Find Local Gems Chicago

Accessibility Statement for Find Local Gems Chicago

Find Local Gems Chicago is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for everyone. We are continually improving the user experience for all visitors and strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Our Commitment

We believe that websites should be accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. We are dedicated to providing a website that is easy to use and navigate for people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments.

Measures to Support Accessibility

Find Local Gems Chicago takes the following measures to ensure accessibility:

  • Regular Accessibility Audits: We conduct regular audits of our website to identify and address accessibility issues. These audits are performed using both automated tools and manual testing by accessibility experts.
  • WCAG 2.1 Compliance: We design and develop our website to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This includes ensuring that our content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
  • Assistive Technology Compatibility: We ensure that our website is compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.
  • Alternative Text for Images: All images on our website include descriptive alternative text that provides context and meaning for users who cannot see the images.
  • Keyboard Navigation: Our website can be navigated using a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse.
  • Clear and Consistent Navigation: We provide clear and consistent navigation throughout our website to help users easily find the information they need.
  • Adjustable Text Size: Users can adjust the text size on our website to meet their individual needs.
  • Sufficient Color Contrast: We ensure that there is sufficient color contrast between text and background colors to make our content easy to read.
  • Forms and Input Fields: All forms and input fields on our website are designed to be accessible, with clear labels and instructions.
  • Video and Audio Content: We provide captions and transcripts for video and audio content to make it accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Specific Accessibility Features

Find Local Gems Chicago incorporates several specific accessibility features to enhance the user experience:

  • ARIA Attributes: We use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies about the structure and functionality of our website.
  • Skip Navigation Links: We provide skip navigation links to allow users to bypass repetitive content and go directly to the main content of each page.
  • Focus Indicators: We ensure that there are clear and visible focus indicators for interactive elements, such as links and buttons, to help users navigate with a keyboard.
  • Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content, making it easier for assistive technologies to understand and interpret.

Ongoing Efforts

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility of our website. Our ongoing efforts include:

  • Training and Education: We provide training and education to our staff on accessibility best practices to ensure that they are equipped to create accessible content.
  • User Feedback: We encourage users to provide feedback on the accessibility of our website. We use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and to prioritize our accessibility efforts.
  • Technology Updates: We stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards and technologies and incorporate them into our website as appropriate.
  • Collaboration with Accessibility Experts: We work with accessibility experts to conduct audits, provide guidance, and ensure that our website meets the highest standards of accessibility.

Accessibility Limitations

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

  • Third-Party Content: Some of our content is provided by third parties, and we may not have complete control over its accessibility. We are working with our third-party providers to improve the accessibility of their content.
  • Legacy Content: Some of our legacy content may not fully conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We are gradually updating this content to improve its accessibility.

Feedback and Contact Information

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

Email: accessibility@findlocalgemschicago.com
Phone: (312) 555-GEMS (4367)
Address: 225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601

We will do our best to respond to your feedback in a timely manner.

Formal Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility feedback, you may file a formal complaint with the City of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. Information on how to file a complaint can be found on the city's website.

Accessibility Standards

This accessibility statement is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). More information about WCAG can be found on the W3C website.

Date of Statement

This statement was last updated on October 26, 2023.