City of Memphis launches new-look website with accessibility and inclusivity in mind

What’s happening: The City of Memphis launched a new-look website earlier this month, one chock-full of new features and even a City of Memphis radio station. But it’s the website’s focus on inclusivity and accessibility that is especially notable, enabling those Memphians who have previously been limited in their ability to access city services and information online to do just that.

Extended reach: Several new features built into the website are intended to broaden the city’s reach in making information more accessible to more residents.

The City has incorporated the Weglot translation service into the site, allowing users to toggle text between the English and Spanish languages.

The new site also features the text-to-speech (TTS) tool ReadSpeaker, allowing users to browse an audio version of website content; this can make the website available to an even wider audience, which includes those with literacy difficulties, learning disabilities, and reduced vision, or those learning a language.

A more streamlined design also makes the website easier to navigate while on a smartphone, increasing access for those without a home computer.

Why it’s important: “We know more people are looking at websites on their phones and tablets, so it was essential that this next iteration be able to adapt to all devices,” says the city’s Communications Chief Allison Fouché. “Another objective was to create an accessible and inclusive website that lifts the barriers to communication and interaction that residents often encounter in the physical world.”

That’s not all: Also new is City of Memphis Radio, a curated station that plays music from Memphis musicians, songs that mention the city, and informative City of Memphis PSAs. The radio station is accessed through a widget at the top of the page or by searching for City of Memphis Radio on the iHeartRadio platform. It’s iHeartRadio that partnered with the city on the new station.

Other changes include more direct links to useful information, like City Council meetings, and the spinoff of Memphis Animal Services (MAS), which can now be found through its own website at Memphisanimalservices.com.

What they’re saying: “These updates demonstrate our continuous commitment to improving services provided by the City of Memphis,” says Fouché. “In addition to the more streamlined design, we have upgraded features to be more inclusive of all residents that will keep them better connected and more informed.”

Visit www.memphistn.gov today.