Accessibility Statement

Conformance Target

We aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards as established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). We recognize that accessibility is an ongoing commitment and strive to continuously improve our practices.

What We've Implemented

• ✓
  Skip Navigation Links: A skip-link at the top of every page allows keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation and jump directly to the main content.
• ✓
  Semantic HTML: We use proper heading hierarchy, landmark regions (main, nav, footer), and semantic elements to support assistive technology interpretation.
• ✓
  Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements are accessible via keyboard. Form controls are properly labeled and receive clear focus indicators.
• ✓
  Motion and Animation Sensitivity: We respect the prefers-reduced-motion accessibility setting. Smooth scrolling and non-essential animations are disabled for users who have motion sensitivity enabled.
• ✓
  ARIA Labels and Roles: Form status messages, alerts, and dynamic content use appropriate ARIA roles (status, alert) to announce updates to screen readers.
• ✓
  Privacy and Data Transparency: A privacy notice appears at the point of data collection (contact form) to ensure users understand how their information is used.
• ✓
  Readable Font and Spacing: Our design uses legible font sizes, sufficient line height, and adequate spacing to support readability for users with visual processing differences.

Known Limitations and Areas for Improvement

We are aware of opportunities to enhance accessibility further:

• ○
  Color Contrast: Some secondary text and decorative elements may not meet WCAG AA contrast ratios in all contexts. We are auditing and improving contrast throughout the site.
• ○
  Form Error Recovery: Form error messages could be further enhanced with inline correction suggestions and automatic focus management.
• ○
  Image Alt Text Depth: Complex diagrams (such as the DIBOP architecture visualization) have basic alt text; they could benefit from more detailed descriptions or linked accessible alternatives.
• ○
  Third-Party Tools: Some functionality may depend on third-party services (such as embedded content) over which we have limited accessibility control.

Browser and Assistive Technology Compatibility

This website is tested and optimized for compatibility with:

• • Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) on desktop and mobile
• • Screen readers: NVDA (Windows), JAWS, VoiceOver (macOS/iOS), TalkBack (Android)
• • Keyboard-only navigation
• • Mobile accessibility features and gesture controls

Report Accessibility Issues

If you encounter accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

Legal Framework

Our accessibility commitment is informed by applicable Canadian legislation and best practices, including:

• • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• • Accessible Canada Regulations
• • WCAG 2.1 guidelines (Level AA target)