Accessibility Issues Found On The New Houston Home Journal Website

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Dear Houston Home Journal,

I’m currently on your website right now, and I like it so far with the new design! However, I’m writing to you regarding some accessibility issues that I came across on the website so far.

As you may be aware, I use assistive technology in order to operate my device. Some examples of assistive technology may include, but not limited to screen-readers (JAWS For Windows, NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access, VoiceOver for iOS/Mac, and so on).

Here’s what I’ve found so far with my accessibility testing:

  1. Lack of Alt Text: There is a lack of alt text (alternative text), especially in the logo on the top of the website. For example, when I go to the top of the page with my screen-reader (NVDA) (A.K.A. Non-Visual Desktop Access), it only says, “Graphic Houston Home Journal,” with a link to return to the home page. To learn more about alt text, you can visit the following website: https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/tips.
  2. Unlabeled Share Buttons: On every news article, you’ll find six (6) share buttons below the author, located after the title of an article. I both tested this on my iPhone and on my computer, and it both tested with different outcomes.
    • A. When I tested on my iPhone, VoiceOver outright says, “Link, link, link, ….”
    • B. On the other hand, NVDA says the following, “sharer u=https%3A%2F%2Fhhjonli…, tweet text=Houston%20Home%20Jo…, shareArticle mini=true&url=htt…, ….”
    • The links should tell the user where they can share the story. For example, one should be labeled, “Share to Facebook.”
  3. Inconsistent Headings Structure: One major issue is the headings structure, especially on the About Us Page, located at https://hhjonline.com/about-us. The issue is that it skips to heading level four instead of going one level down to heading level two. For example, the main title of the page is heading level one, while the topics on the page should be heading level two. The sub-topics should be heading level three. Here is an example:
    • A. For Advertising, it should be heading level two, with “Classified Advertising & Circulation” and “Legal Advertising” at heading level three.

Here is more information about the headings structure. This information can be accessed by visiting https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/page-structure/headings.

Also, on the same page, one of the email addresses is cut off. Under staff writer, the letter “M” is not in the link.

Also, on the “Contact Us” Page, my suggestion is to put “Report An Accessibility Issue” as one of the contact reason. That way, other users who use assistive technology will know that you care about making everything accessible.

These are all of the accessibility issues that I came across so far. I’d be happy to come to your office some time this week to demonstrate on how I use technology as a blind individual in the community.

If you have any questions, please let me know by replying to this email. You can also give me a call at (Phone Number Removed).

I hope to hear from you soon regarding these accessibility issues.

Respectfully,
Armando Vias

Last Updated: Monday, October 27th, 2025 @ 8:05 am Eastern Time

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The letter above that was sent to companies and/or government agencies and is also posted to armandovias.com has been written with the sole purpose of advocating for and promoting equal access and inclusion of people with disabilities. The goal of these letters is to raise awareness about accessibility barriers that I face when navigating websites or out in the community and to encourage companies/government agencies to meet or exceed accessibility standards, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web-Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

These letters are posted on this website for documentation, educational, informational, and transparency purposes only, and these letters does not constitute legal advice.

These letters are intended as constructive feedback to assist companies/government agencies to identify and fix accessibility issue(s). They’re not designed to defame, disparage, or cause any harm to individual(s) or entities. My motivation of posting these letters is to foster a more inclusive environment for everyone.

While I strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information in these letters, the content(s) in each letter is based on my analysis and observations at the time of writing. I cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy/completeness of all information, and mistakes and omissions may occur.

The posting of these letters does not constitute a formal legal complaint, nor does it guarantee any specific legal action(s) or outcome. My objective is to encourage compliance and improvement(s) for providing equal access for all individuals.

My website (armandovias.com) and the views expressed in each letter are independent and do not represent any official legal or governmental authority. I encourage companies and/or government agencies to review my feedback carefully and to take proactive steps to ensure equal access for everyone. I believe that inclusion for all is a fundamental right for all companies and government agencies.

If you have any questions, or if you’d like to discuss the contents of a letter that’s posted on armandovias.com, contact me by replying directly to the email that the letter was sent from or call me by using the phone number that’s provided in the email.

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