Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Inclusive Web Design for Canadian Families

Our Commitment

BudgetNorth is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply the relevant accessibility standards to ensure our website is usable by all Canadians.

Conformance Status

The BudgetNorth website partially conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.

Accessibility Standards We Follow

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Our primary target standard for accessibility
  • Section 508: U.S. Federal accessibility standards (where applicable)
  • AODA: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act compliance
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: Equality principles

Accessibility Features

Keyboard Navigation

Our website is fully navigable using keyboard-only controls:

  • Tab key for forward navigation
  • Shift+Tab for backward navigation
  • Enter/Space for activation
  • Arrow keys for menu navigation
  • Escape key to close menus and modals

Screen Reader Compatibility

We ensure compatibility with popular screen readers:

  • JAWS (Windows)
  • NVDA (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (Mac/iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)
  • Orca (Linux)

Visual Design Features

  • High Contrast: Text and background colors meet contrast ratio requirements
  • Scalable Text: All text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
  • Color Independence: Information is not conveyed by color alone
  • Focus Indicators: Clear visual focus indicators for all interactive elements
  • Consistent Navigation: Uniform navigation structure throughout the site

Alternative Text and Descriptions

All images include appropriate alternative text:

  • Descriptive alt text for informational images
  • Empty alt attributes (alt="") for decorative images
  • Captions for images conveying important information
  • Long descriptions for complex charts and graphics

Form Accessibility

All forms are designed with accessibility in mind:

  • Clear, descriptive labels for all form fields
  • Proper form field grouping and organization
  • Error messages that are programmatically associated with fields
  • Required fields clearly indicated
  • Instructions provided before form fields

Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, some limitations still exist. We are actively working to address these:

Third-Party Content

Some content on our site is provided by third-party services:

  • Embedded videos may have accessibility limitations
  • External social media feeds may not be fully accessible
  • Third-party widgets may have accessibility gaps

Complex Financial Charts

Some budget visualization charts may require additional work to provide complete alternative access:

  • Data tables provided as alternatives to visual charts
  • Text descriptions of key data points
  • Ongoing improvement of chart accessibility

Assistive Technologies

BudgetNorth is designed to be compatible with various assistive technologies:

  • Screen readers and voice recognition software
  • Switch navigation devices
  • Large print displays and magnification tools
  • Keyboard-only navigation
  • Voice control software

Accessibility Testing

We regularly test our website for accessibility using:

  • Automated accessibility scanning tools
  • Manual keyboard navigation testing
  • Screen reader testing with real users
  • Color contrast analysis
  • Mobile accessibility testing

Ongoing Efforts

We are committed to continuous improvement:

  • Regular Audits: Quarterly accessibility audits by certified professionals
  • User Feedback: Regular testing with users who have disabilities
  • Staff Training: Ongoing accessibility training for our development team
  • Standards Monitoring: Staying current with evolving accessibility standards
  • Third-Party Reviews: External accessibility consultations

Technical Specifications

Our website is designed to work with the following technologies:

  • HTML5 semantic markup
  • CSS3 with responsive design
  • JavaScript (progressive enhancement)
  • ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes
  • Mobile-responsive design (iOS, Android, Windows Mobile)

Accessibility Support

If you encounter accessibility barriers on our website, we want to help. Please contact us:

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (613) 555‑4466
Address: 201 Bank St, Ottawa, ON

What to Include in Your Request

When reporting accessibility issues, please include:

  • Description of the accessibility barrier
  • Your assistive technology details (screen reader, browser version)
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Your contact information for follow-up

Response Time

We aim to respond to accessibility support requests within:

  • Acknowledgment: Within 2 business days
  • Initial Response: Within 5 business days
  • Resolution: As quickly as possible, with regular updates

Future Accessibility Goals

Our upcoming accessibility initiatives include:

  • Enhanced video captioning and audio descriptions
  • Improved chart and graph accessibility
  • Voice navigation features
  • Personalized accessibility settings
  • Enhanced mobile accessibility

Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Your feedback helps us improve accessibility. We welcome:

  • Reports of accessibility barriers
  • Suggestions for improvement
  • Ideas for new accessibility features
  • Experience sharing from users with disabilities

Legal Compliance

This accessibility statement is made in accordance with:

  • Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • Employment and Social Development Canada accessibility guidelines
  • Government of Canada web accessibility standards

Document Information

This accessibility statement was last updated on January 1, 2025.

We review and update this statement annually or when significant changes are made to our website.

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