Web Accessibility at Shirley James Foundation for Children and Families 

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Our Commitment

We believe access to information and services is a human right. The Foundation aims to provide an inclusive digital experience that enables families, children, donors, volunteers, and community partners to find information and complete tasks independently, with or without assistive technologies.

Standards We Follow

We strive to conform to:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA

• Relevant U.S. accessibility laws and best practices applicable to nonprofits (e.g., principles reflected in
  Section 508 and ADA guidance)

Note: While we aim for AA, we will implement AAA-level techniques where feasible.

Measures We Take to Support Accessibility

To meet and maintain accessibility, we:

• Integrate accessibility into our design and development process (shift-left approach)

• Provide training for staff, contractors, and volunteers responsible for content

• Use an internal design system with accessible color palettes, typography, and components

• Conduct regular audits (automated and manual) and fix defects based on priority

• Engage users of assistive technology for usability testing, where possible

• Maintain procurement guidelines requiring vendors and third parties to adhere to accessibility standards (e.g., VPAT/ACR where available)
   

Accessibility Features on Our Site

• Logical heading structure and landmarks for navigation

• Keyboard-accessible menus, forms, and dialogs

• Visible focus indicators and skip-to-content links

• Sufficient color contrast and scalable text without loss of content or functionality

• Alt text for meaningful images and captions/transcripts for time-based media

• Proper labeling and error messages on forms; instructions not solely conveyed by color

• Use of ARIA only when necessary and in accordance with best practices

Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technology

Our website is designed to be compatible with:
 

• The latest versions of major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)

• Screen readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver), screen magnifiers, speech recognition software

• Operating systems on desktop and mobile devices
   

Best experience is expected on browsers released in the last two major versions. Some older browsers and unsupported extensions may reduce accessibility.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of our website relies on the following technologies:
 

• HTML, WAI-ARIA, CSS, JavaScript

• Accessible multimedia players for captions and transcripts These technologies are relied upon to conform to the accessibility standards used.

Known Limitations & Remediation Plan

We aim for full accessibility, but some content may have limitations:
 

• Legacy PDFs or documents may not be fully tagged. Remediation: New PDFs are created as accessible; older files are being retagged. Request an accessible version via the contact methods below.

• Third-party widgets or embeds (e.g., maps, donation forms, video players) may have constraints beyond our control. Remediation: We evaluate vendors for accessibility and offer alternate ways to access the same information.

• User-generated content or submissions may not meet standards. Remediation: We provide guidance and review critical content before publication.
   

If you encounter an issue, please let us know so we can prioritize a fix.

Feedback & Contact Options

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. Please contact us if you encounter accessibility barriers or need information in a different format (e.g., large print, Braille, audio, accessible PDF):
 

• Email: [Insert Accessibility Email]

• Phone: [Insert Phone Number] (available [days/hours], 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service)

• Online form: [Insert URL to Accessibility Request/Feedback Form]

• Mail: Shirley James Foundation for Families and Children, [Insert Address]
   

Response Time: We acknowledge feedback within 2 business days and aim to provide a resolution or timeline within 10 business days.

Accommodation Requests: We will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to our programs and services.

Assessment Approach

We assess the website’s accessibility by:
 

• Self-evaluation: using automated tools (e.g., axe, Lighthouse) and manual screen reader/keyboard testing

• Periodic third-party review: engaging independent specialists for audits and guidance (as resources permit)

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing effort. We:
 

• Monitor changes to WCAG and legal guidance

• Review new or updated pages before publishing

• Track defects and remediation in our issue system

Formal Complaints

If you believe your accessibility concern has not been adequately addressed, you may request escalation
to the Foundation’s Accessibility Coordinator at [Insert Coordinator Email]. We will review escalations within 15 business days.

Date & Versioning

• Policy Owner: Accessibility Coordinator / Web Team Lead

• Version: 1.0

• Effective Date: [Insert Date]

• Next Review: [Insert Date + 12 months]

Thank you for helping us make the Shirley James Foundation’s digital services more inclusive.