Not only is it the right thing to do, but it's actually a legal requirement in many countries. If your site isn't accessible, then at some point you're likely to get sued.

In the UK alone, around 20% of the population have some form of disability, and almost everybody at some point in their lives will have a disability - be it temporary or permanent. Do not stop them from enjoying what you create, sell or want to share! The Internet is for everybody, so you should ensure everybody can use it.

This site is built to comply with WCAG 2.2 level AA as a minimum standard. Level AAA is met wherever possible. WCAG 3 will be arriving at some point, and we're already working to adhere to that too.

What this standard actually means to folks in general is:

• Colour contrast.

  Things should be easy to see and distinguish from each other

• Font sizes.

  Things should be big enough to read without straining

• Page zoom.

  You should be able to view this site at anywhere between 30% and 500% zoom and still be able to use it without issue

• Language.

  Where possible, the simplest, most concise language is used so that more people can understand the content. Not everybody's first language is English, and not everybody has a reading age that matches their physical age. In some areas of the site, such as in technical divs and guides, this is not possible but the language used there should be appropriate for the intended audience (in most cases this will be other front end developers or accessibility folks because that's the focus of my technical content!).

• Low-vision or no vision (blindness).

  Not everybody can see, so they should still be able to read and enjoy the content without barriers. Site content should be accessible via screen reader software.

• Colour vision deficiency (colour blindness).

  There are four kinds of red-green colour vision deficiency (people who have either few or no red or green colour cones in their eyes), two kinds of blue-yellow colour vision deficiency (people who have either few or no blue or yellow colour cones in their eyes), and two kinds of monochromatic colour vision deficiency (people who see no colours other than shades of grey). There are (currently) five colour themes to choose from for this site, which hopefully will cover many use cases. These should all meet contrast requirements and help users with colour vision deficiencies use this site without issue.

• Touch targets.

  Any links, buttons, form fields and any other interactive element should meet the minimum size for touch devices.

• Captions, subtitles, and transcripts.

  Any audio or video file that contains audio should have a full written transcript available. Any video file with audio should contain subtitles at a minimum, and where possible should provide Closed Captions (CC).

• Consistent, understandable and logical.

  Global navigation and configuration appears in the same place on every single page, and all content should be written in a logical format, clearly divided by heaadings in the correct order.

• Content descriptions.

  Where images, charts or other visual elements are used there should be adequate and understandable descriptions to assist those who cannot see them.

From a technical perspective, I currently test against the latest versions of the following browsers by default:

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Safari (iOS)

The build tools I use will automatically try and account for the two previous versions of any major browser too. This is not infallible, and sometimes it does mean that I won't support the latest shiny things. Other browsers I do not test for, include, but are not limited to:

• Internet Explorer - any version. It no longer exists as an application, and is so out of date you should probably be ashamed of yourself if you're using this when there are superior, free browsers out there you can use instead.
• Microsoft Edge - it's built on top of the same browser rendering engine (Chromium) as Google Chrome so if things work in Chrome, they should work in Edge.
• Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc, or any other Chromium-based browser for the same reason as I do not test in Edge.
• Development versions of any major browser supported in the previous list.

This site should work in older, less compliant or more obscure browsers, but there's no guaranteeing the full experience. All content should still be at least readable, if not fully functional.

Where a browser doesn't support certain methods or techniques, it should fall back to a usable state (although likely less bells and whistles).

Exceptions & further information

Whilst I strive to adhere to accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of a website.

I believe passionately in creating sites that everybody can use, and if you find this to not be the case please let me know what difficulties you're facing, what your browser, operating system and input methods are and as much detail as you can provide so that I can investigate and try to find a way to make it better for you.

I'm always looking at ways to improve this site, and your feedback is really, really important to me. If I don't know there's a problem, I can't make it better!

Don't forget: It's not just the right thing to do, it is a legal requirement.

Accessibility Statement for Crayons and Code

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to ensuring that our digital services are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We aim to meet or exceed the accessibility standards set out in the European Accessibility Act and the UK Equality Act 2010.

Standards

• WCAG Compliance: We strive to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards and are preparing for future WCAG 3.0 standards to ensure the highest level of accessibility.
• EAA Principles: Our commitment to accessibility is guided by the principles of Perceivability, Operability, Understandability, and Robustness (POUR).

Features and Tools

• Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring all functionalities are accessible via keyboard.
• Contrast and Color: Maintaining high contrast ratios for readability.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: Implementing proper ARIA roles and labels.
• Voice Recognition: Exploring integration of voice command systems for enhanced interaction.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any barriers, please contact me.

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 business days.

By embedding these principles and requirements into our digital strategy, we aim to not only comply with legal standards but also to foster an inclusive digital environment for all users.

European Accessibility Act Compliance

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) sets out comprehensive requirements to ensure digital accessibility across the EU. Here’s what needs to be covered in your accessibility statement to comply with both European and British legal requirements, and to meet at least WCAG 2.1 AA standards while preparing for WCAG 3.0.

Key Requirements of the EAA

1. Scope and Applicability: The EAA applies to a broad range of consumer-facing products and services, including websites, mobile applications, ATMs, ticketing machines, e-books, and e-commerce platforms. It mandates that these products and services must be accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring they can participate fully in society.
2. 2. Core Principles: The act is built on the principles of being Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). These principles are essential for creating user interfaces that are accessible to everyone.
3. Deadlines and Compliance: By June 28, 2025, new in-scope products and services must comply with local implementations of the EAA. Existing products and services have until June 28, 2030, to meet these standards. Compliance includes adhering to the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, which are expected to evolve into WCAG 2.2 and eventually WCAG 3.0 standards.
4. Reasonable Accommodation: Businesses must provide necessary and appropriate modifications to ensure accessibility, without imposing a disproportionate burden on the economic operators involved. This includes designing products and services to be usable by everyone, irrespective of their disabilities.
5. Monitoring and Enforcement: National authorities in each EU member state are responsible for ensuring compliance, conducting regular checks, and addressing non-compliance with penalties ranging from fines to criminal sentences for severe breaches.
6. Legal Exemptions: Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and a global turnover not exceeding €2 million, or those facing undue burdens in complying, may be exempt from certain requirements. However, these exemptions need to be carefully documented and justified.