Accessibility

This page describes the steps we are taking to make our website accessible to all users. Our official accessibility statement is provided. WCAG conformance levels and our current status of compliance with WCAG standards is detailed.
The features that should provide accessible functionality when implemented and user testing information are also presented.
Your help to achieve our goal is appreciated, please refer to the appropriate resources for accessibility guidelines.

Bitedge’s Commitment to Digital Accessibility: Official Mission Statement

At Bitedge we want everyone to be able to use our website. We are committed to ensuring that Bitedge is accessible to all users irrespective of ability.

bitedge-accessibility statement

Whether you are using our site with assistive technology like a screen reader, or alternative input device, or simply browsing with different preferences, as a company, we understand the importance of having an accessible user interface.

➡️ Our commitment to accessibility is driven by the knowledge that people with disabilities should have equal access to the online world. We are continuously implementing the relevant standards and guidelines to ensure our website is accessible to all users.

Every two months we do a sitewide audit and update to ensure Bitedge is getting easier to use.

Bitedge: Ensuring Accessibility for Every User

Understanding WCAG: A Guide to Compliance

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). WCAG was first published in 1999 and since then it has become the international standard for web accessibility, being regularly updated to keep up with changes in technologies and users requirements.

WCAG Levels: Accessibility Tiers

WCAG organizes its guidelines into three levels of conformance representing increasing rigor in accessibility:

1. Level A
Provides basic accessibility and addresses the most critical barriers. Does not fully eliminate obstacles for some users.

2. Level AA
Enhances accessibility further, meeting the needs of most users with disabilities. Considered the minimum target for most organizations.

3. Level AAA
The highest level of accessibility, removing the widest range of barriers. Requires substantial effort but provides the most inclusive experience.

While essential, the nuances of WCAG criteria can be complex to implement manually.
Automated testing tools help streamline conformance by programmatically auditing against guidelines.
This simplifies the process and identifies areas needing improvement.

Accessibility Challenges

As part of our approach to accessibility, we want to make sure that we really understand what it’s like for those using our services who may face challenges such as:

➡️ Visual impairments

limiting the ability to perceive visual content

➡️ Motor disabilities

affecting the ability to use the mouse/keyboard

➡️ Hearing impairments

impacting comprehension of audio content

➡️ Cognitive disabilities

affecting learning and focus

➡️ Learning disabilities

affecting reading, processing information

➡️ Speech disabilities

limiting verbal communication ability

Awareness of these challenges is key, for it is these that we can and should explicitly tackle with accessibility features and improvements to our sites.

Our aim is to have as low a barrier of entry as possible.

In the next section, we will detail what Bitedge is specifically doing to tackle this and create a website that is inclusive for all users.

Accessibility Compliance Status

➡️ We’ve made some improvements but are not yet fully WCAG-compliant or certified. We’re working towards WCAG 2.1 AAA. Becoming fully compliant with all WCAG 2.1 AAA is an ongoing process.

➡️ We do automated audits and user feedback to identify areas to improve and work towards full WCAG 2.1 AAA.

💡Let us know if you find any areas of our website not accessible. Your feedback is super helpful as we refine the site to remove barriers and meet all users.

We want to provide the best experience for everyone!

Contact us with the accessibility feedback you find. We’re working towards AAA certification, the highest standard for web accessibility.

What’s Bitedge Approach to Overcoming Accessibility Challenges?

Bitedge will follow WCAG guidelines and best practices. We’re working on implementing the following features and site improvements. We use automated tools and manual audits to identify areas to improve.

Our goal is full WCAG 2.1 AAA to provide the best experience possible.

1. Enhancing Usability: Accessibility Features at Bitedge

We’re implementing the following features to improve accessibility and usability for everyone:

2. Screen Reader Compatibility

We’re making sure screen readers work by using proper document structure, ARIA roles, and semantic HTML markup. So visually impaired users can navigate and understand our website content.

3. Keyboard-Friendly Navigation

All functionality and navigation will be keyboard-operable so users with motor disabilities can fully use our website without needing to use a mouse.

4. Text-to-Speech Support

We’ll integrate text-to-speech to read out text content for visually impaired users or users with reading difficulties.

5. Closed Captions and Transcripts

Videos and audio will have closed captions and text transcripts for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

6. Adjustable Text Size and Fonts

Users can adjust text size and fonts to suit their reading needs and preferences.

7. Color and Contrast Options

We’ll meet minimum color ratios and provide color theme and contrast options.

8. Accessible Forms

Forms will have clear labels, ARIA tags, validation messages, and other features to make it easy to understand and use.

9. Skip Navigation Links

Skip links will allow users to bypass repetitive navigation content for screen reader users and keyboard navigation.

10. Accessible PDFs and Documents

PDFs and documents will have tags, alt text, and other improvements for screen reader support.

11. Consistent Layout and Navigation

Clear and consistent page layout, structure, and navigation help users with cognitive disabilities.

12. Accessible Design Practices

We follow inclusive design methodologies and standards, keeping accessibility at the forefront rather than an afterthought.

13. User Testing and Feedback

Testing with users with disabilities and incorporating their feedback drives iterative improvements tailored to real user needs.

Bitedge’s Compliance Status

We’ve made progress but Bitedge is not fully WCAG compliant yet. Achieving WCAG 2.1 AAA is the goal and we’re working to address all criteria through site updates and process changes.

1. Accessibility Feedback

Let us know if you find any accessibility issues while browsing our site. Your feedback helps us make the changes. Visit our Contact Us page and tell us what you find so we can fix it.

2. User Testing

We test with users who have disabilities to get feedback on the obstacles and challenges they face. Through surveys, user observations, and other feedback mechanisms we identify targeted improvements to serve all our users better.

Ongoing user testing and engagement are key to our accessibility efforts.
We appreciate the time users take to give us feedback to help us improve accessibility.

Accessibility Resources

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) – https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – https://www.w3.org/WAI/
The A11Y Project – https://www.a11yproject.com/
accessiBe – https://accessibe.com/
Deque Systems – https://www.deque.com/
WebAIM – https://webaim.org/
United States Access Board – https://www.access-board.gov/
Section508.gov – https://www.section508.gov/
Microsoft Accessibility Insights – https://accessibilityinsights.io/