Accessibility Statement

1. Our Commitment to Accessibility

Axcendy is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply relevant accessibility standards to achieve these goals.

We believe that everyone should have equal access to information and functionality, regardless of their abilities or the technologies they use to access our website.

2. Accessibility Standards

We strive to conform to the following accessibility standards:

2.1 WCAG 2.1 Guidelines

• Level AA Compliance: Our target compliance level
• Perceivable: Content is presentable in ways users can perceive
• Operable: User interface components are operable
• Understandable: Information and UI operation are understandable
• Robust: Content is robust enough for various assistive technologies

2.2 Additional Standards

• UK Accessibility Regulations: Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018
• EU Web Accessibility Directive: Directive (EU) 2016/2102
• Section 508: US Federal accessibility guidelines
• BS 8878: British Standard for accessible web design

3. Accessibility Features

3.1 Navigation and Structure

• Keyboard Navigation: Full site navigation using keyboard only
• Skip Links: Skip to main content functionality
• Logical Tab Order: Consistent and logical navigation order
• Clear Headings: Proper heading hierarchy (H1-H6)
• Breadcrumb Navigation: Clear page location indicators

3.2 Visual Design

• Color Contrast: WCAG AA compliant color contrast ratios
• Text Scaling: Support for 200% text zoom without loss of functionality
• Clear Typography: Readable fonts and appropriate font sizes
• Visual Focus: Clear focus indicators for interactive elements
• Color Independence: Information not conveyed by color alone

3.3 Content and Media

• Alt Text: Descriptive alternative text for all images
• Meaningful Links: Descriptive link text that makes sense out of context
• Form Labels: Clear labels and instructions for all form fields
• Error Messages: Clear and helpful error identification
• Language Declaration: Page language properly declared

4. Assistive Technology Support

5. Testing and Validation

5.1 Automated Testing

• WAVE Tool: Regular automated accessibility testing
• axe DevTools: Browser-based accessibility testing
• Lighthouse: Google's accessibility audit tool
• Pa11y: Command-line accessibility testing

5.2 Manual Testing

• Keyboard Testing: Manual keyboard navigation testing
• Screen Reader Testing: Testing with actual screen readers
• Color Contrast: Manual contrast ratio verification
• User Testing: Testing with users who have disabilities

5.3 Browser and Device Testing

• Cross-Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
• Mobile Devices: iOS and Android accessibility features
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
• Assistive Technology: Various screen readers and tools

6. Known Accessibility Issues

We continuously work to improve accessibility. Currently known issues include:

6.1 Areas of Improvement

• PDF Documents: Some legacy PDFs may not be fully accessible
• Third-Party Content: External embedded content may have limitations
• Complex Interactions: Some dynamic content interactions being optimized
• Video Content: Working to add captions to all video content

6.2 Planned Improvements

• Enhanced screen reader support for dynamic content
• Improved focus management in interactive components
• Additional keyboard shortcuts for power users
• Enhanced color contrast in all interface elements

7. Recommended Accessibility Tools

7.1 Browser Extensions

• WAVE: Web accessibility evaluation tool
• axe DevTools: Accessibility testing extension
• Colour Contrast Analyser: Color contrast checking
• Accessibility Insights: Microsoft's accessibility testing tools

7.2 Screen Readers

• NVDA: Free screen reader for Windows
• JAWS: Professional screen reader for Windows
• VoiceOver: Built-in screen reader for macOS and iOS
• TalkBack: Built-in screen reader for Android

7.3 Browser Accessibility Features

• High Contrast Mode: Available in most modern browsers
• Text Scaling: Browser zoom and text size controls
• Voice Control: Speech recognition for navigation
• Keyboard Navigation: Tab and arrow key navigation

8. Accessibility Feedback

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our website. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please let us know:

8.1 How to Report Issues

• Describe the Problem: Provide specific details about the accessibility barrier
• Include Context: Page URL, browser, assistive technology used
• Suggest Solutions: If you have ideas for improvement, please share
• Contact Method: Use our main contact page for accessibility inquiries

8.2 Response Commitment

• Acknowledgment: We will acknowledge your feedback within 24 hours
• Investigation: Issues will be investigated within 5 business days
• Resolution: Critical accessibility issues prioritized for immediate fix
• Updates: Progress updates provided during resolution process

9. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

9.1 UK Compliance

• Equality Act 2010: Commitment to reasonable adjustments
• PSBAR 2018: Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations
• BS 8878:2010: British Standard for accessible web design

9.2 International Standards

• WCAG 2.1: W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• Section 508: US federal accessibility requirements
• EN 301 549: European accessibility standard
• ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act compliance

10. Staff Training and Awareness

Our commitment to accessibility extends throughout our organization:

• Developer Training: Regular accessibility training for development team
• Design Guidelines: Accessibility considerations in all design processes
• Content Creation: Accessible content creation best practices
• Testing Procedures: Accessibility testing integrated into development workflow
• Awareness Programs: Ongoing disability awareness and sensitivity training

11. Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. Our improvement process includes:

11.1 Regular Reviews

• Monthly Audits: Regular accessibility audits and testing
• User Feedback: Incorporating user feedback into improvements
• Technology Updates: Staying current with accessibility technology
• Standard Updates: Adapting to new accessibility guidelines

11.2 Future Goals

• Achieve and maintain WCAG 2.2 compliance when finalized
• Implement advanced assistive technology features
• Develop accessibility-first design and development processes
• Create accessible versions of all digital documents

12. Additional Resources

For more information about web accessibility:

12.1 Accessibility Organizations

• W3C WAI: Web Accessibility Initiative
• AbilityNet: UK disability charity
• RNIB: Royal National Institute of Blind People
• Scope: UK disability equality charity

12.2 Learning Resources

• WebAIM: Web accessibility training and resources
• A11y Project: Community-driven accessibility resources
• Deque University: Accessibility training and certification
• Gov.UK Accessibility: Government accessibility guidance