Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

At Global News Today, we believe that access to reliable and diverse news should be available to everyone, regardless of their abilities. We are deeply committed to ensuring that our website, globalnewstoday.ie , is accessible to all users. This includes individuals with disabilities who may use assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, or voice control software.

We are dedicated to adhering to the highest standards of web accessibility. Our goal is to provide a seamless and intuitive experience for every visitor, allowing them to engage with our content effortlessly and independently. This commitment is not just a policy; it's a core value that guides our design, development, and content creation processes.

Illustration of diverse people using various assistive technologies to access digital content.

WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance

Global News Today strives to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA . These guidelines provide internationally recognized standards for making web content more accessible. Our development team and accessibility consultants continuously work to implement and maintain these standards across our platform. Our efforts focus on four main principles of WCAG 2.1: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

We understand that accessibility is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuous improvement. Our aim is to create a digital space that is welcoming and functional for every member of our global audience.

Key Accessibility Features Implemented

Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.

  • Alternative Text for Images: All meaningful images on our site have descriptive alt text, enabling screen readers to convey visual information to users who cannot see them. For purely decorative images, empty alt attributes are used.
  • Sufficient Color Contrast: We ensure that text and background colors have a contrast ratio that meets or exceeds WCAG 2.1 AA requirements, making content legible for users with low vision or color blindness.
  • Resizable Text: Users can adjust text size using their browser's built-in zoom functionality without loss of content or functionality.
  • Clear and Understandable Language: We aim to use clear, concise language and avoid jargon where possible. Complex topics are explained with supporting context.

Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable.

  • Keyboard Navigation: Our entire website is navigable using only a keyboard. All interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and form fields, can be accessed and operated via keyboard commands (e.g., Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Spacebar). Focus indicators are clearly visible to show users their current position on the page.
  • Screen Reader Compatibility: We structure our content semantically using HTML5 and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes where necessary to ensure that screen readers can accurately interpret and convey page structure, content, and interactive elements.
  • Skip to Content Links: "Skip to main content" links are provided at the beginning of each page, allowing keyboard and screen reader users to bypass repetitive navigation menus and directly access the primary content.
  • Focus Management: Care is taken to manage focus appropriately, especially in dynamic content areas and modal dialogs, to prevent users from getting lost or stuck.

Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.

  • Consistent Navigation: Our navigation menus are consistent across all pages, making it easier for users to find their way around the site.
  • Predictable Functionality: Interactive elements behave in predictable ways, and changes in context (like opening new windows or forms that submit) are clearly communicated to the user.
  • Error Identification and Suggestions: Form fields are clearly labeled, and error messages are specific and helpful, guiding users on how to correct mistakes.

Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

  • HTML5 Standards: We use semantic HTML5 elements correctly to define page structure and meaning.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility: Our website is designed and tested to function across a wide range of browsers and assistive technologies.
  • Future-Proofing: We continuously monitor updates to accessibility standards and technologies to ensure our website remains compliant and user-friendly.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Improvements

Accessibility is not a one-time fix; it's an evolving process. Global News Today is committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing our website's accessibility. Our dedicated team, including input from accessibility experts like Dr. Aisling O'Malley, a leading digital inclusion researcher from Dublin City University, conducts periodic audits and user testing with individuals with diverse needs.

We are actively exploring and implementing new technologies and techniques to further improve the user experience for everyone. This includes enhancing ARIA implementations, refining keyboard navigation flows, and ensuring compatibility with emerging assistive technologies. Our editorial team is also trained on creating accessible content, including writing clear headlines, providing transcripts for audio and video, and describing the purpose of interactive elements.

Illustration of a team collaborating on digital accessibility improvements, with icons representing different assistive technologies.