Intercom Accessibility Hack

* UPDATE 11/29/2018: INTERCOM IS NOW ACCESSIBLE! *

See this Tweet: https://twitter.com/destraynor/status/1067943722971672576

Read more details: https://www.intercom.com/help/faqs-and-troubleshooting/the-intercom-messenger/is-the-intercom-messenger-accessible

By default, Intercom is not accessible to people navigating with the keyboard or using screen readers. This little script is a stop-gap solution developed by the City of Asheville to comply with Section 508. It does the following:

• Shows keyboard focus by making the background color lighter
• Shows/reads a message of your choosing (we went with a phone number because it gives the most comparable experience)

To use: Copy and paste this below the Intercom script tags on your site. Customize it to your needs by changing the message and colors, as noted by all caps text.

We would love to know how many people share our accessible live chat needs. Please star this gist if you end up using it. If you’re interested in collaborating on a longer-term solution, please contact Melanie at the City of Asheville IT department.