The Emerald Coast Academy of Dramatic Arts

Accessibility Statement

The Emerald Coast Academy of Dramatic Arts is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and in doing so adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines.

This accessibility statement outlines our ongoing efforts to ensure our website is accessible to people with disabilities. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive online experience and are continually improving our website to meet and exceed accessibility standards.

Our Commitment

The Emerald Coast Academy of Dramatic Arts strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines will help make the web more user-friendly for all people.

We believe the web should be available to everyone, and are committed to designing, developing, and maintaining our website with accessibility in mind. Our efforts include:

Specific Accessibility Features Implemented

Keyboard Navigation

Our website is designed to be fully navigable using a keyboard. Users can tab through all interactive elements, such as links, form fields, and buttons, in a logical order. We have also implemented skip links to allow users to bypass repetitive navigation elements and jump directly to the main content of the page. This ensures that users who cannot use a mouse can still easily access all the information on our website.

Screen Reader Compatibility

We have taken steps to ensure that our website is compatible with screen reader software. This includes using appropriate ARIA attributes to provide additional information about the structure and functionality of our content. We have also tested our website with several popular screen readers, such as NVDA and VoiceOver, to identify and address any compatibility issues. Headings are used correctly to give structure to the page, and ARIA labels provide additional context where needed. Images have descriptive alt text, and tables include summaries and appropriate scope for headers.

Color Contrast

We have carefully selected color palettes to ensure that there is sufficient contrast between text and background colors. This makes it easier for users with low vision or color blindness to read the content on our website. We have used a color contrast checker to verify that our color combinations meet the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for contrast ratio.

Alternative Text for Images

All images and other non-text content on our website have alternative text descriptions. These descriptions provide information about the content of the image to users who cannot see it. Alternative text is essential for users who are blind or visually impaired and rely on screen readers to access web content. We strive to provide accurate and descriptive alternative text that conveys the meaning and purpose of each image. For example, the alt text for the image of Alana Rivers is "Photo of Alana Rivers, acting instructor." This provides a clear and concise description of the image's content.

Forms and Input Fields

All forms on our website are designed with accessibility in mind. Each input field has a clear and descriptive label, and we have used appropriate ARIA attributes to provide additional information about the purpose and requirements of each field. We have also implemented error messages that are displayed in a clear and accessible manner, to help users correct any errors they may make when filling out a form. For example, the name field in our contact form has a label "Name:" and the attribute aria-required="true" to indicate that it is a required field.

Video and Audio Content

We are committed to making our video and audio content accessible to all users. This includes providing captions and transcripts for all video content, and audio descriptions for video content where necessary. Captions allow users who are deaf or hard of hearing to understand the content of the video, while transcripts provide a text-based alternative for users who prefer to read the content. Audio descriptions provide additional information about the visual elements of the video, making it accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired.

Ongoing Efforts

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility of our website. We regularly review our website for accessibility issues and address them promptly. We also stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards and guidelines, and incorporate them into our website design and development processes. Our accessibility efforts are guided by Elara Finch, our dedicated Accessibility Officer. Elara works closely with our web development team to ensure our commitment to inclusivity is upheld in every aspect of our website. You can reach Elara at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

We conduct periodic accessibility audits using automated tools and manual testing. These audits help us identify areas where our website may not be fully accessible and prioritize improvements. Our goal is to proactively address accessibility issues before they impact our users. We strive to not only meet but exceed the accessibility standards set by WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you have any comments or suggestions, or if you encounter any accessibility barriers while using our website, please contact us at:

The Emerald Coast Academy of Dramatic Arts
Accessibility Officer: Elara Finch
302 Harbor Boulevard
Destin, FL 32541
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (850) 555-2282

We will do our best to respond to your feedback in a timely manner and to address any accessibility issues you may encounter.

Alternative Formats

If you need information from our website in an alternative format, such as large print, braille, or audio, please contact us using the information above. We will make every effort to provide the information in a format that meets your needs.

Third-Party Content

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or content. We are not responsible for the accessibility of these third-party websites or content. We encourage you to review the accessibility statements of any third-party websites you visit.

Browser Compatibility

Our website is designed to be compatible with a wide range of web browsers, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We regularly test our website with these browsers to ensure that it functions properly and is accessible to all users. If you encounter any issues while using our website with a particular browser, please contact us, and we will do our best to resolve the issue.

Assistive Technologies

We strive to ensure that our website is compatible with a variety of assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software. We regularly test our website with these technologies to identify and address any compatibility issues. If you encounter any issues while using our website with a particular assistive technology, please contact us, and we will do our best to resolve the issue.

Training and Awareness

We provide ongoing training to our staff on web accessibility best practices. This training ensures that our team members are aware of the importance of accessibility and have the skills and knowledge to create accessible web content. We also promote awareness of accessibility issues throughout our organization to foster a culture of inclusivity.