Society & AI
Research & Commentary Advisors About

Accessibility Statement

Effective Date: October 5, 2025
Last Updated: October 5, 2025

Our Commitment

The Society & AI Independent Research Group (SAI IRG) is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all people, including those with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to ensure our website is accessible to the widest possible audience.

Standards and Guidelines

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level and follow Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in our content design. These guidelines help make web content more accessible for people with a wide range of disabilities, including:

  • Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
  • Hearing impairments (deafness, hard of hearing)
  • Motor impairments (difficulty using a mouse, slow response time)
  • Cognitive impairments (learning disabilities, attention deficits)
  • Photosensitivity (seizure disorders triggered by visual effects)

Accessibility Features

Our website includes the following accessibility features:

Semantic HTML Structure

  • Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) for screen reader navigation
  • Descriptive link text that makes sense out of context
  • Clear document structure with landmarks (header, main, footer, nav)

Keyboard Navigation

  • All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
  • Focus indicators are visible for keyboard navigation
  • Logical tab order throughout the site

Visual Design

  • Sufficient color contrast ratios between text and backgrounds
  • Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
  • Content is readable and functional across different screen sizes
  • No content relies solely on color to convey meaning

Alternative Text

  • Descriptive alt text for all meaningful images
  • Decorative images are marked appropriately for screen readers
  • Complex graphics include extended descriptions where necessary

Content Accessibility

  • Clear, concise language in plain English
  • Technical terms are explained when first introduced
  • Content is organized with descriptive headings
  • Lists are properly formatted for screen readers
  • Tables include proper headers and captions

Multimedia

  • We are working toward providing captions for video content
  • Transcripts are provided for audio-only content where applicable
  • Auto-playing media is avoided to prevent disruption

Forms and Interactive Elements

  • Form fields have clear labels and instructions
  • Error messages are specific and helpful
  • Required fields are clearly indicated
  • ARIA labels enhance form accessibility where needed

Known Limitations

While we strive for full accessibility, we acknowledge current limitations:

  • Some older PDF documents (if any) may not be fully accessible; we are working to remediate these.
  • External links may lead to sites not under our control, which may not meet our accessibility standards
  • Some embedded content from third-party sources may have accessibility limitations

We are actively working to address these limitations and improve our site’s accessibility continuously.

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We regularly:

  • Conduct accessibility audits using automated and manual testing
  • Test with assistive technologies including screen readers
  • Incorporate user feedback into design improvements
  • Train our content creators on accessibility best practices
  • Review and update content to ensure continued compliance

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

In alignment with UDL principles, our educational content aims to:

  • Provide multiple means of representation: Content available in text, visual, and structured formats
  • Provide multiple means of action and expression: Various ways to engage with and respond to content
  • Provide multiple means of engagement: Options that reflect learner interests and sustain motivation

Assistive Technology Compatibility

Our website is designed to work with:

  • Screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
  • Screen magnification software
  • Speech recognition software
  • Alternative input devices
  • Browser zoom functionality

We test regularly with these technologies to ensure compatibility.

Third-Party Content

Some content on our site may come from external sources. We encourage third-party providers to make their content accessible and comply with WCAG guidelines, but we cannot guarantee the accessibility of externally sourced content.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Society & AI website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please let us know:

Contact Methods:

When reporting issues, please include:

  • The specific page URL where you experienced difficulty
  • A description of the problem
  • The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
  • Your browser and operating system

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 business days and to resolve issues within 30 days where feasible. All software developmental progress can be tracked on our Github repository, link to which is located in the footer of this website.

Formal Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concerns, you may:

  1. Submit a formal complaint using the Issues feature on our Github repository (link can be found in the footer of this website)
  2. Contact us to request alternative formats for content; and we will try our best to accomodate such requests

Alternative Formats

If you require content in an alternative format (large print, audio, accessible PDF, etc.), please contact the Principal Researcher Sai Gattupalli, Ph.D. at sai@societyandai.org. We will make reasonable efforts to provide the information in your preferred format within a reasonable timeframe.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility Relies On:

  • HTML5 semantic elements
  • CSS for visual presentation
  • JavaScript for enhanced functionality (site remains functional with JS disabled)
  • ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes where appropriate

Compatible Browsers:

Our site is designed to be accessible using the latest versions of:

  • Firefox, Zen Browser (Firefox-engine based), Google Chrome, Safari, Edge
  • Mobile browsers on iOS and Android

Certification and Compliance

While we do not currently hold third-party accessibility certification, we conduct regular internal audits against WCAG 2.1 AA standards and are working toward full compliance.

Updates to This Statement

We review and update this Accessibility Statement regularly to reflect improvements to our website and changes in accessibility standards.

Last Reviewed: October 5, 2025
Next Scheduled Review: December 5, 2025

Resources

For more information about web accessibility:

The Society & AI IRG is committed to creating an inclusive digital environment. Accessibility is not a project with an end date—it is an ongoing commitment to all users.