Accessibility encompasses a wide range of needs that many of us may encounter during our lifetime. These include physical disabilities, such as challenges with movement, vision, or hearing, as well as cognitive needs, including intellectual and learning disabilities, mental health conditions, environmental sensitivities, neurodivergence, and other circumstances.

At New Housing Alternatives, we are committed to making our website accessible to everyone. Guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AAA and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), we continually update our website to meet evolving accessibility standards, ensuring our content is accessible to all users.

Web Accessibility Principles

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) outline four key principles for creating accessible websites. We are dedicated to meeting these principles to ensure our website is usable for everyone:

  1. Perceivable: Information must be presented in ways that all users, including those with sensory disabilities, can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for images and ensuring high contrast between text and background.
  2. Operable: The interface must be functional using various input methods, such as a keyboard or assistive technologies. For example, navigation should not rely solely on a mouse.
  3. Understandable: Content and functionality must be clear and intuitive. This includes using plain language and consistent layouts to help users navigate without confusion.
  4. Robust: The website content must remain accessible even as technology evolves, ensuring compatibility with future tools and assistive technologies.

The AODA also outlines that websites should:

  1. Text Alternatives: Provide alternatives for non-text content, such as larger fonts, simpler language, symbols, or audio descriptions, to ensure accessibility for all users.
  2. Time-based Media: For video content, include audio-only versions. Additionally, provide text alternatives for audio commentary to ensure all users can access the information.
  3. Adaptable: Design the website to adapt to users’ needs by offering simplified layouts while maintaining consistent content and structure.
  4. Distinguishable: Use a font size of at least 14 points and ensure high contrast between text and background. Avoid overly decorative fonts, and ensure links and controls are easily visible.
  5. Keyboard Accessible: Ensure the website is fully operable using a keyboard, which is essential for users with limited motor skills who may not use a mouse.
  6. Enough Time: Allow users to pause or disable rotating banners and images, which can be distracting or inaccessible for individuals with reading disabilities.
  7. Seizure Safety: Avoid flashy elements that could trigger seizures. If animations are necessary, ensure the flash frequency is below three per second and keep such elements small.
  8. Navigable: Design navigation to be intuitive and logical. Use clear and distinct links, and limit the number of links on a page to avoid overwhelming users.
  9. Readable: Use simple, straightforward language. Break text into smaller sections with bullet points and bold headings. Avoid placing text over patterned backgrounds.
  10. Predictable: Maintain consistent layouts, such as keeping the navigation bar in the same position, and inform users if a link will open in a new window.
  11. Input Assistance: Simplify forms and guide users with clear instructions. Provide feedback for errors and explain how to correct them.
  12. Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies, including screen readers and other tools used by individuals with disabilities.

When writing for the web, aim to be succinct, using no more than 50% of the text you’d use in print. Keep language simple and deliver the main point early. Make content scannable by breaking it into short sections with clear headings and bullet points, avoiding long blocks of text. Use hypertext to split lengthy information into linked, topical pages. Readers skim online and appreciate concise, structured content that’s easy to process.

If you feel this website does not meet these accessibility standards, please contact us with your concerns. If you have suggestions for ways to make this site even more accessible, please reach out. Submit your accessibility suggestions.

Please also learn about customizing your browser settings, including how to adjust text size, background colours, and other display preferences.

These are part of our Guidelines.