Accessibility - Golden Stage Academy

Accessibility Statement

At Golden Stage Academy, located in the heart of New York City's Theater District, we are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We believe that everyone should have equal access to information and services, regardless of their abilities. We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our website to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Our efforts to enhance accessibility are ongoing, and we welcome feedback from our users. We understand that accessibility is an evolving field, and we are dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest standards and best practices. This commitment extends to all aspects of our online presence, from the design and layout of our pages to the content we provide.

We have implemented several features to make our website more accessible, including providing alternative text for images, ensuring sufficient color contrast, and using semantic HTML to structure our content. We are also working to improve keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. Our goal is to create a seamless and inclusive experience for all users.

This accessibility statement applies to the Golden Stage Academy website, accessible at www.goldenstageacademy.edu. We regularly review and update our website to maintain and improve accessibility. We conduct periodic audits using both automated tools and manual testing to identify and address accessibility issues. Our team also receives ongoing training on accessibility best practices to ensure that we are incorporating inclusive design principles into our work.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who may need assistance accessing our programs and services. If you encounter any barriers to accessing information or using our website, please contact us using the information provided in the "Accessibility Feedback" section below. We will make every effort to provide you with the information or assistance you need in a timely and accessible manner.

Our dedication to accessibility reflects our broader commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe that a welcoming and accessible online environment is essential for fostering a vibrant and supportive community. We strive to create a website that is not only compliant with accessibility standards but also user-friendly and enjoyable for everyone. We value your feedback and appreciate your help in making our website more accessible.

Accessibility Features

Golden Stage Academy has incorporated several features to ensure our website is accessible to users of all abilities:

Alternative Text for Images: All images on our website include descriptive alternative text (alt text) that can be read by screen readers. This allows users who are blind or visually impaired to understand the content of the images. For example, the hero image on the homepage has the alt text "Actors performing a scene on a well-lit stage during a Golden Stage Academy workshop."
Keyboard Navigation: Our website can be navigated using a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse. This is essential for users who have motor impairments or who rely on keyboard navigation for other reasons. We have ensured that all interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and form fields, are accessible via keyboard.
Sufficient Color Contrast: We have carefully chosen color combinations to ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. This helps users with low vision or color blindness to read the content more easily. We have used contrast analysis tools to verify that our color choices meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML tags to structure our content logically. This helps screen readers and other assistive technologies to understand the organization and meaning of the page. For example, we use headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) to create a clear hierarchy of information.
Clear and Concise Language: We strive to use clear and concise language throughout our website. This makes it easier for users to understand our content, regardless of their reading level or cognitive abilities. We avoid jargon and technical terms whenever possible, and we provide definitions for any terms that may be unfamiliar.
Resizable Text: Users can easily increase or decrease the text size on our website using their browser settings. This allows users with low vision to customize the text size to their preferences. Our website is designed to reflow gracefully when the text size is increased, ensuring that the content remains readable.
Captions and Transcripts for Multimedia: All videos and audio content on our website include captions or transcripts. This makes the content accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing. We use accurate and synchronized captions to ensure that users can follow along with the audio.
Form Labels and Instructions: All form fields on our website are clearly labeled with descriptive labels. We also provide instructions and error messages to help users fill out the forms correctly. This makes it easier for users with cognitive impairments or those who use assistive technologies to complete our forms.
ARIA Attributes: We use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to enhance the accessibility of our interactive elements. ARIA attributes provide additional information to assistive technologies, such as screen readers, about the role, state, and properties of elements. This helps users with disabilities to interact with our website more effectively.
Consistent Navigation: Our website features a consistent navigation structure, making it easy for users to find the information they need. We use clear and descriptive labels for our navigation links, and we ensure that the navigation menu is accessible via keyboard and screen reader.

We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our website and welcome your feedback. If you encounter any accessibility issues, please let us know.

Accessibility Feedback

We are committed to providing an accessible website for all users. If you encounter any accessibility barriers on our website, or if you have suggestions for how we can improve accessibility, please let us know. We value your feedback and will use it to make our website more inclusive.

Alternatively, you can contact our Accessibility Coordinator, Ms. Eleanor Ramirez, directly at [email protected] or by phone at (212) 555-7890. Please provide as much detail as possible about the accessibility issue you encountered, including the URL of the page, the type of assistive technology you were using, and the specific problem you experienced. We will respond to your feedback as soon as possible.

Thank you for helping us make our website more accessible!