How To Choose An Accessible Content Management System (CMS)

Besides looking at the functional requirements of a content management system (cms), it is also important to consider picking one which will be accessible for people with disabilities. Often times, the accessibility of a CMS increases its usability as well. This article will provide suggestions on finding an accessible cms which will provide the necessary functional requirements.

CMS Functional Requirements

Before thinking about accessibility, determine the functional requirements. Find a content management system which will be able to do everything you need for your project. You should not compromise functionality in order to provide accessibility. Rather, an accessible solution should be provided for all functionalities.

CMS Accessibility Requirements

After the functional requirements are determined, decide whether you want to follow any kind of accessibility standards or guidelines. When you have to build a system for the U.S. federal government, it is important to make sure it complies with the Section 508 requirements. If there is no such requirement, it is most advisable to follow the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). However, what is most important is that the system is accessible for all, including people with all kinds of disabilities. The WCAG will give you a list of recommendations, which will help you make your system totally accessible.

Themes and Modules

It is also important to look at the themes and modules of the CMS you intend to use. While a CMS can be accessible out of the box, it is very possible that third party themes and modules are not.

Find A CMS

By now you probably have an idea which content management systems provide all the functional requirements. Read up on the accessibility statements of the content management systems and make sure they follow the standards or guidelines which you have decided to use. It is a good idea to check some forums and see what users say about the accessibility of a given CMS. Nowadays it is a hot topic, and there are an increasing number of reviews out there.

Make sure that the entire CMS is accessible. It is not enough to consider the user interface only. Some of the administration functions might be required to be accessed by the users, but also consider that your system could be administered by someone who has a disability.

While more and more content management systems claim to integrate the Section 508 standards and the WCAG requirements, many tend to fail to provide full compliance. Many of the open source systems are very accessible, but as of today none of the free content management systems provide full Section 508 compliance. It is expected to change in the very near future.

It is always a good idea to start out with reading a content management system's accessibility notice, if there is any, but experience shows don't solely rely on it. Your best bet is to check out the related forums and see what the experts say. If you have questions, you can always contact Even Grounds and we will be happy to review any systems for you.

Conclusion

It is on purpose that we do not recommend a CMS or a particular version. These days there are just too many out there. Also, since many of these systems are highly customizable, while it might not be accessible today, a new theme could be on the way. Your best bet is to check for one when you need it. A good starting point would be CMS Matrix where you can review and compare several systems.