The Kentucky Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) stands as a model organization for promoting independence and self-determination among individuals with disabilities. This case study examines how KYSILC effectively fulfills its mission through strategic programming, community engagement, and advocacy initiatives. This case study examines the development and implementation of Kentucky SILC’s digital presence, focusing on creating a WCAG-compliant website and integrated marketing tools that effectively serve the disability community. The project prioritized accessibility while delivering engaging content and functionality.
Website Design: Empowering Kentuckians with Disabilities to Live Independently
Objectives
Kentucky SILC recognized the need for a digital platform that would effectively serve individuals with disabilities while promoting their mission of independent living advocacy. The organization required a website that would not only meet strict accessibility standards but also provide robust functionality for content management, event promotion, and community engagement. The project team prioritized creating a user-friendly experience that would work seamlessly with assistive technologies while maintaining an engaging and professional design.
- Create a fully accessible website meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
- Develop effective digital marketing tools
- Ensure consistent brand messaging
- Maximize community engagement
- Provide easy access to resources and information
Design Process
Research and Planning: Technical Architecture
The website was built using a modern tech stack focused on accessibility and performance. The foundation includes semantic HTML5, CSS3 with accessibility-focused styling, and progressive enhancement principles. The content management system was customized to include accessibility checkpoints, ensuring that new content automatically meets WCAG standards. The platform integrates smoothly with assistive technologies and includes features like skip navigation, focus indicators, and alternative text management systems.
Creative Conceptualization
Based on the insights gathered, the design team developed several conceptual designs, experimenting with various orientations, styles, and thematic elements. The concepts were reviewed by stakeholders, with a focus on ensuring that the map would be both informative and aesthetically pleasing. Comprehensive testing was conducted throughout development, involving members of the disability community and accessibility experts. Screen reader testing, keyboard navigation assessment, and color contrast verification were performed regularly. User feedback led to several improvements in navigation structure and content organization, resulting in a more intuitive and accessible experience for all users.
Kentucky SILC Website and Brand Design: Accessible Digital Excellence
The final design creates an inclusive and empowering digital presence that prioritizes accessibility while maintaining professional aesthetics. It features:
- Accessible Color System:
- Primary Color: Deep Navy Blue for headers and key elements
- Secondary Colors: Pure White for contrast and readability
- Accent Colors: Light Blue for interactive elements
- All color combinations exceed WCAG 2.1 AA contrast requirements
- High-visibility focus indicators in bright blue
- Logo Design:
- Dual-Version Accessibility:
- Full Color: Navy blue with white text for standard display
- High Contrast: Black and white version for maximum visibility
- Reversed: White version for dark backgrounds
- Clear Typography: Sans-serif font for optimal readability
- Simplified Shapes: Clean lines and recognizable forms
- Minimum Size Requirements: Ensures visibility at all scales
- Available in multiple formats (SVG, PNG, PDF) for various uses
- Dual-Version Accessibility:
- Typography System:
- Primary Font: Open Sans for its excellent readability
- Secondary Font: Roboto for supporting text
- Minimum Font Size: 16px for body text
- Clear Hierarchy: Distinct heading sizes (h1-h6)
- Line Height: 1.5 for optimal readability
- Letter Spacing: Adjusted for maximum legibility
- Navigation Elements:
- Skip Links: Hidden until focused for keyboard navigation
- Breadcrumb Trails: Clear location indicators
- Mega Menus: Organized by topic with clear categories
- Mobile-Friendly: Hamburger menu with large touch targets
- Focus States: Highly visible indicators for keyboard users
- Interactive Components:
- Buttons: Large click areas with clear hover states
- Forms: Clearly labeled fields with error handling
- Links: Underlined and color-coded for easy identification
- Search: Prominent placement with auto-complete features
- Call-to-Action: High contrast buttons with clear purpose
- Content Presentation:
- Clean Layout: Ample white space for easy scanning
- Grid System: Responsive 12-column layout
- Content Blocks: Clear separation between sections
- Image Guidelines: Alt text requirements and caption standards
- Document Templates: Accessible PDF and Word formats
- Responsive Design:
- Mobile-First Approach: Optimized for all devices
- Flexible Images: Scales without losing clarity
- Breakpoint System: Ensures readability at all sizes
- Touch Targets: Minimum 44×44 pixels for accessibility
- Orientation Support: Functions in portrait and landscape
- User Support Features:
- Text Resize Controls: Easy font size adjustment
- High Contrast Toggle: Alternative color schemes
- Screen Reader Optimization: ARIA labels and landmarks
- Language Selection: Clear language switching options
- Help Resources: Accessible support documentation
These design elements create a cohesive and accessible digital experience that serves all users while maintaining Kentucky SILC’s professional image and mission-driven focus. The design system prioritizes usability without sacrificing visual appeal, ensuring that all visitors can effectively engage with the organization’s resources and information.
The style guide established here serves as a foundation for all digital materials, ensuring consistency across platforms while maintaining the highest standards of accessibility and user experience.
Results and Impact
The new digital platform significantly improved Kentucky SILC’s ability to serve its community. Website analytics showed increased engagement, with higher page view duration and lower bounce rates. The accessible design led to improved user satisfaction scores, particularly among screen reader users. Newsletter subscription rates increased by 45% following the launch of the accessible email marketing system, and social media engagement metrics showed substantial improvement.
Recommendations
Based on the project’s outcomes, organizations undertaking similar initiatives should prioritize accessibility training for all team members, establish clear accessibility guidelines for content creation, and implement regular accessibility audits. It’s crucial to involve users with disabilities in the testing process and maintain strong documentation of accessibility features. Organizations should also consider implementing automated accessibility checking tools while recognizing that manual testing remains essential for ensuring true accessibility.
Conclusion
The Kentucky SILC digital platform project demonstrates that creating an accessible website and marketing system requires careful planning, continuous testing, and a commitment to serving all users equally. The success of this initiative proves that organizations can maintain high standards of accessibility while delivering engaging and effective digital experiences. This case study serves as a blueprint for other organizations seeking to develop inclusive digital platforms that truly serve their entire community.
Digital Marketing Case Study: Kentucky SILC, WCAG Compliant Website Development
We were excited to work with Kentucky SILC on this project. They needed a new website, logo design work, graphic design, creative assets, digital marketing services, a brand guidelines document, logo design, WCAG accessibility, WCAG and ADA compliance and general marketing consultation. Our team collaborated with them on their goals and enjoyed going above and beyond expectations on this project.
Case Study Goals:
In our initial discovery meeting with Kentucky SILC we determined that the primary goals for this project included: saving money, create a website with a modern design, WCAG and ADA compliance testing and editing, and to complete this project within the limits of a set deadline and budget.
Case Study Process and Highlights:
Helping to develop accessible digital platforms that effectively serve diverse user needs while maintaining compliance with current accessibility standards. By prioritizing WCAG compliance and user needs throughout the development process, the project created an effective platform for serving the disability community while maintaining high standards of accessibility and usability. We like to consider ourselves a valuable partner to Kentucky SILC, working together on this project to meet all of thier objectives, aligning goals and finding unique solutions to their challenges.
Case Study Results:
We are happy to report this successful project resulted in not only a happy client but also verifiably meeting all the project goals, including these points of accomplishment: built a custom site to meet exact design requests, found it easier for visitors to access information and enjoyed our unique personal touch and custom sales process. These were precisely the results Kentucky SILC was looking for, and we are committed to remaining a trusted digital partner in support of Kentucky SILC's objectives.
Kentucky SILC website Logo Design Example
