Accessibility Statement for Elevate Learning

At Elevate Learning, located in the heart of San Francisco, California, we are committed to providing a high-quality online learning experience that is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We believe that education should be inclusive and equitable, and we strive to create a platform that meets the needs of all learners. This accessibility statement outlines our ongoing efforts to ensure that our website and online courses are accessible to the widest possible audience, adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Our Commitment

Elevate Learning is dedicated to making our online learning environment accessible by:

Following WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines as our accessibility standard.
Regularly testing our website and course content for accessibility using both automated tools and manual evaluations.
Incorporating accessibility considerations into our design and development processes.
Providing training to our staff on accessibility best practices.
Continuously seeking feedback from our users and incorporating improvements based on their input.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented several features to enhance the accessibility of our website and online courses:

Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content, making it easier for assistive technologies to understand and navigate.
Alternative Text: All images and non-text content have descriptive alternative text, ensuring that users who cannot see the images can still understand their purpose.
Keyboard Navigation: Our website is fully navigable using a keyboard, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to access all content and functionality.
Color Contrast: We have carefully chosen color combinations to ensure sufficient contrast between text and background, making it easier for users with low vision to read the content.
Resizable Text: Users can easily increase the text size without losing content or functionality.
Clear and Consistent Navigation: Our website has a clear and consistent navigation structure, making it easy for users to find what they are looking for.
Form Labels and Instructions: All form fields have clear labels and instructions, making it easier for users to complete forms accurately.
Captions and Transcripts: All video and audio content is provided with captions and transcripts, making it accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Assistive Technology Compatibility: Our website is designed to be compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies, such as screen readers and screen magnifiers.

Specific Accessibility Measures Implemented

Here's a detailed list of specific accessibility measures we've taken at Elevate Learning:

Screen Reader Optimization: Ensuring all content is properly tagged for screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver. This includes using ARIA attributes where necessary to provide additional context and improve the screen reader experience.
Keyboard Trapping Prevention: Implementing mechanisms to prevent keyboard focus from being trapped in any particular element, ensuring users can always navigate away from an area.
Focus Indicators: Providing clear and visible focus indicators for all interactive elements, making it easy for keyboard users to see where their focus is located. We use a custom focus style that contrasts sharply with the surrounding elements.
Consistent Heading Structure: Maintaining a logical and consistent heading structure throughout the website, using headings (H1-H6) to organize content hierarchically. This helps screen reader users easily understand the organization of the page.
Form Error Handling: Implementing robust form error handling with clear and concise error messages that are associated with the appropriate form fields. Error messages are also conveyed using ARIA live regions to ensure they are announced by screen readers.
Time-Based Media Alternatives: Providing transcripts and captions for all video and audio content. We also provide audio descriptions where necessary to describe visual elements that are crucial to understanding the content.
Dynamic Content Accessibility: Ensuring that any dynamic content, such as updates or changes to the page, is accessible to screen readers by using ARIA live regions and other appropriate techniques.
Third-Party Content Review: Evaluating the accessibility of any third-party content or plugins used on our website and working with vendors to ensure they meet our accessibility standards.

Conformance Status

The Elevate Learning website and online courses are partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This means that some parts of the content do not yet fully conform to the accessibility standard. We are actively working to address these issues and improve the overall accessibility of our platform.

Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, some limitations may exist. We are aware of the following potential accessibility issues:

Some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible. We are working to remediate these documents or provide alternative accessible formats.
Certain interactive elements in older courses might not be fully compatible with all assistive technologies. We are in the process of updating these elements.

Accessibility Checklist

Below is a checklist of key accessibility features and their current status on Elevate Learning:

Accessibility Features Checklist
Feature	Status	Details
Semantic HTML	Fully Implemented	All pages use semantic HTML5 elements to structure content.
Alternative Text for Images	Mostly Implemented	Most images have descriptive alt text; ongoing review to address any omissions.
Keyboard Navigation	Fully Implemented	Website is fully navigable using the keyboard.
Color Contrast	Fully Implemented	Color contrast ratios meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Resizable Text	Fully Implemented	Users can resize text up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
Captions and Transcripts	Partially Implemented	Captions and transcripts provided for most video and audio content; working on backlog.
Form Labels	Fully Implemented	All form fields have clear and descriptive labels.
Screen Reader Compatibility	Ongoing Improvement	Regular testing with screen readers to ensure compatibility.
Focus Indicators	Fully Implemented	Clear and visible focus indicators for keyboard navigation.
Dynamic Content Accessibility	Partially Implemented	Dynamic content updates are announced to screen readers using ARIA live regions.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Elevate Learning. Please let us know if you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement. You can contact us through the Contact Us page or email us directly at [email protected]. You can also call our support line at (415) 555-0100 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

Formal Complaints

If you wish to file a formal accessibility complaint, please send a detailed description of the issue, including the specific URL and the assistive technology you are using, to:

Accessibility Officer
Elevate Learning
555 Howard Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94105

We will respond to your complaint within five business days and will work diligently to resolve the issue.

Enforcement Procedure

Elevate Learning is committed to working with relevant regulatory bodies to resolve any accessibility complaints. We adhere to the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and we will cooperate fully with any investigations or audits related to accessibility compliance.

Date of Statement

This accessibility statement was last updated on October 26, 2024.

Policy Review

This accessibility policy will be reviewed and updated annually, or more frequently as needed to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness. The review will be conducted by the Accessibility Officer in consultation with the Elevate Learning leadership team.