Our Commitment

Whidbey Island Bulletin is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people of all abilities. We believe that every member of our community should be able to access and use our platform, regardless of any disabilities they may have.

We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying relevant accessibility standards to ensure we provide equal access to all users.

Accessibility Standards

We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities, including:

• Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
• Hearing impairments
• Motor impairments
• Cognitive disabilities

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following features to improve accessibility:

• Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements can be accessed using a keyboard
• Screen Reader Support: Content is structured with proper headings and labels for screen reader users
• Color Contrast: We maintain sufficient color contrast ratios for text readability
• Dark Mode: A dark theme option to reduce eye strain
• Responsive Design: The site adapts to different screen sizes and zoom levels
• Alt Text: Images include descriptive alternative text
• Focus Indicators: Visible focus indicators for keyboard navigation
• Form Labels: All form fields have associated labels
• Error Messages: Clear and descriptive error messages

Assistive Technologies

Our website is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

• Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
• Screen magnification software
• Voice recognition software
• Keyboard-only navigation

Known Limitations

While we strive to ensure accessibility across our entire website, some content may have limitations:

• User-Generated Content: Images and content uploaded by users may not always include alt text or meet accessibility standards
• Third-Party Content: Embedded videos and maps from third-party services may have varying levels of accessibility
• PDF Documents: Some downloadable documents may not be fully accessible

We are working to address these limitations and encourage content creators to follow accessibility best practices.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Whidbey Island Bulletin. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know:

• Visit our Help page to contact us
• Describe the issue you encountered and the page URL
• Let us know what assistive technology you use, if applicable

We will do our best to respond within 5 business days and work to resolve any accessibility issues.

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing effort. We regularly:

• Review and test our website for accessibility
• Train our team on accessibility best practices
• Update our platform to meet evolving standards
• Address user feedback and reported issues