Empower Uganda: Education for a Brighter Future

Accessibility Statement for Empower Uganda

Empower Uganda is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for everyone. We are continually improving the user experience for all visitors and applying the relevant accessibility standards. Our commitment to accessibility reflects our dedication to providing equal educational opportunities to all individuals in Uganda, regardless of their abilities.

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, level AA. These guidelines outline four main principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. By adhering to these principles, we aim to make our website more accessible to people with disabilities.

Our Accessibility Features

• Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content, making it easier for assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to understand and navigate the website.
• Alternative Text: All images on our website include descriptive alternative text, ensuring that users who cannot see the images can still understand their content and purpose. For example, an image of students learning in a classroom will have alt text like: Students participating in a science class experiment at Makerere University.
• Keyboard Navigation: Our website is fully navigable using a keyboard, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to access all content and functionality.
• Color Contrast: We have carefully selected color combinations to ensure sufficient contrast between text and background, making it easier for users with low vision to read the content.
• Resizable Text: Users can easily resize the text on our website using their browser settings without losing content or functionality.
• Clear and Consistent Navigation: We have designed our navigation to be clear, consistent, and easy to use, allowing users to quickly find the information they need.
• Forms and Labels: All form fields are properly labeled, and instructions are provided to help users complete them accurately. For instance, a form field for entering a student's name will have a clear label like: Student Full Name:
• Video Captions and Transcripts: All videos on our website include captions and transcripts, making them accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Examples of Accessibility in Action:

Consider our online course platform. Each course module is designed with accessibility in mind:

1. Screen Reader Compatibility: Course content is structured for optimal screen reader compatibility. Headings, lists, and paragraphs are correctly marked up so screen readers can announce the structure and content effectively.
2. Interactive Elements: Interactive elements, such as quizzes and assignments, are designed to be fully accessible via keyboard and screen readers. ARIA attributes are used to provide additional information about the purpose and state of these elements.
3. Video Content: Each video lecture includes accurate closed captions and transcripts, providing access to learners who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who prefer to read the content.
4. Image Descriptions: All images and diagrams within course materials include detailed alternative text descriptions, enabling students with visual impairments to understand the visual content. For example, if there is a diagram showing the structure of a cell, the alt text might be: Diagram illustrating the structure of a typical animal cell, highlighting the nucleus, mitochondria, and other organelles.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Empower Uganda is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.

Accessibility Audit and Testing

Empower Uganda conducts regular accessibility audits to identify and address any accessibility issues on our website. These audits are performed using a combination of automated testing tools and manual review. We use tools such as WAVE, Axe, and manual screen reader testing (with NVDA and VoiceOver) to ensure comprehensive coverage. We also engage with users with disabilities to gather feedback and improve the accessibility of our platform.

Ongoing Efforts to Improve Accessibility

We are committed to continuously improving the accessibility of our website. Our ongoing efforts include:

• Regularly updating our website to meet the latest accessibility standards.
• Providing accessibility training to our staff.
• Conducting user testing with people with disabilities.
• Seeking feedback from our users on how we can improve accessibility.

Exceptions

While we strive to make all content on our website accessible, there may be some exceptions. For example, some older documents or third-party content may not be fully accessible. We are working to address these issues as quickly as possible.

Specifically, some PDF documents created prior to 2023 might not be fully optimized for accessibility. We are in the process of remediating these documents or providing alternative accessible formats.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact us:

• Email: accessibility@empoweruganda.org
• Phone: +256 695780183
• Address: Empower Uganda Accessibility Team, Plot 42 Nakasero Road, Kampala, Uganda

We will do our best to respond to your feedback within 5 business days. Your input is valuable in helping us improve the accessibility of our website and provide equal access to education for all individuals in Uganda.

Formal Complaints Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility feedback, you may submit a formal complaint. Please send your complaint in writing to:

Accessibility Officer
Empower Uganda
Plot 42 Nakasero Road
Kampala, Uganda

Your complaint should include:

• Your name and contact information
• A detailed description of the accessibility issue you encountered
• The URL of the specific page where you encountered the issue
• Any suggestions you have for resolving the issue

We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 3 business days and will aim to provide a full response within 20 business days. If we are unable to meet this deadline, we will explain the reason for the delay and provide a revised timeline.

Our Accessibility Officer, Ms. Aisha Nakato, is responsible for investigating and resolving accessibility complaints. She is committed to ensuring that all complaints are handled fairly and transparently.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of Empower Uganda relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• ARIA

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used.

Limitations and Alternatives

Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility of Empower Uganda, there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations, and potential solutions. Please contact us if you observe an issue not listed below.

Enforcement Procedure

Empower Uganda is dedicated to accessibility, and we consider it an integral part of our mission to provide quality education to all. Internally, we have implemented the following processes to ensure ongoing accessibility compliance:

• Accessibility Training: All content creators and developers receive regular training on accessibility best practices and WCAG guidelines.
• Accessibility Checklists: We use comprehensive accessibility checklists during content creation and website development processes to ensure that all new content and features meet accessibility requirements.
• Automated Testing: We use automated accessibility testing tools to regularly scan our website for accessibility issues.
• Manual Review: We conduct manual reviews of our website to identify accessibility issues that may not be detected by automated tools.
• User Feedback: We actively solicit feedback from users with disabilities to identify areas where we can improve accessibility.