Accessibility Statement

Executive Summary

This Accessibility Conformance Statement documents Civio Engage’s compliance with internationally recognised accessibility standards and outlines our ongoing commitment to digital inclusion.

Civio Engage conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards, ensuring our platform provides equitable access to community engagement tools for all users, regardless of ability.

1. Statement of Commitment

We are committed to ensuring that Civio Engage provides an inclusive and accessible digital experience for all users. We recognise that digital accessibility is essential for democratic participation and community engagement.

Our commitment includes:

• Maintaining conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
• Continuous improvement of platform accessibility features
• Regular accessibility audits and testing
• Providing accessible alternatives for all content and functionality
• Supporting users who require accessibility assistance

2. Accessibility Standards Conformance

2.1 Primary Standard

Civio Engage conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

2.2 Additional Standards Alignment

Our platform aligns with the following accessibility frameworks:

• Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act (Revised Standards)
• Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• EN 301 549 (European accessibility standard for ICT procurement)
• ISO/IEC 40500:2012 (International standard identical to WCAG 2.0)

2.3 Conformance Level

Level AA Conformance: Civio Engage meets all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria of WCAG 2.1, with the following key areas of compliance:

3. Technical Accessibility Features

3.1 Assistive Technology Compatibility

Civio Engage is fully compatible with the following assistive technologies:

• Screen Readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver
• Voice Recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Windows Speech Recognition
• Alternative Input: Keyboard-only navigation, switch devices, eye-tracking systems
• Magnification: ZoomText, Windows Magnifier, browser zoom functionality

3.2 Platform Accessibility Features

Navigation & Interface

• Comprehensive keyboard navigation throughout the platform
• Logical tab order and focus management
• Escape key support for all modals and dropdowns
• Breadcrumb navigation for orientation
• Consistent and predictable interface behavior

Forms & Interactive Elements

• Properly labeled form fields with programmatic association
• Clear error messages with correction guidance
• Required field indicators
• Inline validation with accessible error announcements
• Progress indicators for multi-step processes

Content & Media

• Structured heading hierarchy
• Descriptive link text
• Table headers properly associated with data cells
• Support for captions and transcripts
• Responsive design adapting to all screen sizes

Participation Tools

All Civio Engage participation tools maintain accessibility standards:

• Surveys: Keyboard-navigable question types, screen reader compatible formats
• Interactive Maps: Keyboard alternatives for pin placement, address search functionality
• Idea Boards: Accessible voting mechanisms, keyboard navigation through submissions
• Q&A Boards: Screen reader compatible discussion threads
• Event Management: Accessible RSVP systems with alternative registration methods

4. Testing & Evaluation Methods

4.1 Testing Methodology

Civio Engage undergoes comprehensive accessibility testing using:

 

4.2 Continuous Monitoring

• Real-time accessibility monitoring in development environments
• Automated regression testing for accessibility features
• Regular review of user feedback and accessibility reports
• Performance metrics tracking for assistive technology users

5. Accessibility Support

5.1 Contact Information

For accessibility assistance, feedback, or to report barriers:

Support Team
Email: support@civ.io

5.2 Feedback Process

When contacting us, please provide:

• Description of the accessibility barrier encountered
• Location within the platform (URL or feature name)
• Assistive technology being used (if applicable)
• Contact information for follow-up

Note: This Accessibility Conformance Statement applies to the Civio Engage platform core functionality. Individual content created by organisations using Civio Engage should follow the accessibility best practices to maintain overall accessibility compliance.

Some tools that use third party applications, such as mapping tools, can technically not meet some accessibility requirements.