Our Commitment to Accessibility
At Apex Learning Academy, we are committed to ensuring that our website and online learning resources are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We believe that education should be inclusive and that all learners should have equal access to our content and services. This accessibility statement outlines our ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and provides information on how to request accommodations or report accessibility issues.
Standards Compliance
We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, a widely recognized international standard for web accessibility. Our website and online resources are designed and developed to be:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components are presented to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation are operable.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface are understandable.
- Robust: Content is robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Accessibility Features
To ensure accessibility, we have implemented the following features:
- Alternative Text: All images and non-text content have descriptive alternative text. This allows users who are blind or visually impaired to understand the content through screen readers. For example, the image of our academy building has the alt text "Exterior view of the Apex Learning Academy building in downtown Chicago".
- Keyboard Navigation: Our website can be navigated using a keyboard alone. Users can tab through links, form elements, and other interactive components.
- Sufficient Color Contrast: We have ensured that there is sufficient contrast between text and background colors to make content readable for users with low vision or color blindness. We use tools to verify contrast ratios and adjust colors as needed.
- Clear and Consistent Navigation: Our website has a clear and consistent navigation structure. Menus and links are organized logically and are easy to understand.
- Resizable Text: Users can easily resize the text on our website without losing content or functionality. This can be done through browser settings or assistive technologies.
- Form Labels and Instructions: All form fields have clear labels and instructions. We provide helpful error messages to assist users in completing forms correctly.
- Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content. This helps assistive technologies understand the meaning and relationships between different parts of the page.
- ARIA Attributes: We use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies about the roles, states, and properties of user interface elements.
- Skip Navigation Link: A "Skip to main content" link is provided at the top of each page, allowing users to bypass repetitive navigation elements and go directly to the main content.
- Dark Theme: Users can toggle between a light and dark theme to improve readability based on their preferences. This feature is especially helpful for users with light sensitivity.
Ongoing Efforts
We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our website and online resources. Our efforts include:
- Regular Audits: We conduct regular accessibility audits using automated tools and manual testing to identify and address accessibility issues.
- Training: Our development and content creation teams receive training on accessibility best practices.
- User Feedback: We encourage users to provide feedback on the accessibility of our website. We use this feedback to prioritize accessibility improvements.
- Technology Updates: We stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility technologies and standards.
- Remediation: When accessibility issues are identified, we take prompt action to remediate them.
Known Limitations
Despite our best efforts, some accessibility issues may still be present on our website. We are aware of the following limitations and are working to address them:
- Some older documents may not be fully accessible. We are in the process of updating these documents.
- Some third-party plugins or tools may not be fully accessible. We are working with vendors to improve the accessibility of these tools.
Requesting Accommodations
If you require accommodations to access our online courses or website, please contact our Accessibility Coordinator, Eleanor Vance, at [email protected] or call us at (312) 555-2020, extension 225. We will work with you to provide the accommodations you need.
Reporting Accessibility Issues
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter an accessibility issue, please let us know. To report an issue, please provide the following information:
- The URL of the page where you encountered the issue
- A description of the issue
- The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
- Your contact information
Please send your report to [email protected]. We will respond to your report as soon as possible.
Accessibility Coordinator Contact Information
For any accessibility-related inquiries or assistance, please contact:
Eleanor Vance
Accessibility Coordinator
Apex Learning Academy
225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 555-2020, extension 225
Email: [email protected]
Alternative Formats
If you require content in an alternative format, such as large print, Braille, or audio, please contact us at [email protected] or call us at (312) 555-2020, extension 225. We will do our best to provide the content in the format you need.