EPRO NEWS

Compliance status

We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to everyone, and we are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible number of users – regardless of their circumstances or abilities.

To achieve this, we aim to comply as closely as possible with the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Complying with these guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to everyone: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairments, cognitive disabilities and many more.

This website uses various technologies to ensure the highest possible level of accessibility at all times. We use an accessibility interface that enables people with certain impairments to customise the website's user interface (UI) individually.

In addition, the website uses an AI-based application that runs in the background and continuously optimises accessibility. This application improves the website's HTML code, adapts its functionality for screen readers used by blind users and supports keyboard navigation for people with motor impairments.

If you have discovered a malfunction or have suggestions for improvement, we look forward to your feedback. You can reach the operators of the website at the following email address: info@eproplast.com

Screen reader and keyboard navigation

Our website uses ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) techniques as well as various behavioural adjustments to ensure that blind users with screen readers can read, understand and use the website content. As soon as a user with a screen reader enters the website, they are prompted to activate the screen reader profile so that they can use the website optimally. This is how our website covers the most important requirements for screen readers:

1. Screen reader optimisation: We run a background process that fully analyses the website's components to ensure ongoing compliance, even when updates are made. In this process, we provide screen readers with meaningful information via ARIA attributes. This includes accurate form labels, descriptions for interactive icons (e.g. social media icons, search icons, shopping cart icons), validation guidance for inputs and role information such as buttons, menus and modal dialogues (pop-ups). In addition, all images on the website are scanned and – where no description exists – receive an ALT text description based on object recognition. Text within images is extracted using OCR (optical character recognition). To activate the screen reader adjustments at any time, users simply need to press the keyboard shortcut Alt+1. Users are also automatically prompted to activate screen reader mode when they enter the website.

   These adjustments are compatible with all common screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

2. Optimised keyboard navigation: The background process also adapts the website's HTML code and adds various behaviours via JavaScript to make the website fully operable by keyboard. These include navigation using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, controlling drop-down menus with the arrow keys, closing menus with the Esc key, activating buttons and links with Enter, and navigating and selecting radio buttons and checkboxes with the arrow keys and the space bar or Enter. In addition, quick navigation and skip-to-content menus are available, which can be reached via Alt+1 or by keyboard as the first elements of the website. Pop-ups are focused automatically as soon as they appear, and the focus remains within the pop-up.

   In addition, users can use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons) and “G” (graphics) to jump directly to specific elements.

Supported profiles for people with disabilities

• Epilepsie-Sicherer Modus: This profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by disabling flashing animations and risky colour combinations.
• Visually impaired mode: Adapts the website for users with visual impairments such as degrading eyesight, tunnel vision, cataracts, glaucoma and others.
• Cognitive disability mode: Provides supporting features for users with impairments such as dyslexia, autism, CVA and others, to help them focus better on important content.
• ADHS-freundlicher Modus: Helps users with ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse and focus on the main content of the website more easily while reducing distractions.
• Blind mode: Configures the website for screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack. This software is used by blind users on computers and smartphones.
• Keyboard navigation profile (for people with motor impairments): Enables the website to be operated entirely via the keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter). Users can also use the shortcuts mentioned above.

Additional adjustments to the user interface, design and readability

1. Schriftanpassungen – Users can increase or decrease the font size, change the font, and adjust spacing, alignment, line height and more.
2. Farbanpassungen – Users can choose from various contrast profiles, such as light, dark, inverted and monochrome. Colour schemes for titles, texts and backgrounds can also be changed.
3. Animationen – People with epilepsy can disable all running animations with a single click. This includes videos, GIFs and CSS transitions.
4. Content highlighting – Users can highlight important elements such as links and headings, or highlight only focused or hovered elements.
5. Audio-Stummschaltung – Users with hearing aids can mute all sounds on the website at the push of a button to avoid headaches or other problems.
6. Cognitive support – A search function using Wikipedia and Wiktionary helps users with cognitive disabilities understand the meaning of phrases, abbreviations and slang terms.
7. Weitere Funktionen – Users can change the cursor colour and size, use a print mode, activate a virtual keyboard and much more.

Compatibility with browsers and assistive technologies

We strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so that our users can use the tools that suit them best with as few limitations as possible. For this reason, we support all major systems, which together cover more than 95% of the user market, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, as well as the JAWS and NVDA screen readers.

Notes, comments and feedback

Despite our best efforts to make the website fully accessible and customisable, some pages or sections may not yet be fully accessible or are still being optimised. Nevertheless, we are continuously working to improve accessibility, to expand options and features, and to develop and implement new technologies in order to achieve the optimum level of accessibility.

For support or comments, please contact: info@eproplast.com