Accessibility Statement & Resources

We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, in conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level A & AA.

In the context of accessibility testing, combining automated and manual processes with the involvement of accessibility consultant professionals who themselves use assistive technologies provides a robust approach to ensuring digital products are truly accessible. Here's how each component contributes:

Automated Processes: 

  - Efficiency and Coverage: Automated tools can quickly scan through large volumes of content, identifying issues that can be programmatically detected. This includes checking for proper use of ARIA roles, sufficient color contrast, missing alt attributes for images, and basic keyboard navigation capabilities.

  - Limitations: Automated testing tools are not perfect. They can miss context-sensitive errors, complex interactions, or issues that require human judgment like the logical flow of content or the semantic correctness of alternative texts. They often provide lists of potential issues that need human verification.

Manual Processes:

  - Human Insight: Manual testing allows for a deeper examination of the user experience from the perspective of someone with a disability. Testers can explore the site's usability with different assistive technologies, like screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), switches, and more.

  - Contextual Understanding: Manual tests can assess whether the content makes sense, if the navigation is logical, and if all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard only or work correctly with various assistive technologies.

  - User Experience: This approach includes testing by individuals who use assistive technologies, providing insights into real-world usage scenarios that automated tools can't simulate.

Support from Accessibility Consultant Professionals:

  - Expertise: Accessibility consultants bring specialized knowledge of accessibility guidelines like WCAG, ADA, and others. They can interpret results from both automated and manual testing to provide actionable insights.

  - Inclusion of Users with Disabilities: When these professionals include individuals who use assistive technologies, the testing gains authenticity. These individuals can point out practical issues that might not be evident to others, ensuring that the product is not only accessible in theory but also in practice.

The synergy of these methods provides:

  - A broad sweep through the product with automated tools to catch basic accessibility errors.

  - A nuanced, user-focused assessment through manual testing, which catches issues in user flow, content understanding, and interactive elements.

  - Expert consultation to ensure compliance with standards and to interpret technical findings in the context of real user needs.

This comprehensive testing strategy helps in creating digital products that are not only compliant with accessibility standards but also genuinely usable for everyone, including people with various disabilities. It aligns with practices recommended by various sources for achieving effective accessibility testing.

We welcome your feedback. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or otherwise have difficulty using our website due to your disability, please contact our office.