Accessibility Policy

Introduction and Commitment Statement

Accent Design Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We aim to identify and remove barriers that might prevent interaction with or access to our websites, mobile applications, and digital services by people with disabilities. This policy establishes how Accent Design Group will work toward providing digital products and services that are accessible to all users, regardless of ability.

Scope

This policy applies to all digital content and services produced, maintained, or procured by Accent Design Group, including:

• Websites and web applications
• Mobile applications
• Internal digital tools and platforms
• Client projects and deliverables
• Digital marketing materials
• Documentation and resources

Standards and Compliance

Accent Design Group is committed to ensuring our digital products and services conform to:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A or above
• The requirements set forth by the Equality Act 2010
• Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (where applicable)
• BS 8878 Web Accessibility Code of Practice

Our goal is to meet or exceed these standards and to continually improve the accessibility of our digital products and services.

Implementation Principles

Design and Development

Our development process incorporates accessibility from initial concept through to final delivery:

• Semantically correct HTML markup
• Keyboard accessibility for all interactive elements
• Sufficient colour contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text)
• Text alternatives for non-text content
• Responsive design that accommodates zoom and text resizing
• Captions and transcripts for multimedia content
• Proper heading structure and navigation
• ARIA attributes where appropriate
• Accessible form design and validation

Testing and Quality Assurance

All digital products will undergo rigorous accessibility testing, including:

• Automated testing using industry-standard tools
• Manual testing with assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation)
• User testing with people with various disabilities when resources permit
• Regular accessibility audits of existing digital properties

Procurement

When procuring third-party platforms, plugins, or services, Accent Design Group will:

• Include accessibility requirements in RFPs and contracts
• Request VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) documentation
• Evaluate accessibility as a key factor in procurement decisions

Training and Awareness

Accent Design Group will provide regular training to ensure all team members understand their role in creating accessible products:

• All staff will receive basic accessibility awareness training
• Designers and developers will receive specialised technical training
• Project managers will be trained on integrating accessibility into project workflows
• Regular knowledge sharing sessions will be conducted
• Access to resources and tools for ongoing learning

Client Projects

For client projects, Accent Design Group will:

• Educate clients on the importance and benefits of accessibility
• Include accessibility considerations in all project proposals
• Clearly define accessibility requirements and responsibilities
• Provide recommendations for content creation that maintains accessibility
• Offer accessibility testing as part of our QA process
• Provide documentation of accessibility features implemented

Documentation and Reporting

Accent Design Group will:

• Maintain accessibility statements for all digital properties
• Document known accessibility issues and planned remediation
• Track progress toward accessibility goals
• Provide clients with accessibility documentation for delivered projects

Feedback and Remediation

Accent Design Group welcomes feedback on the accessibility of our digital products and services:

• A designated email address will be provided for accessibility feedback
• All accessibility issues will be logged and prioritised for remediation
• Critical accessibility issues will be addressed within 1 month
• Regular reviews of feedback will inform improvements to our processes

Continuous Improvement

This policy will be reviewed annually to:

• Assess effectiveness and compliance
• Incorporate advances in technology and best practices
• Update in response to changes in regulations and standards
• Implement lessons learned from implementation

Responsibility

Ultimate responsibility for this policy rests with the Managing Director, while day-to-day implementation is coordinated by our Accessibility Lead, Studio Manager. However, all team members share responsibility for implementing this policy within their areas of work.