Google Sites Accessibility

Google Sites, while easy to edit, build and maintain, pose several barriers to people who use assistive technology like screen readers to access websites. 

Because of this, we recommend entities within the College of Engineering choose another content management system for their websites, especially if those sites provide information for students or prospective students. 

If you do choose to use Google Sites, be aware of its known accessibility issues and use the appropriate workarounds.  You can give yourself a good head start by remembering to  follow  Usability best practices. 

Google Sites Known Issues

No way to add alternative text to header background image

• Workaround: none

• Impact: The background image in header area will not be identified to a screen reader user. Make sure any images in this area are purely decorative. 

Inserted video content doesn’t allow for closed captions

• Impact: Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, and anyone else who chooses to use video captioning, won’t be able to access the information in the video. Visually impaired users who rely on their assistive technology to “read” a transcript of the video, will likewise be unable to access the information.

• Workaround: If you use video, link to it (on YouTube, Vimeo, etc) rather than embedding it in your site.

No skip navigation link

• Impact: Screen reader users won’t be able to bypass the navigation and jump straight to the page’s content. This means the main navigation will be read to them on every page they visit. Remember to keep the number of main navigation items small.

• Workaround: none

No way for screen reader users to navigate into submenus on mobile when main navigation is displayed horizontally.

Workaround: Use Side Navigation configuration   

Tables cannot be made accessible in Google Sites

• Workaround: Don’t use tables. Use subheadings and lists to show data groupings as able.

Edits to image Alt Text may not save.

• Workaround: If accessibility check notes missing alt text, delete image and re-upload it, entering alt text before you save the image.

Inserted content may not be accessible

• Be careful about inserting/embedding things like docs, sheets and calendars. If they’re not accessible in their native environment, they won’t be accessible in your site, either.