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 and address issues as they are identified. This statement describes our current practices and known gaps; it is not a claim of full conformance.
What We've Built Into This Site
We design and maintain this website with accessibility in mind. Features currently built into the site include:
- Skip link — a keyboard-accessible “Skip to content” link appears at the top of pages so users can bypass repeated navigation.
- Semantic structure — pages use heading hierarchy and common landmarks such as navigation and footer regions. We continue to improve landmark coverage where the page builder layout allows.
- Keyboard navigation — interactive elements such as links, buttons, and form controls are intended to be reachable and operable by keyboard. Visible focus styles are provided on key controls; we continue to strengthen focus visibility across all components.
- Color contrast — we aim to meet WCAG 2.1 AA contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text) and correct contrast issues when we find them.
- Alternative text — meaningful images should include descriptive alt text; decorative images should use empty alt text so screen readers can skip them.
- Responsive design — pages are intended to remain usable across screen sizes and with browser zoom.
- Language attribute — pages declare an English language attribute (for example,
lang="en-US") so assistive technologies can use appropriate pronunciation. - Form labels — where forms appear on the site, inputs are intended to be labeled and associated with their fields.
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 — social media links/widgets, embedded video players (including YouTube), and other third-party services 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.
- Media that may autoplay — some pages include video or carousel settings that can start media or motion automatically. We are working to reduce unexpected autoplay and motion where it creates barriers.
- Link text — most links are descriptive, but some content still uses generic phrases such as “Read More.” We are improving link text as we update those sections.
- Skip-link destination — a skip link is present sitewide; we are refining the destination landmark so it consistently lands users in the primary content region.
- 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 treat accessibility reports as a priority and aim to respond promptly.
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. During design and build, we use practices such as:
- Manual keyboard checks of interactive components
- Assistive-technology spot checks (for example, common screen readers)
- Color contrast review against WCAG contrast guidance
- Structural HTML checks that support assistive technology
- Review on common mobile devices and browsers
We review accessibility 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