Accessibility commitment

MartinZialcita.com is committed to being accessible to all users, including people who use screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, voice control, or other assistive technologies. Accessibility is designed in from the start, not retrofitted.

The target standard is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA. This is not a declaration of full conformance (some areas have known limitations, documented below), but it is the standard the site is designed and tested against.

Accessibility measures in place

The following measures have been implemented across the site.

  • Semantic HTML landmarks

    Pages use correct landmark elements (<header>, <main>, <nav>, <footer>, and <aside>) so screen reader users can jump directly to the section they need.

  • Keyboard navigation

    All interactive elements (navigation, links, buttons, and form fields) are reachable and operable with a keyboard. Tab order follows visual reading order.

  • Visible focus indicators

    Focus states are visible on all interactive elements, with sufficient contrast to be seen without relying on color alone.

  • 4.5:1 body-text contrast

    Body text meets a minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background. Large text and UI components meet the 3:1 ratio required for their size.

  • Reduced-motion support

    Animations and transitions respect the prefers-reduced-motion media query. Users who have requested reduced motion in their operating system see a non-animated version of any page that includes animation.

  • Descriptive link text

    Links describe their destination rather than using generic text like “click here” or “read more.”

  • Alternative text for images

    Informative images carry descriptive alt text. Decorative images carry an empty alt attribute so they are ignored by screen readers.

  • Form labels and error messages

    Form inputs are associated with visible labels. Error messages identify the field in error and describe what correction is needed.

  • Captions and transcripts for media

    Video content includes accurate closed captions. Audio content is accompanied by a transcript. Caption and transcript files are linked near the media element.

  • Correct heading hierarchy

    Each page has one H1. H2s introduce major sections. H3s introduce subsections within an H2. Heading levels are not skipped.

  • ARIA used only where semantic HTML is insufficient

    ARIA roles, states, and properties are applied only where native HTML semantics do not provide the accessibility information needed. ARIA is not used redundantly or decoratively.

Known limitations

The following limitations are acknowledged. Each is tracked as a defect and is scheduled for remediation.

Known accessibility limitations

AreaLimitationStatus
Third-party embed scriptsEmbeds from external platforms (e.g., scheduling tools or video hosts) may not fully meet WCAG 2.2 AA. These are outside direct control.Evaluating alternatives; alternatives linked where possible.
Complex data tablesSome research tables may lack sufficient column and row header markup for complex nested layouts.Targeted for markup improvement on next review.
PDF documentsPDFs linked from this site may not be fully tagged for accessibility. The relevant content is also available as HTML.Ongoing; all new PDFs will be tagged.

If you find a barrier not listed here, please report it. Unlisted barriers are also taken seriously.

How the site is tested

Accessibility testing uses a combination of automated tools and manual checks. Automated tools (including Axe and Lighthouse) catch common markup errors. Manual keyboard testing and screen reader testing (NVDA on Windows, VoiceOver on macOS and iOS) are used for interactive elements and page structure.

Automated tools do not catch all issues. Manual review is the final authority on whether an element is accessible in practice.

Reporting a barrier

Accessibility barriers are treated as defects. If you encounter a page, element, or feature that prevents you from accessing content or completing a task, please report it through the contact page at /contact/.

Include the URL of the page, a description of the barrier, and, if you are comfortable sharing it, what assistive technology you are using. A response will be provided within 5 business days. If the barrier is urgent, say so in your message.

This statement was last reviewed on 2026-07-31. The WCAG 2.2 reference document is published by the W3C at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/.

Author:
Martin Zialcita
Published:
Last reviewed:
Corrections:
Editorial policy