lad-website/cline_docs/productContext.md

Product Context: Olathe Club of the Deaf Website

Purpose

The Olathe Club of the Deaf (OCD) website serves as the official digital presence for the Olathe Club of the Deaf, a community organization serving deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Olathe, Kansas. The website aims to:

1. Provide Accessible Information: Deliver critical information about the club's activities, mission, and resources in a fully accessible format.

2. Facilitate Community Engagement: Enable members and potential members to discover and participate in club events, meetings, and initiatives.

3. Streamline Club Administration: Provide club leadership with tools to manage membership, events, and content without technical expertise.

4. Promote Deaf Culture: Showcase the richness of deaf culture and the club's contributions to the local deaf community.

5. Support Organizational Growth: Attract new members, volunteers, and donors while retaining existing community connections.

Problems Solved

The OCD website addresses several key challenges:

For Community Members

• Information Access Barriers: Many deaf individuals face barriers to information that is primarily delivered through audio channels. The website provides visual and text-based information delivery.

• Community Discovery: Finding local deaf community events and resources can be challenging. The website centralizes information about club activities and resources.

• ASL-First Communication: Many deaf individuals prefer ASL as their primary language. The website incorporates ASL videos alongside text content.

• Digital Participation Gap: The website bridges the gap between online and in-person participation for the deaf community.

For Club Administrators

• Administrative Burden: Tracking memberships, organizing events, and distributing information manually is time-consuming. The admin system automates these tasks.

• Technological Barriers: Club leaders may not have technical expertise. The admin interface provides accessible tools for non-technical users.

• Content Updates: Maintaining current information was historically difficult. The CMS allows for easy content updates.

• Resource Distribution: Sharing meeting minutes, bylaws, and other documents was inefficient. The document repository centralizes these resources.

For Public Awareness

• Deaf Awareness: Many hearing people lack understanding of deaf culture. The website educates the broader community.

• Resource Visibility: Community resources for deaf individuals were not widely known. The website increases visibility of these resources.

Target Users

Primary Users

1. Current OCD Members

   • Age range: 18-80+
   • Technical proficiency: Varies widely
   • Need: Access event information, membership details, club updates

2. Club Leadership & Board Members

   • Role: Volunteer administrators
   • Technical proficiency: Basic to intermediate
   • Need: Manage content, track memberships, coordinate events

3. Prospective Members

   • Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals in Olathe area
   • May be new to the area or community
   • Need: Learn about the club, membership benefits, upcoming events

Secondary Users

4. Deaf Community Supporters

   • Family members, interpreters, educators
   • Connection: Support deaf individuals or the community
   • Need: Event information, volunteer opportunities, donation options

5. Community Partners

   • Local businesses, schools, government agencies
   • Relationship: Collaborate with OCD on initiatives
   • Need: Contact information, organizational details

6. Researchers & Media

   • Studying deaf community or seeking information
   • Need: Historical information, contact details, mission information

User Journeys

Member Journey: Event Participation

1. Discovery: Member visits website to learn about upcoming events
2. Information Gathering: Views event details including date, time, location
3. Decision: Decides to attend based on accessible information
4. Preparation: Uses location map to plan transportation
5. Follow-up: Returns to website after event to view photos or minutes

Administrator Journey: Event Management

1. Creation: Logs into admin dashboard to create new event
2. Setup: Enters event details, uploads images, sets category
3. Publication: Publishes event to website and highlights on homepage
4. Management: Monitors registrations if applicable
5. Post-Event: Uploads photos or minutes after event concludes

New Member Journey: Joining the Club

1. Introduction: Discovers website through search or referral
2. Exploration: Browses about section, history, and mission
3. Consideration: Reviews membership benefits and requirements
4. Application: Completes online membership application form
5. Integration: Receives welcome email with next steps
6. Engagement: Begins participating in club events

Public Journey: Learning About Deaf Culture

1. Discovery: Visits website seeking information about deaf community
2. Education: Explores pages about deaf culture and ASL
3. Awareness: Views ASL videos with accompanying transcripts
4. Connection: Uses contact form to request more information
5. Engagement: Signs up for newsletter or follows on social media

Key Features & Priorities

Critical Features (Must-Have)

• Accessible Design: WCAG 2.2 AA compliance with deaf-specific considerations
• Event Calendar: Browsable calendar with detailed event information
• Membership Management: Member tracking and status management
• Content Management: Easy updates for non-technical administrators
• Document Repository: Storage for minutes, bylaws, and forms

Important Features (Should-Have)

• ASL Video Support: Video content with transcripts and subtitles
• Contact Functionality: Forms for inquiries and feedback
• Responsive Design: Mobile-friendly experience across devices
• Board Member Information: Leadership profiles and roles
• Email Integration: Notification system for members

Enhancement Features (Nice-to-Have)

• Member Portal: Personal dashboard for individual members
• Donation Integration: Online donation capabilities
• Social Media Integration: Sharing and cross-posting capabilities
• Event Registration: RSVP functionality for events
• Photo Gallery: Event photo albums

Accessibility Requirements

As an organization serving the deaf community, accessibility is paramount. The website must include:

• Visual Communication Priority: Information presented visually first
• ASL Video Content: Key information presented in ASL
• Text Alternatives: Captions and transcripts for all video content
• High Contrast Design: Clear visual distinction for all users
• Screen Reader Support: For DeafBlind community members
• Keyboard Navigation: Full functionality without mouse use
• Simple Language: Clear, concise content for varied reading levels
• Reduced Motion Options: For users with vestibular disorders
• Responsive Text Sizing: Adjustable text without breaking layouts

Success Metrics

The OCD website's success will be measured by:

1. Member Engagement: Increase in event attendance and participation
2. Administrative Efficiency: Reduction in manual administrative tasks
3. Membership Growth: New member applications through the website
4. Content Freshness: Frequency of content updates
5. Accessibility Compliance: WCAG 2.2 AA audit score
6. User Satisfaction: Feedback from community members
7. Resource Utilization: Downloads of documents and forms