevant standard: WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page

Feedback and Contacting Us

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter a barrier, need information in an alternative format, or have a suggestion for improvement, please contact us. 

Email: region@midsouthdd.org
Phone: (901) 729-2871
Mailing address: 110 Adams Avenue, Suite 500 / Memphis, TN 38103

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within five (5) business days. When you contact us, please describe the problem you experienced, the web page or document involved, and, if possible, the browser and assistive technology you were using. This helps us respond more effectively.

ADA Grievance Procedure

This grievance procedure may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by MidSouth Development District, including the accessibility of our website and digital content.

How to file a complaint

  1. Submit your complaint in writing to our ADA Coordinator. Please include your name, contact information, and a description of the problem, including the date and location (such as the web page or document) and the accommodation or resolution you are seeking.

  2. Send your complaint to: [ADA COORDINATOR NAME / TITLE, ADDRESS, EMAIL, AND PHONE]

  3. We will acknowledge your complaint and, where needed, will arrange to communicate with you in an accessible format. Within [NUMBER] business days, the ADA Coordinator (or designee) will respond, and where possible will meet or speak with you to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.

  4. If the response does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, you may request a review by [REVIEWING OFFICIAL NAME / TITLE]. Filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of JusticeUsing this grievance procedure is not required before, and does not prevent, filing a complaint with a federal or state agency or pursuing other legal remedies. You may file an ADA complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division:

    • Online: civilrights.justice.gov

    • By mail: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530

    • By phone: (800) 514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY)

      Please verify the current Department of Justice contact details and complaint pathways at the time of publishing, as they may change.

Our Ongoing Efforts

Accessibility is an ongoing effort, not a one-time project. We are committed to reviewing our website regularly, training our team on accessible content practices, testing with assistive technologies, and addressing new issues as they are identified. We review and update this statement as our website changes and as we make improvements, and we update the “Last updated” date accordingly.