Montana Rural Water Systems (MRWS) wants everyone to be able to use this website: on a phone in the field or a computer in the office, with a screen reader, keyboard, magnifier, or none of these.
Our goal
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, level AA, the standard most public websites in the United States follow.
How the website is built
- Large, readable text and strong contrast between text and background.
- Works on phones, tablets and computers, and when you zoom in to 200%.
- Every page can be used with a keyboard alone, with a visible focus outline and a “Skip to main content” link.
- Clear headings and page landmarks, so screen readers can move around each page.
- Every form field has a label. When something is missing, the form says what and where, and screen readers announce it.
- Photos that carry meaning have text descriptions. Decorative pictures are hidden from screen readers.
- Plain words, and links that say where they go.
- Nothing that flashes, and no sound or video that starts by itself.
How we check it
Before launch and after changes, the website is tested with automated accessibility checks at phone and desktop sizes, and by hand with a keyboard. We fix problems as we find them.
Known limitations
- Older documents. Some PDF files, such as older newsletters, forms and scanned letters, were made before this website and may not work well with screen readers.
- Older pictures. A few images in older pages and news posts may not yet have a text description.
- Other services. Some steps happen on websites run by others: Stripe’s card payment page, GoTo Webinar for online classes, our conference registration app, Sun Coast Learning, and address suggestions from Google. We chose services that work to be accessible, but we do not control them.
If any of these gets in your way, tell us. We will send you the information in another format, or help you register or pay by phone.
Tell us about a problem
If you have trouble using any part of this website, please let us know. Tell us the page and what happened, and how we can reach you. We aim to reply within 5 business days.
Montana Rural Water Systems
9 3rd St N #304, Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: (406) 454-1151
E-mail: MTRuralWater@mrws.org
You can always register for a class, renew a membership or pay by phone instead.