Accessibility Statement for Local Farmers Hub

Commitment to Accessibility

Local Farmers Hub is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of ability or technology. We actively work to improve the accessibility and usability of our platform and aim to comply with applicable accessibility standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we integrate accessibility considerations into our design, development, and quality assurance processes.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 define three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

Based on internal testing and automated audits, Local Farmers Hub is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Partial conformance means that while many areas of the site meet accessibility standards, some content and components may not yet fully conform.

Accessibility Audit Summary

Local Farmers Hub was evaluated using a combination of automated and manual testing methodologies. The most recent Lighthouse (Chrome) accessibility audit resulted in a score of 95, indicating a strong level of accessibility with specific, identified opportunities for improvement.

Automated testing identifies only a subset of potential accessibility issues; therefore, manual testing is also conducted to supplement these results.

Implemented Accessibility Features

The following accessibility features are currently implemented across the platform:

• Semantic HTML structure to support screen readers and assistive technologies
• Keyboard navigability for core functionality
• Responsive layouts compatible with desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
• Alternative text for meaningful and informational images
• Consistent navigation patterns throughout the site
• Properly associated form labels and inputs
• Skip links and landmark regions to aid keyboard and screen reader users
• WCAG 2.1 AA compliant color contrast ratios for text

Identified Issues and Remediation Plan

Through Lighthouse audits and internal review, the following issues have been identified and are being actively addressed:

Heading Hierarchy (WCAG 1.3.1)

Certain pages contain heading levels that skip logical order. We are refactoring heading structures to ensure proper semantic hierarchy for screen reader navigation.

Planned Enhancements

• Link Purpose (WCAG 2.4.4): Some buttons share identical labels while linking to different destinations. These will be updated with more descriptive text or appropriate ARIA labels.
• Focus Visibility (WCAG 2.4.7): Focus indicators for interactive elements are being enhanced to ensure clear visibility during keyboard navigation.
• ARIA Review: Ongoing review and validation of ARIA roles, properties, and relationships to ensure accurate and standards-compliant usage.
• Modal and Dialog Accessibility: Ensuring all dialogs have accessible names and proper focus management when opened and closed.

Future Enhancements (Roadmap)

• User-adjustable font sizing
• Reduced-motion preferences for animation-sensitive users
• Caption and transcript support for future multimedia content

Accessibility Testing Practices

Our accessibility testing process includes:

• Automated audits using Lighthouse and WAVE
• Manual keyboard-only navigation testing
• Screen reader testing with NVDA and VoiceOver
• Color contrast validation using WebAIM tools
• Periodic expert review against WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria

Technical Specifications

Local Farmers Hub relies on the following technologies to ensure accessibility compatibility:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript
• Bootstrap Framework

These technologies are used in accordance with accessibility best practices and relevant standards.

Known Limitations and Workarounds

Despite ongoing improvements, some limitations may exist:

1. Third-Party Integrations: Certain embedded third-party components may not fully conform to accessibility standards. We continue to work with vendors and seek accessible alternatives where possible.

If you experience difficulty accessing any part of the site, we encourage you to contact us so we can provide assistance or alternative access.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome feedback regarding the accessibility of Local Farmers Hub.

Email: contact@localfarmershub.com

We aim to respond to accessibility-related inquiries within 5–7 business days.

Assessment Methodology

Accessibility assessments for Local Farmers Hub include:

• Automated testing tools
• Manual keyboard and screen reader testing
• Internal expert review against WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria

Formal Complaints

If you believe your accessibility concern has not been adequately addressed, you may escalate the issue by contacting us using the information above. We take accessibility concerns seriously and will make reasonable efforts to resolve issues promptly.

Standards and Legal Alignment

This accessibility statement is aligned with:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act