Web Site Accessibility

Accessibility Policy for Bay Street Organization (https://www.baystreet.org)

Our Commitment to Accessibility

At Bay Street Organization, we are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and, in doing so, adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines.  

Our Accessibility Goals  

Our goal is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines helps make the web more user-friendly for everyone.  

Measures to Support Accessibility

Bay Street Organization takes the following measures to ensure accessibility:

• Regular Accessibility Audits: We conduct regular audits of our website to identify and address accessibility issues.
• Ongoing Training: Our team receives ongoing training on web accessibility best practices.
• User Feedback: We welcome feedback from users about the accessibility of our website.
• Assistive Technology Compatibility: We aim to ensure our website is compatible with common assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software.
• Clear and Simple Language: We strive to use clear and simple language to make our content easier to understand.
• Alternative Text for Images: All non-decorative images will have descriptive alternative text (alt text) to provide context for users who cannot see them.
• Keyboard Navigation: Our website is designed to be navigable using a keyboard.
• Sufficient Color Contrast: We ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background to make our content readable for users with visual impairments.
• Resizable Text: Users can resize text without loss of content or functionality.
• Consistent Navigation: We maintain a consistent and predictable navigation structure throughout the website.
• Form Accessibility: Forms are designed to be accessible, with clear labels and instructions.
• Video and Audio Accessibility: Where applicable, videos will be captioned, and audio content will have transcripts.
• Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML to provide a clear structure for our content.

Specific Accessibility Features Implemented (Example – adapt to your site’s actual features):

• Skip Navigation Link: A “Skip to main content” link is provided to allow keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation elements.
• ARIA Roles and Attributes: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes are used to enhance the accessibility of complex web components.
• Focus Indicators: Clear visual focus indicators are provided for keyboard navigation.
• Proper Heading Structure: Headings are used in a logical order to provide a clear content hierarchy.
• Responsive Design: The website is designed to be responsive, adapting to different screen sizes and devices.

Known Limitations and Alternatives

Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility, there may be some limitations. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our website.

• Third-Party Content: Some third-party content or plugins may not be fully accessible. We are working to address these issues or provide alternatives.
• Older Archived Documents: Some older archived documents maybe not fully accessible. We are working to make these documents more accessible.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Bay Street Organization website. Please let us know if you encounter any accessibility barriers.

You can contact us in the following ways:

• Email: [email address removed] (Create this email address)
• Mailing Address: Bay Street Organization, [Your Physical Address]
• Phone: [Your Phone Number]

We will respond to your feedback within [Number] business days.

Ongoing Effort

We are committed to maintaining and improving the accessibility of our website. We will continue to review and update our website to ensure it meets or exceeds accessibility standards.

Date of Policy: [Current Date]

Policy Updates

This accessibility policy will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in our practices and advancements in accessibility standards.

Important Considerations:

• Regular Testing: Use automated and manual testing tools to regularly check for accessibility issues.
• User Testing: Conduct user testing with people with disabilities to get real-world feedback.
• Documentation: Keep detailed documentation of your accessibility efforts.
• Legal Compliance: Be aware of and comply with relevant accessibility laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.
• Staff Training: Provide ongoing accessibility training to all staff involved in website development and content creation.