Accessibility Statement

Our Accessibility Goals

Our primary goal is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines provide internationally recognized standards for making web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these. We strive to continually improve the accessibility of our platform to meet these standards.

Accessibility Features

• Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content, ensuring that it is easily understandable by assistive technologies.
• Alternative Text: All images and non-text content have descriptive alternative text to provide context for users who cannot see them. For instance, the LearnSphere Academy logo in the navigation bar has the alt text "LearnSphere Academy Logo," clearly identifying the image.
• Keyboard Navigation: Our website can be navigated using a keyboard alone, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to access all content and functionality.
• Sufficient Color Contrast: We ensure that there is sufficient color contrast between text and background colors to make content readable for users with low vision.
• Resizable Text: Users can easily resize text using their browser settings 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 the information they need.
• Form Accessibility: All form elements are properly labeled, and instructions are provided to help users complete them successfully. Error messages are also clear and informative.
• Video Captions and Transcripts: All video content is captioned, and transcripts are provided for audio content, making them accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• ARIA Attributes: We use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content and complex user interface components.

Specific Actions Taken

To ensure our commitment to accessibility, LearnSphere Academy has undertaken the following specific actions:

• Regular Audits: We conduct regular accessibility audits of our website and online courses using both automated tools and manual testing by accessibility experts.
• Training: Our development and content creation teams receive ongoing training on accessibility best practices.
• User Feedback: We encourage users to provide feedback on the accessibility of our platform and use this feedback to make improvements.
• Continuous Monitoring: We continuously monitor our website and online courses for accessibility issues and address them promptly.

Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, there may be some limitations to the accessibility of our platform. We are aware of the following potential issues:

• Some older course materials may not fully conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We are working to update these materials as quickly as possible.
• Third-party plugins and integrations may not always be fully accessible. We carefully evaluate third-party tools before integrating them into our platform.

Conformance Status

LearnSphere Academy is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, meaning that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. We are actively working to address these issues and achieve full conformance.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of LearnSphere Academy relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• ARIA

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of LearnSphere Academy. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (617) 555-0101
• Address: 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114

We will make every effort to respond to your feedback within five business days.

Formal Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility feedback, you may file a formal complaint with our Accessibility Officer, Dr. Eleanor Vance. Please submit your complaint in writing to the address above, or email [email protected]. We will investigate your complaint and provide a written response within ten business days.

Third-Party Content

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or content that we do not control. LearnSphere Academy is not responsible for the accessibility of third-party content. We encourage users to contact the owners of those websites directly to report any accessibility issues.

Enforcement Procedure

This accessibility statement was approved by the LearnSphere Academy Accessibility Committee on October 26, 2024. It will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect our ongoing commitment to accessibility. Any changes to this statement will be posted on our website.

Alternative Formats

If you need any of the content on our website in an alternative format, such as large print, braille, or audio, please contact us using the contact information provided above. We will do our best to provide the requested format in a timely manner.

List of Pages

Below is a comprehensive list of all the pages available on the LearnSphere Academy website:

• Home: The main landing page of LearnSphere Academy, providing an overview of our services and featured courses.
• Courses: A detailed catalog of all the online courses offered by LearnSphere Academy, with descriptions, pricing, and enrollment information.
• Blog: A collection of articles and insights on various topics related to online learning, education, and career development, authored by our faculty and guest contributors.
• Contact: A page with contact information for LearnSphere Academy, including our address, phone number, email address, and a contact form for inquiries.
• Accessibility: This page, providing details about LearnSphere Academy's commitment to accessibility and the features we have implemented to ensure an inclusive learning experience.
• Privacy Policy: A document outlining how LearnSphere Academy collects, uses, and protects the personal information of our users. Authored by legal expert, Beatrice Dubois.
• Terms and Conditions: A legal agreement that sets out the rules and guidelines for using the LearnSphere Academy website and online courses. Overseen by legal advisor, Alistair McGregor.
• Cookies Policy: Information about the cookies used on the LearnSphere Academy website, their purpose, and how users can manage their cookie preferences. Document reviewed by data protection officer, Ingrid Hoffmann.

Accessibility Compliance Table

The following table outlines our compliance with specific WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria:

WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance

Success Criterion	Status	Notes
1.1.1 Non-text Content	Fully Compliant	All images have descriptive alternative text.
1.3.1 Info and Relationships	Partially Compliant	Working to improve the semantic structure of some older course materials.
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)	Fully Compliant	Sufficient color contrast is ensured throughout the platform.
2.1.1 Keyboard	Fully Compliant	All functionality is accessible via keyboard.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)	Fully Compliant	Link text clearly indicates the destination.
3.1.1 Language of Page	Fully Compliant	The language of each page is correctly identified.
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value	Partially Compliant	Using ARIA attributes to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content.