Accessibility Information for People with Visual Impairments
In our ongoing commitment to help as many people as possible to lose weight, including those with disabilities, Weight Watchers is dedicated to improving accessibility for people with visual impairments in the following ways.
Website Accessibility
We strive to provide a website in which all functionality and content is accessible to all individuals, and we are updating our site regularly to make it as accessible as possible. The site is being designed to meet Level AA Success Criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 to the greatest extent feasible. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that PDF files posted on the website are accessible.
Website users can control the text size of each page with their Internet browser. On a PC, holding the CTRL key while pressing the plus key will increase text size, and holding the CTRL key while pressing the minus key will decrease text size.
"Skip to content" links will take users past repetitive navigation elements and directly to the main content on the page.
Photographic images and graphics on WeightWatchers.com contain “alt tags” that allow users with screen readers to listen to a description of the image and/or graphic, which assists in understanding of the intent of visual content.
Row and column headers for data tables are identified.
Using a Screen Reader:
We recommend using the most up-to-date version possible of any assistive technology and web browser products, either the current major release or the prior release. This will help ensure that we can deliver dynamic, full-featured web content that is as compatible as possible with the latest assistive technology.
For best results, we suggest using the following web browsers and assistive technology products:
For Windows : Internet Explorer with JAWS.
For Macintosh, iPhone and iPad: Safari with VoiceOver.
If you are using Safari on a Macintosh, we recommend that you adjust your Safari preferences to use tab navigation. To do so, go to the Safari Menu and click on "Preferences". Go to the "Advanced" tab and select the checkbox "Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage".
Recent versions of the JAWS screen reader also have a setting called “Filter consecutive duplicate links” that tries to optimize web pages by reducing pairs of text links and image links with the same target to a single link. This setting may occasionally cause legitimate links to be ignored. If you find that links you are expecting are not being announced, you may wish to try turning this feature off.
Using the Plan Manager with a Screen Reader:
To use the Plan Manager tools available to Weight Watchers Online and eTools subscribers, follow these steps: Locate the “My Plan” menu, which is the first menu choice provided on your home page when you login as a subscriber. From this menu, clicking any of the “My Tools” resources (such as the PointsPlus Tracker) will cause a new Plan Manager window to open in your browser. You will need to switch to this window or make sure that it is the active window in your browser. In this new window, selecting “View accessible version” will link to accessible versions of the Plan Manager resources. Please note that we are continuing to work on improving these accessible resources.
To exit the Plan Manager once it is open in a new browser window, you can close the browser window in which you are viewing it, or switch back to the window in which you have the main site.
Another way to get to the Plan Manager is by following this direct link to the Plan Manager if you are already logged in to the site.
For more information, call us at 800-651-6000, or visit our Technical Support page to send us an email.
Auxiliary Aids and Services
Alternative Formats:
Many of the informational materials provided to Weight Watchers members at meetings are available in alternative formats free of charge for members with visual impairments as follows. You will find information below about how to request these materials.
Braille, Large Print and Audio Publications:
The following publications are available in Braille, Large Print and Audio versions:
- Pocket Guide
- Weight Watchers 360 / Welcome Folder / FAQs
- Tracker
- Weight Record
- Powerstart Worksheets #1 and #2 (Tracker, Weight Record and Powerstart Worksheets are combined into a single Audio publication)
- Young People Action Sheet
- Registration Card
- Monthly Pass Activation Form
- Monthly Pass Cancellation Policy
- Refund Policy Letter for California (Registration Card, Monthly Pass Activation Form, Monthly Pass Cancellation Policy and Refund Policy Letter are combined into a single publication for Braille, Large Print and Audio)
Requesting a Braille, Large Print or Audio Publication:
To request a publication in Braille, Large Print or Audio format, please ask for it at your Weight Watchers meeting location. Specify the publication and the desired format as described above. Please note that Braille, Large Print and Audio will not be available at every location, but can be requested there and will generally arrive in time for your next week’s meeting.
Other Alternative Formats:
Weight Watchers Weekly is available to members in Accessible PDF format. For more information, please contact Customer Service by calling 800-651-6000 or go to our Technical Support page to email us.
Telephone Assistance:
People with visual impairments may contact Customer Service specialists by calling 800-651-6000. Our representatives are trained in appropriate techniques for reading documents to persons with visual impairments as well as how to find, navigate to, and read information on our website. Customer Service assistance is generally available Monday through Friday 8am-10pm Eastern time and Saturday 11am-5pm Eastern time.
Please Contact Us
Do you have questions or comments about our accessibility efforts or resources? Please call 800-651-6000 or visit our Technical Support page and complete the online form.