Accessibility Statement
vaeyc is committed to making its content accessible to all readers, including those who use assistive technologies. This statement describes our current accessibility features and how to contact us about barriers.
Our Commitment
vaeyc is committed to ensuring that its website meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA conformance level. We believe that educational content should be available to all readers regardless of disability, and we continuously work to identify and resolve accessibility barriers on this site.
Accessibility Features
The following features are implemented on vaeyc to support accessible use:
Structure and Navigation
- Semantic HTML headings — articles use a logical heading hierarchy (H1 for page title, H2 for major sections, H3 for subsections) so screen reader users can navigate by heading.
- Keyboard navigation — all interactive elements including navigation menus, links, forms, and buttons are fully operable using a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse.
- Visible focus indicators — keyboard focus states are clearly visible on all interactive elements so keyboard users can track where they are on the page.
- Skip navigation link — a “skip to main content” link is provided at the top of every page to allow keyboard and screen reader users to bypass repeated navigation.
Visual Design
- Colour contrast — text and background colour combinations across the site meet the WCAG 2.1 AA minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Resizable text — all text on vaeyc can be resized up to 200% using browser zoom without loss of content or functionality.
- No content that relies on colour alone — we do not use colour as the only means of conveying information.
Images and Media
- Alt text — all meaningful images include descriptive alt text. Decorative images have empty alt attributes so screen readers skip them appropriately.
- No auto-playing media — vaeyc does not auto-play audio or video content.
Forms
- Accessible form labels — all form fields (including the newsletter signup) have explicit, associated labels. Error messages are descriptive and identify the affected field.
Known Limitations
We are aware that some third-party embedded content (such as videos or interactive tools) may not fully meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Where this is the case, we provide a text description or transcript where possible and note the limitation in the article.
Report an Accessibility Barrier
If you encounter an accessibility barrier on vaeyc — a page that is not navigable by keyboard, an image without adequate alt text, a form that does not work with your screen reader, or any other issue — please tell us. We take accessibility feedback seriously and aim to address reported barriers within ten business days.
Contact: [email protected] with the subject line “Accessibility Feedback”. Please include the URL of the page and a description of the barrier you encountered.