ocd-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