Inclusion
Accessibility
We believe journalism should be available to everyone. We are committed to meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and continuously improving the accessibility of our website.
What we do
Visual design
Our site uses high-contrast colour palettes, resizable text, and clear typographic hierarchy. We avoid relying on colour alone to convey meaning.
Keyboard navigation
Every interactive element — menus, search, forms, and media controls — can be reached and operated using only a keyboard.
Screen reader support
We write meaningful alt text for images, use semantic HTML landmarks, and label all form fields so screen readers can navigate our content accurately.
Performance
We optimise page load times and minimise motion so that users on slower connections or with vestibular disorders have a smooth experience.
Current standards
We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. Our development team runs automated accessibility audits on every release and performs manual testing with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.
We support the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We test on iOS VoiceOver and Android TalkBack.
Known limitations
Some older articles may contain images without alt text. We are working through our archive to add descriptions. Third-party embeds (such as video players or data visualisations) may not always meet our accessibility standards; we are engaging with vendors to improve this.
Need help or have feedback?
If you encounter any barrier to accessing our content, or if you have suggestions for improvement, we want to hear from you.
accessibility@theobsidian.com