♿ Accessibility Statement

1. Our Commitment

2. What We're Doing

We have designed and developed the Dustid Ecommerce platform with accessibility in mind by:

3. Accessibility Features

Navigation and Structure:

• Consistent navigation throughout the site
• Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
• Skip links to main content
• Breadcrumb navigation where appropriate
• Clear page titles and descriptive links

Visual Design:

• High contrast color schemes
• Scalable text that can be enlarged up to 200%
• Icons accompanied by descriptive text
• No reliance on color alone to convey information
• Clear focus indicators for interactive elements

Interactive Elements:

• Form labels clearly associated with input fields
• Error messages that are descriptive and helpful
• Buttons with descriptive text or ARIA labels
• Dropdown menus accessible via keyboard
• Modal dialogs properly announced to screen readers

Media and Content:

• Alternative text for informative images
• Captions or transcripts for video content (when available)
• Audio descriptions where necessary
• Documents available in accessible formats

4. Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We are continually working to:

• Identify and fix accessibility barriers
• Conduct regular accessibility audits
• Train our development team on accessibility best practices
• Stay updated with latest accessibility standards and guidelines
• Implement user feedback and suggestions
• Test with real users who rely on assistive technologies

5. Current Accessibility Status

We believe our website currently meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for most content. However, we acknowledge that:

• Some third-party content may not fully comply with accessibility standards
• Legacy content is being gradually updated to meet current standards
• New features undergo accessibility testing before release
• We are working to address any identified accessibility issues

6. Known Issues

We are currently working to address the following accessibility challenges:

• Some vendor-uploaded content may lack proper alt text
• Third-party payment forms may have limited accessibility customization
• Complex interactive elements are being enhanced for better screen reader support

We aim to resolve these issues in our ongoing development cycles.

7. Assistive Technologies Tested

We regularly test our platform with:

• Screen Readers: JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver
• Browser Tools: Built-in accessibility checkers
• Keyboard Navigation: Tab, arrow keys, and shortcuts
• Voice Recognition Software: Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Magnification Software: ZoomText, built-in browser zoom

8. What to Do if You Encounter a Problem

When reporting an accessibility issue, please include:

• The URL of the page with the issue
• A description of the problem you encountered
• Your browser and operating system
• Any assistive technology you were using
• Steps to reproduce the issue (if applicable)

9. Alternative Access Methods

If you cannot access certain content or features on our website, we can provide:

• Information in alternative formats (large print, audio, etc.)
• Phone support for completing transactions
• Email assistance for account management
• Direct communication with vendors when needed

10. Legal Framework

This accessibility statement aligns with:

• UK Equality Act 2010 - Anti-discrimination legislation
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA - International accessibility guidelines
• EN 301 549 - European accessibility standard
• Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (where applicable)

11. Third-Party Content

While we strive to ensure all content on our platform is accessible, some content is provided by third-party vendors. We:

• Encourage vendors to follow accessibility best practices
• Provide guidance on creating accessible product listings
• Work with vendors to improve accessibility where possible
• May remove content that creates significant accessibility barriers

12. Regular Review

This accessibility statement is reviewed and updated:

• At least annually
• When new features are released
• Following accessibility audits
• Based on user feedback
• When accessibility laws or guidelines change

Last reviewed: 2025-08-07