Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Accessibility

The Career Quill is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. We believe that everyone should have equal access to career development tools and resources, regardless of their abilities or the assistive technologies they use.

We are continuously working to improve the accessibility and usability of our platform to ensure it provides a positive, inclusive experience for all users. Accessibility is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment to inclusivity and universal design.

Accessibility Standards

The Career Quill aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level. These guidelines are internationally recognized standards for web accessibility and outline how to make web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.

WCAG 2.1 AA compliance addresses:

• Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.

• Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users.

• Understandable: Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable.

• Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following features to enhance accessibility on The Career Quill:

Keyboard Navigation

• All interactive elements are keyboard accessible and can be navigated using the Tab key.

• Logical tab order follows the visual flow of the page.

• Focus indicators are clearly visible to help keyboard users track their position.

• Keyboard shortcuts and navigation patterns follow standard web conventions.

Screen Reader Support

• Semantic HTML elements (headings, lists, landmarks, forms) provide proper document structure.

• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels and attributes are used to provide context where needed.

• Images and icons include descriptive alt text or are marked as decorative when appropriate.

• Form fields have associated labels and helpful error messages.

• The site has been tested with popular screen readers including NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

Visual Accessibility

• Color contrast ratios meet or exceed WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).

• Information is not conveyed by color alone; we use text, icons, and patterns as additional indicators.

• Light and dark theme options are available to accommodate different visual preferences and reduce eye strain.

• Text is resizable up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.

• Fonts are legible and use sufficient spacing for comfortable reading.

Responsive and Adaptive Design

• The site is fully responsive and works across different devices and screen sizes.

• Content reflows and adapts to different viewport sizes without requiring horizontal scrolling.

• Touch targets are appropriately sized (minimum 44x44 pixels) for users with motor impairments.

Content Structure

• Headings are hierarchically structured (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to create a clear content outline.

• Page titles are descriptive and unique to help with navigation.

• Content is written in plain language to be understandable for a wide audience.

• Link text is descriptive and makes sense out of context.

Assistive Technologies

The Career Quill is designed to be compatible with common assistive technologies, including:

• Screen Readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack, and other popular screen reading software.

• Screen Magnification: ZoomText, Windows Magnifier, and browser zoom functionality.

• Speech Recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking and voice control systems.

• Alternative Input Devices: Switch controls, head pointers, eye-tracking systems, and other adaptive devices.

• Browser Accessibility Features: High contrast modes, reader views, and custom stylesheets.

Known Limitations

While we strive to maintain the highest accessibility standards, we acknowledge that some aspects of our platform may not yet be fully optimized:

• Some third-party integrations (such as reCAPTCHA) may have their own accessibility limitations.

• PDF and DOCX export formats depend on browser-generated outputs, which may have varying levels of accessibility.

• Complex interactive features such as drag-and-drop section reordering may require keyboard alternatives, which we are continuously improving.

We are actively working to address these limitations and welcome your feedback on how we can improve.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing process, and we are committed to continuous improvement. Our efforts include:

• Regular accessibility audits and testing with assistive technologies.

• User testing with people who use assistive technologies.

• Staying current with accessibility best practices and evolving standards.

• Training our development team on accessibility principles and inclusive design.

• Prioritizing accessibility in all new features and updates.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of The Career Quill. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using our platform, please let us know so we can address them promptly.

When reporting accessibility issues, please include:

• The page or feature where you encountered the issue.

• A description of the problem and how it affects your ability to use the site.

• The assistive technology you are using (if applicable), including name and version.

• Your browser and operating system.

You can contact us regarding accessibility at:

Email: dev@jpbranski.com

We aim to respond to accessibility inquiries within 2 business days and will work with you to provide an accessible alternative or resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Third-Party Content

Some content on The Career Quill may be provided by third-party services (such as AI-generated suggestions from OpenAI). While we strive to ensure all content is accessible, we may have limited control over the accessibility of third-party content. If you encounter issues with third-party content, please let us know so we can work with our partners to improve accessibility.

Accessibility Resources

If you would like to learn more about web accessibility, the following resources may be helpful:

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) — Comprehensive accessibility resources and guidelines.

• WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference — A customizable quick reference to WCAG 2.1 requirements.

• The A11Y Project — Community-driven accessibility resources.

• WebAIM — Web accessibility training and resources.