Accessibility Statement – NorthForecast Update

NorthForecast Update

Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement

NorthForecast Update is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.

Our Commitment

At NorthForecast Update, we believe that weather information should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or technology. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive digital experience that meets the needs of all our users.

Our commitment to accessibility is ongoing, and we continuously work to improve our platform based on user feedback and evolving web standards.

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WCAG 2.1 AA Conformance
Working towards full compliance

We strive to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities, and user-friendly for everyone.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented numerous features to make NorthForecast Update accessible to all users:

⌨️
Keyboard Navigation

Full keyboard accessibility with logical tab order, skip links, and clear focus indicators for all interactive elements.

📱
Responsive Design

Optimized for all screen sizes and devices, with flexible layouts that work on mobile, tablet, and desktop.

🎨
Color & Contrast

High contrast ratios between text and background, with color-independent information presentation.

🔊
Screen Reader Support

Comprehensive ARIA labels, semantic HTML structure, and proper heading hierarchy for screen reader users.

📖
Text Alternatives

Alternative text for images, descriptive link text, and text equivalents for non-text content.

⚙️
Customizable Experience

Theme options, font size adjustments, and reduced motion preferences for users with sensitivities.

Technical Implementation

Our accessibility approach includes:

  • Semantic HTML: Proper use of HTML5 elements and ARIA landmarks to create a meaningful structure
  • Keyboard Navigation: All functionality available through keyboard interfaces without specific timings
  • Focus Management: Clear visual focus indicators and logical tab order throughout the application
  • Color Accessibility: Minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text
  • Text Resizing: Support for text resizing up to 200% without loss of content or functionality
  • Alternative Text: Descriptive alt text for all meaningful images and icons
  • Form Accessibility: Properly labeled form fields, error identification, and helpful instructions

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

Current Accessibility Status

Perceivable Fully Compliant
Operable Fully Compliant
Understandable Fully Compliant
Robust Partially Compliant

NorthForecast Update is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. We are continuously working to address these areas.

Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technology

NorthForecast Update is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

  • Screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
  • Screen magnification software
  • Speech recognition software (Dragon Naturally Speaking, Windows Speech Recognition)
  • Alternative input devices (head pointers, mouth sticks, single switches)

Our platform is optimized for the latest versions of major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend using the most current browser versions for the best accessibility experience.

Assessment Approach

NorthForecast Update assesses the accessibility of our digital properties through the following methods:

  • Automated Testing: Regular scans using accessibility evaluation tools
  • Manual Testing: Expert reviews by our accessibility team
  • User Testing: Involvement of users with disabilities in our testing process
  • Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing evaluation as part of our development lifecycle

This statement was last reviewed and updated on January 15, 2025.

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