1. Our Commitment to Accessibility
UnionNews LLC is committed to ensuring that the Union News platform, website (unionnews.net), and all related digital services are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. We believe that access to news, public opinion, and civic engagement tools is a fundamental right, and we strive to remove barriers that may prevent any person from fully participating in the Union News experience. Our goal is to provide an inclusive platform where every voice can be heard, regardless of ability.
2. Accessibility Standards
Union News follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), as our primary framework for digital accessibility. Our target conformance level is WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which addresses the most common barriers experienced by users with disabilities when accessing web content. We are actively working to meet and, where feasible, exceed these standards across all pages and features of the Union News platform.
WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance includes guidelines across four key principles:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components are presented in ways that all users can perceive, including through alternative text for images, captions for video content, and sufficient color contrast ratios.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation are operable by all users, including full keyboard navigation, adequate time to read and interact with content, and no content that could cause seizures or physical reactions.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface are understandable, with readable text, predictable navigation, and clear input assistance for forms.
- Robust: Content is robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies such as screen readers and voice recognition software.
3. Accessible Features
Union News has implemented or is actively implementing the following accessibility features across the platform:
- Semantic HTML Structure: All pages use proper semantic HTML elements including headings (h1 through h6), navigation landmarks, main content areas, articles, sections, and footer regions to support screen reader navigation.
- Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements, including links, buttons, form fields, dropdown menus, modals, and navigation components, are fully accessible via keyboard without requiring a mouse.
- Alternative Text: All informative images include descriptive alternative text (alt attributes) that convey the purpose and content of the image. Decorative images are marked as presentational to avoid unnecessary screen reader announcements.
- Color Contrast: Text and interactive elements maintain a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text against their background colors, in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements.
- Focus Indicators: Visible focus indicators are provided for all interactive elements when navigated via keyboard, ensuring that users can track their position on the page at all times.
- Form Labels and Error Messages: All form inputs are associated with descriptive labels, and error messages are presented in a clear, accessible manner with suggestions for correction where applicable.
- Responsive Design: The platform is fully responsive and supports text resizing up to 200% without loss of content or functionality, accommodating users who require larger text sizes.
- Skip Navigation Links: Skip-to-content links are provided at the top of each page, allowing keyboard and screen reader users to bypass repetitive navigation elements and proceed directly to the main content area.
- ARIA Landmarks and Attributes: Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) landmarks, roles, and attributes are used where native HTML semantics are insufficient to convey the purpose and state of interactive components.
4. Assistive Technology Support
The Union News platform is designed to work with a broad range of assistive technologies. While we cannot guarantee compatibility with every assistive technology product and version, we actively test our platform with the following:
- Screen readers: NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (macOS and iOS), TalkBack (Android)
- Voice recognition software: Dragon NaturallySpeaking
- Screen magnification tools: ZoomText, built-in OS magnifiers
- Keyboard-only navigation across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
If you experience difficulty using the Union News platform with a specific assistive technology, please contact us so we can work to address the issue.
5. Known Limitations
While we strive for full WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, we acknowledge that some areas of the platform may have accessibility limitations that we are actively working to resolve:
- Some third-party embedded content (such as external video players or social media widgets) may not fully conform to our accessibility standards, as these elements are controlled by their respective providers.
- Certain interactive data visualizations, such as charts and graphs displaying community bias metrics, may not be fully accessible to screen reader users. We are working to provide text-based alternative representations of this data.
- The built-in video editor and live streaming snapshot tools involve visual interfaces that present inherent accessibility challenges. We are researching solutions to make these features more accessible.
- Older content uploaded before our accessibility standards were implemented may not fully conform. We are reviewing and remediating legacy content on an ongoing basis.
We maintain an internal accessibility roadmap and are continuously addressing identified issues as part of our development process.
6. Accessibility Testing
UnionNews LLC conducts regular accessibility evaluations of the Union News platform using a combination of automated testing tools and manual review. Our testing methodology includes:
- Automated scans using industry-standard accessibility testing tools to identify common WCAG violations.
- Manual keyboard navigation testing across all pages and interactive features.
- Screen reader testing with NVDA and VoiceOver to verify content readability and navigation flow.
- Color contrast verification for all text, icons, and interactive elements.
- Periodic reviews by accessibility specialists as the platform evolves.
7. Feedback and Reporting Issues
We welcome feedback from users regarding the accessibility of the Union News platform. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, have difficulty accessing any content or feature, or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us:
- Email: jesse.croasmun@gmail.com (subject line: "Accessibility Feedback")
- Phone: 412-515-4178
- Address: UnionNews LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
When reporting an accessibility issue, please include the following information to help us address the problem effectively:
- A description of the issue and the specific page or feature affected.
- The web browser and version you are using.
- The assistive technology you are using (if applicable).
- Any steps required to reproduce the issue.
We will acknowledge receipt of your feedback within three (3) business days and provide an estimated timeline for resolution. We make every reasonable effort to resolve reported accessibility issues promptly.
8. Accommodations
If you require an accommodation or alternative format to access any content or service provided by Union News, please contact us at the information listed above. We will work with you to provide a reasonable accommodation that enables you to access the information or service in a timely manner. Examples of accommodations may include providing content in an alternative text format, offering telephone-based support for tasks that are difficult to complete online, or arranging other suitable alternatives.
9. Third-Party Content
The Union News platform may link to or embed content from third-party websites and services that are not controlled by UnionNews LLC. We are not responsible for the accessibility of third-party content. However, we encourage our partners and service providers to adopt accessible practices and will prioritize working with vendors who demonstrate a commitment to digital accessibility.
10. Continuous Improvement
Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and UnionNews LLC is committed to continuous improvement. We regularly review and update our accessibility practices as technology evolves, standards are updated, and new features are added to the platform. This Accessibility Policy will be updated periodically to reflect our current practices and goals.
11. Contact Us
For any accessibility-related questions, concerns, or requests, please contact us at:
- Email: jesse.croasmun@gmail.com
- Phone: 412-515-4178
- Address: UnionNews LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
