How To – Create and manage WordPress posts and pages

Guidelines for WordPress users

Introduction

For a quick overview of the website’s purpose, see the summary on the history page.
Helpful tips for navigating the new website.
Information about the updated login process.
Many links now point to non-HTML documents (e.g. PDFs) hosted in our Cloud Storage. Learn more on the How to use Box.com page.

The AODA

The 2021 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets standards for how our website must function, including rules on text size, image use, and more. It is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Watch an explanation of AODA for NSC on YouTube.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2)—The AODA requires compliance with these guidelines to improve web content accessibility for people with disabilities. They cover aspects such as font size, line spacing, and machine-readable text.

Overview of “How To WordPress” pages

Images

Please use images

Include images in all posts and pages to add visual interest. WordPress now resizes images on upload automatically—unless they’re larger than 10MB.

No copyrighted images

Use copyright-free image sources like Freepik or Unsplash. Alternatively, request images from the PR Director, who manages our 2022 photo bank by a professional photographer. Include a brief description in your request.

Media library

Always check the Media Library for reusable images before uploading new ones. This helps conserve space. Note: The media library is searchable by title or description only. Add “Alt Text” and copy it to the description field to ensure findability.

Image AODA compliance

To comply with the Accessibility Act (AODA), avoid using text in images since it’s not machine-readable. Every image must include alternative text (“Alt Text”)—a brief description for users with visual impairments. Copy this text into the description field too. See examples here by hovering over the images.

Always add “Alt Text” and duplicate it in the Media Library description field for any image you upload.

Types of Images

The site accepts various formats: png, jpg/jpeg, gif, webp (automatically served when supported), heic/heif, and svg. To maintain a clean, professional look, prioritize photos over illustrations.

Avoid images with text near the edges if using them as featured images—automatic cropping may cut off important parts.

Advanced Kadence Helps for Admins

Depending on your role and permissions, some of the following may not be available to you:

Embedded and linked files

As NSC uses Box.com for file storage, link to files there instead of uploading them to WordPress. Use this guide to create direct links. Only high-traffic pages, such as the Fee Schedule, should embed documents—this is decided by webmasters.