Accessibility
EqualWeb is dedicated to advancing digital accessibility so that individuals with disabilities can navigate and interact with online content with greater ease and independence. A core part of this commitment is the continuous effort to enhance the browsing experience for all users while aligning with recognized accessibility standards. In support of this mission, the NEEDOH website has undergone a comprehensive accessibility review and remediation process conducted by professional software developers and accessibility specialists. This process was carried out to ensure alignment with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 at the AA conformance level, which is widely accepted as an international standard for accessible web design.
The WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines provide extensive recommendations aimed at making digital content accessible to a wide range of users, including those who rely on assistive technologies or alternative methods of interaction. These guidelines address critical areas such as content structure, navigation, visual presentation, and user interaction. Through careful implementation of these criteria, the NEEDOH website has been enhanced to better support people with diverse disabilities, including individuals who are blind or have low vision, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, users with cognitive or learning disabilities, individuals with limited mobility, speech impairments, photosensitivity, or multiple disabilities. Compliance with these standards also contributes to a clearer, more intuitive experience for the general public.
To achieve these accessibility improvements, EqualWeb utilized a combination of automated accessibility tools and manual evaluations performed by experienced developers, designers, and accessibility professionals. The website was thoroughly reviewed, adjusted, and tested using a multi-layered methodology that covered both existing and newly added content. This process included detailed accessibility audits, functional testing, and remediation of identified barriers. Technical enhancements involved targeted JavaScript and CSS modifications, as well as improvements to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers, including NVDA and JAWS.
A key focus of the accessibility process was ensuring broad compatibility across commonly used browsers and operating systems. The NEEDOH website has been optimized to support major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari, including VoiceOver functionality on macOS. Accessibility support has also been addressed for screen readers on both Windows and Mac platforms, helping to provide a consistent and reliable user experience regardless of device or software choice.
Numerous accessibility features have been implemented to accommodate different user needs and preferences. The website supports full keyboard navigation for users who cannot operate a mouse. Visual disturbances such as flashing or blinking elements have been reduced or eliminated. Images include descriptive text where appropriate, and users can adjust font size, spacing, and alignment to improve readability. Alternative fonts are available, and color contrast options allow users to switch between light and dark modes or apply custom color schemes, including monochrome settings for users with color vision deficiencies.
Additional enhancements include options to enlarge the cursor and modify its color for better visibility, zoom content up to 200 percent, and highlight links and headings to improve page orientation. Image descriptions, tooltips, and text emphasis features help clarify on-screen content. The site also offers simplified content views for improved clarity and supports alternative input methods for text entry.
From a technical standpoint, the accessibility of the NEEDOH website is supported through the use of standard web technologies, including HTML, WAI-ARIA, CSS, and JavaScript. These technologies work together to ensure compliance with accessibility standards while maintaining compatibility with assistive tools and modern browsers.