Kyle,

It is possible. I typically do back end development but it also doesn't seem unreasonable to have only one part of the menu open at the same time. Perhaps there is another reason why the developer is unable/unwilling to change it. Personally I would then ask that developer to propose another solution, or mock up another navigation UI. 

After doing a little googling I found http://webdesignledger.com/best-practices-accordions-in-web-design which seems like a good overview. In the first example it points to http://designmodo.com/ which you has the behavior I believe you want in their demo http://designmodo.com/demo/jqueryaccordionmenu/

Hope this helps. I find I always design better when I am forced to use the product I am designing. Maybe if they have to use it for a couple months they will change their mind.

John
Note: opinions expressed in this email are my own and not those of the Library of Congress
________________________________________
From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kyle Breneman [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 3:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CODE4LIB] Accordion menus & mobile web best practices

Our library website is currently being redesigned to be responsive.  The
work is being done by an outside design firm and the project is being
managed by University Relations, our school's PR department.

The mobile version of our responsive site has several accordion menus
(similar to attached).  I've asked for these accordion menus to be
self-closing; in other words, there is never more than one expansion of an
accordion open at one time - if a user clicks to open another part of the
accordion, the first part simultaneously slides shut.

I've been told that self-closing accordions are contrary to best practices:

"Unfortunately, no, as this isn’t best practice. Accordions should require
a click each to open and close; in other words, nothing on your page should
move without a user action. This is true throughout our sites. See the
universal Quick Links in mobile."

Is it true that self-closing accordion menus run counter to best practices
in mobile web design?  The sort of behavior that I'm asking for seems, to
me, intuitive and expected.

Thanks for your input!

Kyle Breneman
Integrated Digital Services Librarian
University of Baltimore