Accessibility
EqualWeb is committed to promoting inclusive digital environments where people of all abilities can explore, understand, and engage with online content comfortably and independently. This commitment is reflected in ongoing efforts to improve usability and align websites with established accessibility principles. As part of this initiative, the NEEDOH website has been carefully evaluated and enhanced through a structured accessibility optimization process led by experienced software engineers and accessibility professionals. The objective of this work is to bring the website into conformity with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level, a globally recognized benchmark for accessible digital design.
WCAG 2.1 AA outlines a broad framework intended to make web content usable by individuals with a wide range of disabilities and access needs. These guidelines address essential aspects of digital experiences, including how information is presented, how users move through pages, and how they interact with site elements. By following these recommendations, the NEEDOH website has been refined to better serve users who are blind or have low vision, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with cognitive or learning challenges, users with limited motor control, speech-related impairments, photosensitivity, or multiple disabilities. Implementing these standards also benefits users without disabilities by creating a clearer, more consistent, and easier-to-navigate interface.
Accessibility enhancements were achieved through a blended approach that combines automated scanning tools with in-depth manual testing. EqualWeb’s team of developers, designers, and accessibility specialists conducted comprehensive audits to identify barriers that could prevent equal access. Both existing pages and newly published content were examined and adjusted as needed. Remediation efforts included refining page structure, improving form behavior, correcting navigation issues, and ensuring that interactive elements function properly with assistive technologies. Targeted JavaScript and CSS updates were applied to support accessibility features and improve overall compatibility.
A strong emphasis was placed on ensuring that the website works reliably across commonly used browsers and operating systems. The NEEDOH website has been optimized for current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari, and supports VoiceOver on macOS. Screen reader compatibility has been addressed for both Windows and Mac environments, including popular tools such as NVDA and JAWS, helping to provide consistent access regardless of a user’s device or software preferences.
The website includes a range of built-in accessibility options designed to accommodate different needs and personal preferences. Full keyboard navigation is supported for users who cannot use a mouse. Potentially disruptive visual effects, such as flashing or blinking content, have been minimized or removed. Images include descriptive alternative text where appropriate, and users can adjust font size, line spacing, and text alignment to enhance readability. Additional font choices are available, and color contrast controls allow users to switch between light and dark themes or apply customized color combinations, including grayscale or monochrome modes.
Further features allow users to enlarge and recolor the cursor for better visibility, zoom page content up to 200 percent without loss of functionality, and highlight links or headings to improve orientation within a page. Tooltips, image descriptions, and text emphasis options help clarify on-screen information, while simplified content views offer a cleaner layout for easier comprehension. Support for alternative input methods is also provided to assist users who rely on different ways of entering text.
From a technical perspective, the accessibility foundation of the NEEDOH website is built using widely accepted web standards, including HTML, WAI-ARIA, CSS, and JavaScript. These technologies work together to deliver an experience that is both accessible and compatible with modern browsers and assistive tools. EqualWeb continues to monitor, test, and refine accessibility features to ensure that the website evolves alongside changing technologies and user needs, reinforcing an ongoing commitment to digital inclusion.