Accessibility Statement
Our commitment to digital inclusion and accessible design
- aivaux is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities.
- We strive to meet or exceed Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.
- We comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other applicable accessibility laws.
- We welcome accessibility feedback and continuously work to improve our service.
1. Accessibility Commitment
aivaux is committed to making our website and application accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. We believe that digital accessibility is not only a legal requirement but a moral imperative.
Our accessibility efforts include:
- Designing and developing our service with accessibility in mind from the beginning
- Regularly testing our service with assistive technologies and users with disabilities
- Following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA or higher
- Maintaining an accessible codebase and documentation
- Training our team on accessibility best practices
- Responding promptly to accessibility feedback and reported issues
2. WCAG 2.1 Compliance
aivaux aims to comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. WCAG 2.1 provides a shared standard for web accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide.
WCAG 2.1 is organized around four principles:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. Not invisible to all of their senses.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. Users must be able to operate the interface (cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform).
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. Users must be able to understand the information and the operation of the user interface.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Our design and development practices align with all four principles. If you encounter content that does not meet these standards, please report it to us.
3. Accessible Features
aivaux includes the following accessibility features:
- Semantic HTML: We use proper HTML structure to ensure assistive technologies can correctly interpret page content and navigation.
- ARIA labels: Interactive elements include ARIA labels and roles to provide context to assistive technology users (e.g., "Toggle sidebar," "Show password").
- Alternative text for images: Decorative images are marked as such, while functional and informative images include descriptive alt text.
- Keyboard accessibility: All functionality is accessible via keyboard navigation without a mouse or touch screen.
- Skip navigation links: Users can skip repetitive navigation to jump directly to main content.
- Color independence: Information is not conveyed by color alone; we use text, icons, or patterns to ensure meaning is clear to colorblind users.
- Sufficient color contrast: Text and interactive elements meet WCAG AA color contrast requirements (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
- Resizable text: Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality or readability.
- Focus indicators: Interactive elements display clear focus indicators when navigated via keyboard.
- Language declaration: Page language is properly declared to assist screen readers.
- Form accessibility: Form fields are associated with labels, error messages are clear, and instructions are provided.
- Headings and structure: Pages use proper heading hierarchy (h1, h2, h3) to help users navigate and understand page structure.
4. Known Limitations
While we are committed to accessibility, some limitations may exist. We are actively working to address these:
- Image uploads: Users upload files and images — we cannot control the accessibility of user-generated content. However, AI-generated captions and descriptions help make uploaded content more accessible to other users.
- PDF and document handling: Accessibility of uploaded PDF files depends on how they were created. We recommend users ensure their uploaded documents are accessible before upload.
- Third-party integrations: Payment processing through Stripe is handled by a third-party service. Stripe is responsible for the accessibility of their checkout interface.
- Legacy areas: Some older parts of the application may not yet meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. We are progressively updating these.
If you discover any accessibility issues, please report them immediately so we can prioritize fixes.
5. Assistive Technology Support
aivaux has been tested with and supports the following assistive technologies:
- Screen readers: NVDA (Windows), JAWS (Windows), VoiceOver (macOS/iOS), TalkBack (Android)
- Speech recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Windows Speech Recognition
- Magnification software: ZoomText, Windows Magnifier
- Keyboard-only navigation: Tab key, arrow keys, Enter key, and other keyboard shortcuts
- High contrast modes: Windows High Contrast, browser-based high contrast extensions
If you use an assistive technology and encounter compatibility issues, please contact us.
7. Screen Reader Compatibility
aivaux is designed to work with popular screen readers including NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. Our implementation includes:
- Proper semantic HTML for page structure
- ARIA landmarks to define page regions (navigation, main, contentinfo, etc.)
- ARIA labels and descriptions for complex components
- Live regions for dynamic content updates
- Proper heading hierarchy
- Descriptive link text (not generic "click here" links)
- Form label associations
- Error identification and recovery instructions
If a screen reader user encounters any issues accessing aivaux, please report them with information about the screen reader and browser version you're using.
8. Color Contrast & Color Independence
We ensure that:
- Text contrast: All text meets WCAG AA contrast requirements: 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold).
- Color independence: Information conveyed by color is also conveyed through text, icons, or visual patterns so colorblind users are not disadvantaged.
- Focus indicators: Focused elements have clear borders, backgrounds, or other visual indicators (not just color changes).
- Status indicators: Status messages (success, error, warning, info) are not identified by color alone.
Users can customize their viewing preferences in their browser or operating system settings, and aivaux will respond appropriately to these preferences.
9. Accessibility Feedback & Issue Reporting
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of aivaux. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject line: "Accessibility Issue" or "Accessibility Feedback"
- Include: A description of the issue, the page or feature affected, the assistive technology you used (if applicable), browser, and operating system
We aim to acknowledge accessibility reports within 24 hours and to address confirmed issues within 5 business days when possible.
10. Legal Framework
This Accessibility Statement reflects our commitment to comply with:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1: The internationally recognized standard for web accessibility published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): Ontario regulation 191/11 requires websites to meet WCAG 2.0 Level A by January 1, 2014, and Level AA by January 1, 2021. aivaux exceeds these requirements by aiming for WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Section 508 requires that information and communication technology be accessible. aivaux aims to comply with Section 508 standards.
- Canadian Human Rights Act and provincial accessibility legislation: aivaux is designed to be accessible to all Canadians in compliance with federal and provincial accessibility laws.
Accessibility and Disability Rights:
If you believe aivaux is not in compliance with applicable accessibility laws, you have the right to lodge a complaint with:
- Ontario: Accessibility Standards Development Office (ASDO) or Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO)
- Canada: Canadian Human Rights Commission, chrc-ccdp.gc.ca
- USA: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Department of Justice
We are committed to resolving accessibility barriers. If you are experiencing issues accessing or using aivaux due to a disability, please reach out to us, and we will work with you to find a solution.