Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Accessibility

At ShiaDirectory.online, we believe that everyone in our community should have equal access to information and opportunities. We are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

This commitment aligns with Islamic values of equality, justice, and caring for all members of our community, regardless of their abilities. We continuously work to improve the accessibility of our platform and remove barriers to digital participation.

Accessibility Standards

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These internationally recognized guidelines help ensure that web content is:

Accessibility Features

Our website includes the following accessibility features:

Visual Accessibility

• High contrast color schemes that meet WCAG AA standards
• Scalable text that can be enlarged up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Clear visual focus indicators for keyboard navigation
• Consistent layout and navigation patterns throughout the site
• Alternative text for all meaningful images and graphics
• Proper heading structure for screen reader navigation

Keyboard Navigation

• Full website functionality available via keyboard navigation
• Logical tab order through all interactive elements
• Skip links to main content areas
• Keyboard shortcuts for common actions
• No keyboard traps that prevent navigation

Screen Reader Support

• Semantic HTML markup for proper content structure
• ARIA labels and descriptions for complex interface elements
• Meaningful page titles and headings
• Form labels clearly associated with input fields
• Status updates announced to screen readers

Content Accessibility

• Clear, simple language in plain English
• Consistent terminology throughout the site
• Descriptive link text that explains the destination
• Error messages that clearly explain issues and solutions
• Time limits can be extended or disabled where possible

Assistive Technology Compatibility

Our website has been tested with the following assistive technologies:

Known Limitations

While we strive for full accessibility, we acknowledge that some limitations currently exist:

• Some third-party embedded content may not fully meet accessibility standards
• PDF documents may not be fully accessible (we're working on HTML alternatives)
• Some interactive map features may have limited keyboard accessibility
• Certain dynamically generated content may need improved screen reader support

We are actively working to address these limitations and improve accessibility across all areas of our platform.

Ongoing Efforts

Accessibility is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time achievement. Our efforts include:

Third-Party Content

While we strive to ensure accessibility across our entire platform, some content is provided by third parties:

• Business Listings: Individual businesses are responsible for the accessibility of their own content and contact information
• External Links: We cannot guarantee the accessibility of external websites but try to link to accessible resources when possible
• User-Generated Content: We provide guidelines to help users create accessible content and moderate for compliance

Feedback and Support

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of ShiaDirectory.online. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know:

When Contacting Us

To help us assist you effectively, please include:

• The specific page or feature you were trying to use
• The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
• Your operating system and browser
• A description of the problem you encountered
• Any suggestions you have for improvement

Alternative Formats

If you need information from our website in an alternative format, we can provide:

• Large print versions of key documents
• Audio descriptions of visual content
• Plain text versions of complex layouts
• Alternative communication methods for customer support

Please contact us using the information above to request alternative formats.

Legal Compliance

This accessibility statement applies to ShiaDirectory.online and reflects our compliance efforts with:

• The Equality Act 2010 (UK)
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
• European Accessibility Act (where applicable)
• Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018

Updates to This Statement

This accessibility statement was last updated on January 2024. We review and update this statement regularly to reflect:

• Changes to our website and accessibility features
• Feedback from users about accessibility issues
• Updates to accessibility standards and best practices
• New assistive technologies and testing methods