♿ Accessibility at GLO
Making GLO More Accessible to More People
Gainesville Locally Owned is committed to making GLO easier and more comfortable for everyone to use. To help visitors customize their experience, Sienna Accessibility Widget has been installed throughout the GLO website.
Sienna provides a convenient set of user-controlled accessibility tools, including:
- 🔠 Text Size & Display Adjustments — Make text easier to read and adjust spacing and presentation.
- 🌓 Contrast & Color Options — Adjust contrast and colors for improved visual clarity.
- 📖 Dyslexia-Friendly Font — Provides an alternative font that may improve readability for some users.
- 🖱️ Cursor & Reading Tools — Includes options such as a larger cursor and reading guide.
- 🎬 Animation Controls — Reduce or stop animations and other visual movement.
- 🔊 Reading Assistance — Provides tools that can make website content easier to access and read.
- ⚙️ Personalized Settings — Visitors can choose the tools that work best for their individual needs.
Why We Added It
Accessibility isn't one-size-fits-all. Different people need different things, and Sienna gives visitors more control over how they experience GLO.
It is also free, lightweight, privacy-friendly, and doesn't require visitors to create an account, making it a practical accessibility enhancement for a locally focused directory like GLO.
What Are WCAG & ADA Compliance?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG provides internationally recognized recommendations for making websites and digital content more accessible to people with disabilities.
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, a U.S. federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Depending on the circumstances, accessibility requirements can apply to businesses and their websites.
WCAG is not the ADA, and there is no simple “WCAG-compliant = ADA-compliant” formula. However, WCAG is widely used as a technical framework for evaluating and improving website accessibility.
One Very Important Thing
A widget does not make a website WCAG-compliant or guarantee ADA compliance.
An accessibility widget is a helpful tool, but it does not replace accessible website design and development. True accessibility can involve many things, including proper heading structure, keyboard navigation, sufficient color contrast, descriptive links, accessible forms, meaningful alternative text, and more.
GLO's accessibility widget is one part of our ongoing effort to make the directory more usable and accessible to as many people as possible.
For GLO Advertisers: If you have your own website, installing an accessibility widget does not, by itself, make that website WCAG-compliant or guarantee ADA compliance. Website accessibility should be addressed as part of the website's overall design, content, and development.