At ScaleGrowth, we prioritize accessibility to ensure our platform is usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We are committed to adhering to the highest industry standards and implementing best practices in web development to create an inclusive environment for all users. This article outlines the key accessibility practices we employ, supported by our foundation on Django and Bootstrap frameworks.
Foundation on Django and Bootstrap
Our platform leverages leading web frameworks Django and Bootstrap, both of which are designed with accessibility in mind:
Bootstrap
Bootstrap ensures that websites and applications are not only visually appealing but also functionally rich and accessible. It complies with WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 standards, providing a solid foundation for accessible web development.
Django
Django supports accessible web development through semantic HTML and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles. This enhances the usability of forms and other interactive components for all users, including those with accessibility requirements.
Key Accessibility Practices
1. Use of Alt-Text for Images
Alt-text (alternative text) provides a textual alternative to non-text content, such as images. This is essential for users who rely on screen readers to access content. Every image on our platform includes descriptive alt-text to convey the context and purpose of the image.
2. Screen Reader Friendly Content
We ensure that our content is fully compatible with screen readers by using semantic HTML and ARIA roles. This includes:
- Properly labeling form elements
- Using headings to structure content logically
- Providing meaningful link texts
3. Spacing and Contrast Ratios
To accommodate users with visual impairments, we adhere to recommended spacing and contrast ratios:
- Sufficient spacing between text and interactive elements to avoid clutter
- High contrast between text and background colors to enhance readability
- Compliance with WCAG guidelines for minimum contrast ratios
4. Keyboard Navigation Support
Our platform supports keyboard navigation to assist users who cannot use a mouse. Key features include:
- Ensuring all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are accessible via keyboard
- Providing visible focus indicators for navigable elements
- Enabling skip navigation links to allow users to bypass repetitive content
5. Multiple View Modes
We offer multiple view modes for most of our content views to cater to different user preferences and needs. Users can switch between various display settings, such as:
- Light and dark modes
- Different View Modes with alternative layouts for most content Spaces on the platform
- Larger font text size options that can be set platform-wide
6. Saved Searches and Cross-Device Tracking
Our Saved Searches, Bookmarks, and Connection Center features allows users to conveniently save and use their favorite Searches, Bookmarks, and Connections across all devices, making it easier for them to access and manage their content.
This ensures a seamless and efficient experience for users who need to retrieve information quickly, without relying on repeating tedious individual browser / device setup.
7. Responsive Design
Our platform is built to be responsive, ensuring that it works well on a variety of devices and screen sizes. This includes:
- Mobile-first design and mobile-friendly layouts
- Dynamic layouts that optimize for the user's current screen size
- Widgets optimized for touch-friendly controls on devices that support them
8. Clear Error Identification and Suggestions
We provide clear & consistent error messages and suggestions to help users correct their input. This includes:
- Descriptive error messages for form fields
- Automatic scrolling to and highlighting of the relevant fields with errors
- Suggestions for valid input formats
9. High Degree of Navigation Customization
ScaleGrowth offers a rich array of options for the menus and navigations. This includes:
- Ability to choose where important links such as user's Profile are located
- Ability to create redundancy by adding shortcuts in multiple locations
- Using both visual cues (icons, emojis) as well as text descriptors for menu & navigation
10. Extreme UI Customize-ability
ScaleGrowth allows our customers to customize our UI to a very high degree. This includes:
- 100% of end-user visible text and images are fully customizable through our Admin UI
- Support for custom fonts, or using the font-family fallback mechanism
- Support for unlimited languages, with a one-click selector switching the entire UI to them
- Support for fully custom styles using Custom CSS, with convenient CSS Class stubs available across the board.
Regular Accessibility Audits
We conduct regular accessibility audits to identify and address any potential issues. This involves:
- Using automated tools to scan for accessibility issues
- Manual testing with assistive technologies
- Gathering feedback from users with disabilities
Industry Standards and Best Practices
We follow industry standards and best practices to ensure our platform meets accessibility requirements. Key references include:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
- Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA)
By adhering to these standards, we strive to create an inclusive and accessible platform for all users.
Summary
Accessibility is a core value at ScaleGrowth. By implementing these best practices, we ensure our platform is usable and inclusive for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Our commitment to accessibility not only enhances the user experience but also aligns with our mission to create an environment where all users can thrive.
