Ancestry is committed to providing all our users with a fully accessible experience for research, teaching and learning. 

At Ancestry, we make every effort to ensure that our platforms – including Ancestry Library Edition – can be used by everyone. Ancestry Library Edition is continually designed and developed to meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.

Accessibility features and gaps

Users of Ancestry Library Edition should be able to:

• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader and other assistive technologies
• use or explore the website without requiring speech
• adjust text size through a standard browser
• access record collections from both the home page and the search page
• access screen readable text for any given record image page (e.g., a handwritten census page) by using the matching record transcription page

There may be some parts of this website that are not fully accessible:

• There is often too much text and handwritten information on the image of a primary source document to fully support alternate text. For example, original U.S. Federal Census Schedules.
• Some full-text records and embedded images are only available as scanned images.
• The Broad / Exact sliders are not keyboard accessible. The sliders require a mouse, keypad/stick or other pointer device. However, using the Edit Search link directly below the sliders is the solution for keyboard access.
• Some user error messages are not automatically read by a screen reader, although the reader will repeat the text if the user hovers over it with the mouse pointer.
• Screens in Ancestry Library Edition are designed to be accessible for users with poor motor control (for example, clickable areas are suitably sized and spaced). The user can tab through interactive choices, such as links, buttons, and input boxes.

If you have a disability and need to make your computer, tablet or other device easier to use, AbilityNet is a recommended resource. We also recommend browsing free add-ons offered for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Technical Information about this site’s accessibility

Ancestry Library Edition is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with:

• Level A and Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance level and report 

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliance listed below. 

• 4.1.3 Status Messages:  Some user error messages are not automatically read by a screen reader, although the reader will repeat the text if the user hovers over it with the mouse pointer.

Access the full Accessibility Compliance Report (VPAT 2.4 and WCAG) for Ancestry Library Edition.

Accessibility of this platform

As noted above, some user error messages are not automatically read by a screen reader, although the reader will repeat the text when hovering over it with the mouse pointer.  Here’s a specific example:

Entering a birth year of 2184 (in the future) into a search query – such as a census search – will generate the following status message and text:
Ancestry Library Edition Help materials take the form of Adobe PDF documents available from within the product.  Common PDF text can be read by screen readers and can be downloaded or printed as well.

Accessibility Testing

The accessibility of Ancestry Library Edition is a continual effort at Ancestry. Accessibility standards are built into our design, and style guides are included as part of requirements in our software development and quality assurance pipeline.

Ancestry Library Edition code is checked for accessibility using a range of automated and manual checks including but not limited to: 

• Color Contrast Analyzer
• High Contrast Chrome extension
• Keyboard-access manual testing and assessment
• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) screen-reader utility
• WebAim’s WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation tool)

Ancestry Library Edition is tested on the latest version Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge, and on devices including Mac and Windows computers, and Android and iOS devices.

What We’re Doing to Improve Accessibility

Making content accessible is an ongoing effort at Ancestry. We’re committed to working with the community to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ needs. A list of our ongoing efforts include:

• Obtaining assistance from ProQuest, our library distribution partner, in reviewing and updating our accessibility standards.
• Consulting with accessibility experts.
• Testing with users of all abilities.

Support and feedback

If you have difficulty accessing specific content or features with adaptive technology after trying the workarounds suggested in this statement, you can contact us using the link provided below. Our support services are available to accommodate needs of end users. We will work with you to identify the best option for remediation, subject to content licensing restrictions and technical capability.

Ancestry Library Edition Technical Support
Email:    libraryedition@ancestry.com
Phone:    1-800-509-3884

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This accessibility statement was prepared on September 11, 2020. It was last reviewed June 14, 2021.

The website was last tested on May 18, 2020. The test was carried out by ProQuest and Ancestry.