Accessibility

This archive is built to be accessible to all visitors, regardless of ability. We are committed to WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and continuously work to improve the experience for users with disabilities.

Our Commitment

The JFSN archive adheres to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This means:

  • Keyboard navigation: All content and functionality is accessible via keyboard alone
  • Screen reader support: Full compatibility with assistive technology including VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS
  • Color contrast: All text meets WCAG AA standards (minimum 4.5:1 ratio for body text)
  • Responsive design: Content adapts perfectly to all screen sizes and zoom levels (up to 200%)
  • Motion safety: All animations respect prefers-reduced-motion preferences
  • Alternative text: All images have descriptive alt text or are properly marked as decorative

Assistive Technology Support

macOS & iOS

VoiceOver (built-in) is fully supported on all pages. Navigation with the rotor (VO+U) provides quick access to headings, links, landmarks, and form controls. Gesture navigation works smoothly across the entire site.

Windows

NVDA (free from nvaccess.org) is fully supported. Browse mode, form field navigation, and heading jumps all work as expected.

Testing & Verification

We have tested this archive with:

  • VoiceOver (macOS and iOS)
  • NVDA (Windows)
  • Automated accessibility scanning tools
  • Keyboard-only navigation
  • Screen zoom and magnification
  • High contrast mode

Specific Accessibility Features

Navigation

  • Skip links: Jump directly to main content on every page
  • Landmarks: Proper use of <nav>, <main>, and <footer> regions
  • Heading hierarchy: Logical heading structure (h1 → h2 → h3, no skips)
  • Focus visible: Clear focus indicators on all interactive elements

Catalogue & Work Records

  • Filterable data: Search and filter work by decade, motif, and materials
  • Live announcements: Filter changes announced to screen reader users
  • Form labels: All form fields properly labeled and associated
  • Related works: Easy navigation between similar works in the archive

Images & Media

  • Alt text: All artwork images have descriptive titles and dates
  • Zoom viewer: Image magnification tool with keyboard and touch controls
  • Decorative images: Hidden from screen readers where appropriate

Known Issues & Workarounds

While we strive for full compliance, some limitations exist:

  • Very large catalogue (1,087 items): The full catalogue may take time to load on slower connections. We've optimized for this with progressive loading.
  • High-resolution artwork: Some images are very large files. Loading may be slow on metered connections.

If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact us with details about the issue, your browser, and assistive technology used.

Standards & Guidelines

This archive conforms to:

Report an Accessibility Issue

Found an accessibility barrier? Please send us a message. Include:

  • Which page or feature had the issue
  • Your browser and operating system
  • The assistive technology you're using (if applicable)
  • A description of what happened

We take accessibility seriously and will work to fix issues as quickly as possible.

Additional Resources

Last updated: 2026-09-12