Accessibility Statement

We believe that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Our platform is designed with inclusivity in mind, and we strive to:

• Provide equal access to educational content for all learners
• Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies
• Meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
• Continuously improve accessibility based on user feedback
• Train our team on accessibility best practices

Our platform is fully navigable using a keyboard. Key features include:

• Tab Navigation: Use the Tab key to move through interactive elements
• Enter/Space: Activate buttons, links, and form controls
• Escape: Close modals, dropdowns, and popups
• Arrow Keys: Navigate within menus, tabs, and carousels
• Skip Links: Jump directly to main content (press Tab on page load)

Our platform is optimized for screen readers with the following features:

• Semantic HTML: Proper heading hierarchy and landmark regions
• ARIA Labels: Descriptive labels for interactive elements
• Alt Text: Meaningful descriptions for images and media
• Live Regions: Dynamic content changes are announced
• Form Labels: All form fields have associated labels

Compatible Screen Readers

• NVDA (Windows) - Free, open-source screen reader
• JAWS (Windows) - Comprehensive commercial screen reader
• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS) - Built-in Apple screen reader
• TalkBack (Android) - Built-in Android screen reader
• Narrator (Windows) - Built-in Windows screen reader

We provide multiple options to accommodate visual needs:

Color and Contrast

• Text maintains a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 against backgrounds
• Large text (18pt+) maintains a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1
• Color is never used as the sole indicator of meaning
• Focus indicators are clearly visible

Text and Sizing

• Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Responsive design adapts to different zoom levels
• Line spacing and letter spacing can be adjusted by user stylesheets
• No horizontal scrolling required at 320px viewport width

Browser Zoom Support

The platform supports browser zoom functionality:

• Ctrl/Cmd + + - Zoom in
• Ctrl/Cmd + - - Zoom out
• Ctrl/Cmd + 0 - Reset zoom

Educational video and audio content includes accessibility features:

• Captions: Videos include closed captions or subtitles
• Transcripts: Text alternatives for audio content
• Audio Descriptions: Available for video content where applicable
• Playback Controls: Keyboard-accessible play, pause, volume, and speed controls
• No Auto-Play: Media does not play automatically with sound

Forms and interactive components are designed for accessibility:

• Clear Labels: All form fields have visible, descriptive labels
• Error Identification: Errors are clearly identified with text descriptions
• Error Prevention: Confirmation dialogs for important actions
• Input Assistance: Format hints and validation messages
• Sufficient Time: Extended time available for timed assessments when needed
• Focus Management: Focus is managed appropriately in dynamic content

Our educational features include accessibility considerations:

Our platform is accessible on mobile devices:

• Touch Targets: Interactive elements are at least 44x44 pixels
• Screen Reader Support: Compatible with VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android)
• Orientation: Content works in both portrait and landscape modes
• Gestures: Standard platform gestures are supported
• Responsive Design: Layout adapts to different screen sizes

If you need accessibility accommodations, we are here to help:

We aim to conform to the following accessibility standards:

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• Section 508: US federal accessibility requirements
• EN 301 549: European accessibility standard
• AODA: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (where applicable)

While we strive for full accessibility, some limitations may exist:

• Third-party Content: Some embedded content from external sources may have varying accessibility levels
• User-generated Content: Content uploaded by instructors may not always include accessibility features
• Legacy Content: Older course materials may be in the process of being updated
• Complex Visualizations: Some data visualizations may have limited alternative text descriptions

We are actively working to address these limitations. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please report them so we can prioritize fixes.

Recommendations for using assistive technology with our platform:

We welcome your feedback on accessibility. Please contact us if you:

• Encounter accessibility barriers while using the platform
• Need content in an alternative format
• Have suggestions for improving accessibility
• Need help accessing specific features

We aim to respond to accessibility inquiries within 2 business days.