Accessibility Statement
Introduction
At Thespian's Forge Academy, located in the heart of Los Angeles, we are committed to providing a website that is accessible to everyone, regardless of technology or ability. We believe that all aspiring actors and visitors should have equal access to our online resources, courses information, and community engagement opportunities. This accessibility statement outlines our ongoing efforts to ensure our website conforms to accessibility standards and provides a positive user experience for all.
We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our website and are actively implementing changes to meet or exceed the standards set forth by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. Our commitment extends beyond mere compliance, as we strive to create an inclusive and welcoming online environment for all users, fostering a space where talent can thrive and dreams can be realized. This includes providing clear navigation, alternative text for images, sufficient color contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Accessibility Features
Thespian's Forge Academy has implemented several features to enhance the accessibility of our website. These features are designed to make our content and functionalities more accessible to individuals with disabilities:
- Alternative Text for Images: All images on our website include descriptive alternative text to convey the meaning and context of the images to users who are visually impaired or use screen readers. For instance, the image of Professor Eleanor Vance, our Head of Acting, has the alt text "Portrait of Professor Eleanor Vance, Head of Acting".
- Keyboard Navigation: Our website is designed to be fully navigable using a keyboard, allowing users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing device to access all content and functionalities.
- Sufficient Color Contrast: We have ensured that there is sufficient color contrast between text and background colors throughout our website, making it easier for users with low vision to read and understand the content.
- Clear and Consistent Navigation: Our website features a clear and consistent navigation structure, making it easy for users to find the information they need. The main navigation is always available at the top of the page and includes links to the Home, About, Courses, and Contact pages.
- Resizable Text: Users can easily increase or decrease the text size on our website using their browser settings, making it easier to read for individuals with low vision.
- Compatibility with Assistive Technologies: Our website is designed to be compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software.
- Forms Accessibility: All forms on our website are designed with accessibility in mind, including clear labels, instructions, and error messages. We also provide alternative input methods for users who cannot use a mouse or keyboard.
- Video Accessibility: Where possible, videos include captions and transcripts to provide access for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Audio descriptions are also provided for videos where visual information is essential to understanding the content.
- Dark Mode Option: Our website includes a dark mode option, which can be toggled on or off by users who prefer a darker color scheme. This feature can reduce eye strain and improve readability, especially in low-light environments.
Compliance Standards
Thespian's Forge Academy strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Our efforts to comply with these standards include:
- Perceivable: Providing text alternatives for non-text content, providing captions and other alternatives for multimedia, creating content that can be presented in different ways (e.g., simpler layout) without losing information or structure, and making it easier for users to see and hear content.
- Operable: Making all functionality available from a keyboard, providing users enough time to read and use content, not using content that causes seizures, and helping users navigate and find content.
- Understandable: Making text readable and understandable, making content appear and operate in predictable ways, and helping users avoid and correct mistakes.
- Robust: Ensuring that content is robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Accessibility Compliance Table
| WCAG 2.1 Principle | Conformance Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceivable | AA | Ensuring users can perceive the information being presented (it can't be invisible to all of their senses) |
| Operable | AA | Ensuring that users can operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform) |
| Understandable | AA | Ensuring that users can understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding) |
| Robust | AA | Ensuring that users can access the content as technologies evolve (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible) |
Our ongoing accessibility efforts include regular audits of our website by accessibility experts, training for our staff on accessibility best practices, and continuous monitoring of user feedback to identify and address accessibility issues. We also welcome users to contact us directly with any concerns or suggestions for improvement.
Feedback and Contact Information
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Thespian's Forge Academy website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (323) 957-1777 ext. 202
- Address: Accessibility Team, Thespian's Forge Academy, 5757 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038
We will do our best to respond to your feedback in a timely manner and take appropriate action to address any accessibility issues.
This accessibility statement was last updated on October 26, 2023.
We are committed to continuously improving the accessibility of our website and ensuring that all users have a positive experience. Thank you for your support in helping us create a more inclusive online environment.