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Accessibility Policy

This Accessibility Policy describes the RESPONDER Partnership’s commitment to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all users, including people with disabilities, when visiting www.responderpartnership.com.

1.   Our commitment to accessibility

Responder Partnership is committed to making its digital content accessible to the widest possible audience. This includes removing barriers related to disability, language, technology, and other factors that may limit equitable access to information. While RESPONDER may not be a federally regulated entity, we are guided by the Accessible Canada Act and Canadian best practices, and we strive to meet internationally recognized standards for digital accessibility, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA where reasonable and technologically feasible.
 
We are particularly committed to accessibility for survivors and communities affected by violence and systemic inequities and recognize that disability related barriers can intersect with other forms of marginalization. 
2.    Scope of this policy
This accessibility policy applies to:
 •    The public-facing website of Responder Partnership at https://www.responderpartnership.com, including all pages, documents, reports, event materials, images, infographics, downloadable materials and other public-facing digital material published on or after this policy’s effective date.
•    Third-party content hosted on our site (e.g., embedded videos, forms, or applications) where feasible, while acknowledging that some external tools may have limitations beyond our direct control.
 
We review and improve accessibility as part of our regular website maintenance and content creation workflows. A designated RESPONDER team member will monitor accessibility feedback, coordinate responses, and track unresolved issues.
3.    Standards and technical approach
Responder Partnership aims for its website and digital content to conform to:
•    WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web content, in line with Canadian federal expectations and ICT accessibility frameworks such as CAN/ASC EN 301 549
•    Accessible document formats (e.g., tagged PDFs, plain text alternatives, or HTML where possible) for all newly published reports, guides, and forms.
•    Design principles that incorporate sufficient colour contrast, readable fonts, and layouts that support users with low vision, colour vision deficiencies, and other visual accessibility needs.
•    The use of inclusive images, graphics, and visual materials that reflect the diversity of the communities and individuals engaged in RESPONDER's work, while avoiding reliance on colour alone to communicate important information.

To support this, we:
•    Use semantic HTML and proper heading structures to make webpages clear.
•    Ensure keyboard navigation without a mouse and compatibility with screen readers.
•    Provide text alternatives for images and transcripts or captions for audiovisual content where relevant. 
•    Where appropriate and resources permit, provide key public-facing information and selected materials in languages relevant to RESPONDER partner communities.
•    Clearly indicate when machine-translated or AI-assisted translation tools have been used and advise users that automated translations may not always accurately reflect the meaning of the original English context. Where possible, professionally translated materials would be provided for important documents.
4.    Ongoing monitoring and improvements
Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Responder Partnership will:
•    Regularly test and review the website using automated tools and manual checks, prioritizing key user journey pages (e.g., research findings, partner pages, contact and participation forms).
•    Consult with and draw on feedback from the Knowledge Mobilization and EDIA subcommittees to incorporate their perspectives and improve accessibility.
•    Update this accessibility policy as standards, regulations, or our practices evolve.

Where immediate technical or resource constraints prevent full conformance, we will document the barrier and provide alternative means of access (e.g., accessible alternative formats or direct contact options). Accessibility barriers and requested fixes will be recorded in a tracking log, including the date received, action taken, responsible person, expected timeline, and whether a response or workaround was provided.
5.    Accessibility related feedback process
If you experience any accessibility issues on our website or in our digital materials, we encourage you to contact us so we can respond promptly.

How to provide feedback:
•    Email: responderpartnership@gmail.com
•    Web form

When possible, please include:
•    Subject line as ACCESSIBILITY 
•    The URL or page title where the issue occurs.
•    A brief description of the barrier (e.g., “I cannot navigate the menu using a keyboard”).
•    The device and browser you are using (e.g., Windows 11 + Chrome, iOS + Safari).

We aim to acknowledge feedback within 5 business days and provide a response within 15 business days, outlining whether a fix has been made, is planned, or will be evaluated against our resources and priorities.
6.    Alternative formats and accommodations
Where digital content remains challenging to access, we offer alternative formats and accommodations upon request, including but not limited to:
•    Accessible digital formats (e.g., properly tagged PDFs or HTML documents).
•    Plain language summaries of key research materials where appropriate.

To request alternate formats, please contact us using the feedback channels above. We will respond with options and timelines and will work with you to find a reasonable solution.
7.    Compliance with Canadian laws and standards
While Responder Partnership may not be a federally regulated entity in all functions, we adopt the principles and expectations of these laws as a minimum standard of practice, recognizing that accessible communication is essential to ethical research and survivor-centred justice.
The Responder Partnership is aware of and therefore guided by:
•    The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and related Accessible Canada Regulations, which apply to federal and federally regulated entities, provide principles for identifying, removing, and preventing accessibility barriers in digital services and communications.
•    Provincial and municipal accessibility laws (e.g., Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)), where relevant to the website or RESPONDER Partnership materials. 
8.    Effective date and review
This Accessibility Policy is effective as of August, 2026.

Responder Partnership commits to reviewing this policy at least every three years, or more frequently if significant changes are made to the website, digital delivery tools, Canadian accessibility regulations, international accessibility standards, or accessibility-related feedback from users.
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