Accessibility Statement

Statement Date: April 6, 2026

Our Commitment

Missourians for Ethical and Transparent Government (METG) is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all people, including those with disabilities. We believe that government transparency information should be accessible to every citizen, regardless of ability. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply relevant accessibility standards throughout our digital properties.

Standards We Follow

Our Site is designed to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines define how to make web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.

We also strive to comply with:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III requirements as interpreted by federal courts.
• The April 2024 Department of Justice rule establishing WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for state and local government web content under ADA Title II.
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, where applicable.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following accessibility features on our Site:

Keyboard Navigation

• All interactive elements (links, buttons, form controls) are navigable using the keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space, Escape).
• A "Skip to main content" link is provided as the first focusable element on every page, allowing keyboard users to bypass repeated navigation.
• Visible focus indicators are displayed on all interactive elements when using keyboard navigation.
• Dropdown menus and expandable sections are operable via keyboard.

Visual Design

• Color contrast: Text and background color combinations meet or exceed the WCAG 2.1 Level AA minimum contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
• Text resizing: All text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
• Color independence: Information is never conveyed by color alone — text labels, icons, or patterns are used alongside color indicators.
• Dark/light mode: A theme toggle allows users to choose between light and dark color schemes based on preference or need.

Content Structure

• Semantic HTML: We use proper HTML5 elements (header, nav, main, article, section, footer) to convey document structure to assistive technologies.
• Heading hierarchy: Pages use a logical heading order (h1 through h6) without skipping levels.
• Alt text: All meaningful images include descriptive alternative text. Decorative images are marked with empty alt attributes so screen readers skip them.
• ARIA labels: Interactive elements that lack visible text labels include ARIA attributes to describe their purpose to screen reader users.

Responsive Design

• The Site is fully responsive and functions across a wide range of devices, screen sizes, and orientations.
• Touch targets (buttons, links) meet the minimum 44x44 pixel target size for ease of interaction on touchscreen devices.
• Content reflows gracefully when zoomed or when viewed on smaller screens.

Screen Reader Compatibility

• The Site is designed to be compatible with popular screen readers, including JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver (macOS/iOS), and TalkBack (Android).
• Form fields have associated labels for proper identification.
• Dynamic content changes (such as expanding sections) include appropriate ARIA live regions or state attributes.

Motion and Animation

• Animations respect the prefers-reduced-motion media query — users who have configured their system to reduce motion will see minimal or no animation.
• No content flashes more than three times per second.

Known Limitations

Despite our efforts, some portions of the Site may not yet be fully accessible. Known limitations include:

• Third-party content: Some embedded third-party content (such as the Givebutter donation platform) may not fully meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. We have communicated our accessibility requirements to these providers and encourage them to improve their accessibility.
• PDF documents: Some historical documents or forms may not be fully accessible. We are working to provide accessible alternatives (HTML versions or accessible PDFs) for all critical documents.
• Legacy content: Older content published before the adoption of this accessibility standard may contain accessibility issues. We are systematically reviewing and remediating legacy content.

Remediation Plans

We are committed to the following remediation efforts:

• Conducting regular automated and manual accessibility audits of the Site.
• Prioritizing and addressing identified issues on a rolling basis.
• Including accessibility testing in our development workflow for all new content and features.
• Providing accessible alternatives for any content that cannot be made directly accessible.
• Training staff and volunteers on accessibility best practices.

How to Report Accessibility Issues

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the METG website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know:

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within five (5) business days and to resolve issues within thirty (30) days where feasible.

Third-Party Content

Our Site includes links to and integrations with third-party services, including government databases, public records systems, and the Givebutter donation platform. While we strive to link only to services that share our commitment to accessibility, we cannot guarantee that third-party content meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. If you encounter accessibility issues on a linked third-party site, we encourage you to contact that service directly.

Contact for Accessibility Concerns