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Case Study · WordPress · Accessibility · GOVERNMENT

Making a Large Public Website More Accessible, Usable, and Inclusive

Boulder County manages a large public website with thousands of pages, many departments, and a wide range of community users. They needed ongoing accessibility support that went beyond automated scans — including template-level improvements, screen reader testing, content editor guidance, and practical fixes that made the site easier to navigate for more people.

The Challenge

Accessibility improvements at this scale require more than automated scans

Boulder County’s website includes approximately 1,800 pages across many departments and content owners. Their team uses SiteImprove to monitor accessibility issues, but many improvements required deeper technical support — especially when issues involved page structure, templates, tables, keyboard navigation, or screen reader behavior.

Because the site serves the public, accessibility could not be treated as a one-time checklist. Boulder County needed an ongoing partner who could interpret accessibility reports, test real user experiences, and implement improvements that worked across a complex WordPress environment.

  • Automated accessibility scans identified issues, but many fixes required template or code-level updates
  • A large content ecosystem made consistency difficult across departments and page types
  • Screen reader and keyboard navigation needed to work across complex menus, tables, and page layouts
  • Content editors needed guidance on what they could fix themselves and when technical support was required
  • Accessibility improvements needed to support real users without disrupting the standard browsing experience

What We Did

A practical accessibility support process for a large, evolving public website

  • Reviewed SiteImprove accessibility findings and identified which issues required technical implementation
  • Tested pages using screen reader tools including JAWS, VoiceOver, and NVDA to understand real accessibility behavior
  • Improved page structure so content could be interpreted more clearly by assistive technologies
  • Created keyboard-accessible navigation patterns, including skip links for jumping to key areas of the page
  • Added ways for screen reader users to bypass long or repetitive content, including large data tables
  • Implemented accessible table solutions using TablePress Pro and improved ARIA support
  • Reviewed and improved color contrast across key areas of the site
  • Partnered with Boulder County’s content editors by separating content-level fixes from template-level technical issues
  • Provided accessibility guidance and training support so internal teams could make better long-term content decisions
  • Researched and applied WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 standards to improve compliance readiness
Keyboard-accessible skip links help users move quickly to the menu, main content, or footer.
Accessible table improvements make complex information easier to navigate on desktop, mobile, and assistive technologies

Accessibility Improvements

Accessibility improvements are often invisible to visual users, but they make a significant difference for keyboard and screen reader navigation.

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The Result

A more accessible public website that better serves the full community

Technical accessibility issues were addressed at the template and structural level

Screen reader and keyboard navigation became easier and more predictable

Large tables and complex content became more usable across devices and assistive technologies

Content editors had clearer guidance for maintaining accessibility over time

Boulder County improved accessibility beyond basic automated scan results

The site became easier to maintain as accessibility needs continued to evolve

Key Takeaway

For large public-sector websites, accessibility is not solved by a widget or a one-time scan. It requires technical expertise, real-world testing, content training, and ongoing improvements that make the site more usable for everyone.

This project helped Boulder County improve accessibility across a large, complex website while supporting the internal teams responsible for keeping the content current.

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