Accessibility Statement

Effective Date: May 23, 2025

At First Gen Texas, we are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying relevant accessibility standards as part of our mission to empower first-generation students and their families.

Our Accessibility Approach

Our website is designed and maintained with accessibility in mind, following principles of universal design and striving for conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

This includes efforts to:

  • Use clear, readable text and consistent navigation

  • Provide sufficient color contrast and scalable font sizes

  • Include descriptive image alt text where applicable

  • Label form fields for screen reader compatibility

  • Ensure keyboard navigation is supported

  • Avoid the use of flashing elements or auto-play media

We are currently using Squarespace, a platform with built-in accessibility tools, and have customized our template to align with best practices. However, we acknowledge that some areas of the site may not yet fully meet the highest accessibility standards.

Known Limitations

While we aim for optimal accessibility, we recognize the following areas may not fully meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards at this time. We are actively working to improve these and welcome user feedback.

1. Missing or Incomplete Alt Text on Images

  • Several images and graphics on the site lack descriptive alt attributes. This includes decorative photos, logos, and testimonial visuals.

  • What to fix: Add concise, meaningful alt text to all non-decorative images via Squarespace’s image editor.

2. Lack of ARIA Labels or Landmarks

  • Page sections like headers, footers, and navigation menus are not always programmatically labeled for assistive technologies.

  • What to fix: Add ARIA roles (<nav>, <main>, <footer>, etc.) or use Squarespace blocks with built-in semantic HTML whenever possible.

3. Forms May Be Difficult to Navigate with Screen Readers

  • The contact form lacks properly associated <label> tags for each input field.

  • What to fix: Use Squarespace's form builder settings to label each field (e.g., Name, Email) and confirm they are screen reader compatible.

4. Low Color Contrast in Some Elements

  • Certain text elements (e.g., light gray or white text over light backgrounds) may not meet the 4.5:1 minimum contrast ratio required for readability.

  • What to fix: Adjust text or background colors for better contrast, especially in CTA buttons and footers.

5. Navigation Does Not Always Support Keyboard-Only Use

  • The site has no visible focus states for keyboard navigation (i.e., when tabbing through links or buttons).

  • What to fix: Ensure focus indicators (like outlines or underlines) are enabled in global styles for all interactive elements.

6. Lack of Skip Links or Page Navigation Aids

  • Users cannot quickly skip repetitive navigation (like menus) to get to the main content.

  • What to fix: Add a “Skip to main content” link at the top of the page using custom code or third-party Squarespace plugins.

7. No Language Selector or Multilingual Support

  • The site is available in English only, which may limit access for some first-gen families who speak Spanish as their primary language.

  • What to fix: Add Spanish-language versions of key pages or integrate a multilingual plugin if translation is part of your strategy.

8. PDFs and External Documents May Not Be Accessible

  • Any linked resources or downloadable forms may not be formatted for screen readers.

  • What to fix: Ensure PDFs are tagged for accessibility or offer HTML/text-based alternatives.

9. Mobile Accessibility Not Fully Tested

  • Some page layouts stack or scale unpredictably on smaller screens, which can hinder readability and navigation for mobile users.

  • What to fix: Use responsive block settings and test all pages using mobile device simulators and real devices.

10. Embedded media or third-party widgets 

  • (e.g., Google Forms, Google Sheets, Calendly, YouTube) may have limitations outside our control.

We are actively working to improve these areas and welcome feedback.

Accessibility Support

If you experience any difficulty accessing content on this site or have suggestions to improve accessibility, please contact us directly:

Email: firstgentexas@gmail.com 

We aim to respond to all accessibility inquiries within 7 business days.

🔄 Ongoing Improvements

We regularly audit our site and update our accessibility practices as new standards emerge and technology evolves. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we partner with users and web professionals to ensure this site continues to serve everyone.