Our Commitment
We serve people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We believe that every person must be able to access information about our services, understand their rights, and reach us when they need help. Digital accessibility is not a technical box to check; it is part of our commitment to equal access to justice.
We are actively working to ensure this website conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA — the internationally recognized standard for web accessibility. We review our pages regularly and address issues as they are identified.
What We've Built Into This Site
The following accessibility features are built into every page of this website:
- Skip to main content link — a keyboard-accessible link at the top of every page allows users to bypass the navigation and jump directly to the main content.
- Semantic HTML structure — all pages use proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3), landmark elements (
<nav>,<main>,<footer>,<aside>), and ARIA labels where needed to support screen readers. - Keyboard navigation — all interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields, accordions) are reachable and operable via keyboard alone. Focus states are visible with a 3px green outline.
- Color contrast — text and background combinations throughout the site meet or exceed the WCAG 2.1 AA minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Alternative text — all meaningful images include descriptive alt text. Decorative images are marked with empty alt attributes so screen readers skip them.
- Responsive design — pages are usable at all screen sizes and work with browser zoom up to 200% without horizontal scrolling.
- No auto-playing media — this site contains no video or audio content that plays automatically.
- Link text — all links are written to be descriptive when read out of context. We do not use “click here” or “read more” as link text.
- Form labels — all form inputs are properly labeled and associated with their fields.
- Language attribute — every page declares
lang="en"so screen readers use the correct pronunciation.
Known Limitations
We are committed to transparency about where our site currently falls short. Known limitations include:
- PDF documents — some downloadable forms and guides may not be fully accessible to screen readers. We are working to remediate these files or provide accessible alternatives. If you need an accessible version of any document, contact us and we will provide one promptly.
- Third-party content — embedded maps, social media widgets, and other third-party content may not meet our accessibility standards. We are not responsible for the accessibility of third-party services, but we will do our best to provide equivalent information through other means.
- Older content — some pages created prior to our current accessibility review may have issues we have not yet identified. We prioritize fixing issues on pages that are critical to accessing our services.
Report an issue
If you find a barrier on this website, please tell us. Call (901) 222-2800 or email publicdefender@shelbycountytn.gov. Include the page URL, what you were trying to do, and what happened. We respond within two business days and treat all accessibility reports as a priority.
Requesting Accommodations
If you need information from this website in an alternative format — such as large print, audio, or plain language — contact us at (901) 222-2800 or publicdefender@shelbycountytn.gov. We will work with you to provide the information in a format that meets your needs.
If you need an in-person accommodation to visit our office or appear in court — such as a sign language interpreter, an accessible meeting space, or a document in an alternative format — contact us as early as possible so we can arrange it. We provide accommodations at no cost.
Legal Basis
This website is maintained by a government office and is subject to the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable Tennessee state accessibility standards. We are committed to meeting these requirements and to going beyond the minimum where possible.
If you believe you have been denied access to our services or information because of an accessibility barrier and we have not adequately addressed your complaint, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).
Technical Standards & Testing
This website was designed and developed with accessibility as a requirement, not an afterthought. Our development process includes:
- Manual keyboard navigation testing on all interactive components
- Screen reader testing using NVDA (Windows) and VoiceOver (macOS and iOS)
- Color contrast verification using WCAG contrast ratio tools
- HTML validation to catch structural errors that affect assistive technology
- Mobile accessibility testing on iOS and Android
We conduct accessibility reviews when we publish new pages or make significant changes to existing ones. We also accept and act on reports from users at any time.
Contact
For all accessibility matters — to report a problem, request an accommodation, or ask a question — contact us:
Phone: (901) 222-2800
Email: publicdefender@shelbycountytn.gov.
In person: 201 Poplar Ave, Suite 2-01, Memphis, TN 38103
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm