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Accessibility Statement for ECPR Websites

1. Introduction

This Accessibility Statement applies to the websites operated by the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR):

ECPR is committed to ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities and functional limitations, can access and use our digital services without barriers. This statement outlines our efforts to meet the accessibility requirements defined under Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act), and the harmonised European Standard EN 301 549 V3.2.1, which incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

3. Accessibility Status

The websites listed above are currently partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This means that most criteria have been met, but a few known accessibility barriers remain. ECPR is actively addressing these issues and aims for full conformance by the enforcement deadline.

4. Functional Accessibility

In accordance with EN 301 549 Clause 4, our websites aim to support users who:

  • Navigate without vision (screen reader compatibility, alt text, structured headings).
  • Have limited vision (sufficient colour contrast, text enlargement).
  • Cannot perceive colour differences (no reliance on colour alone to convey meaning).
  • Operate without hearing (captions for videos).
  • Have limited mobility (keyboard navigation, focus indicators).
  • Experience limited cognition or learning challenges (clear layout, consistent navigation).
  • Prefer text-based formats over media (transcripts and text alternatives).

5. Accessibility Features

The following measures are in place across the ECPR websites:

  • Semantic HTML5 structure and ARIA roles to improve compatibility with assistive technologies.
  • Keyboard navigation support, including skip links and logical focus order.
  • Text alternatives for non-text content.
  • Captioning and transcripts for video/audio materials (published from January 2024 onwards).
  • Responsive layout and zoom capability.
  • Clear and consistent user interface, predictable navigation.
  • Support for assistive technologies, including screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.
  • Accessible forms, including error messages and clear field labels.

6. Known Accessibility Issues

We are aware of the following accessibility limitations:

Area Issue Planned Remediation
Archived PDFs Older PDF documents do not fully meet PDF/UA or WCAG standards. Critical documents to be converted to accessible formats (HTML/PDF/UA) by Q4 2025.
Older Videos Some videos published before January 2024 lack captions or audio descriptions. High-priority videos to be captioned by Q2 2026. Transcripts available on request.
Complex Visualisations Some interactive charts/maps are not fully screen reader accessible. Supplementary tables and text summaries to be added progressively.
Third-party Content Some embedded content (eg, social feeds, payment gateways) may not meet accessibility standards. Engagement with providers; alternatives provided where feasible.

7. Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our websites. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or require content in an alternative format, please contact us:

Email: accessibility@ecpr.eu

Postal Address: ECPR Accessibility Team, Harbour House, 6–8 Hythe Quay, Colchester CO2 8JF, United Kingdom

We aim to respond within 10 working days and to provide an accessible alternative within a reasonable timeframe.

8. Enforcement Procedure and Redress

If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements under the European Accessibility Act, you have the right to contact the national enforcement body in your EU country. Contact information can be obtained via your national authority or accessibility ombudsman.

9. Accessibility Testing and Monitoring

Accessibility is assessed through a combination of:

  • Automated testing tools (eg, axe, WAVE, Lighthouse).
  • Manual evaluation, including screen reader testing and keyboard-only navigation.
  • Regular audits by accessibility consultants.
  • Monitoring of new content, using accessibility checklists integrated into our publishing workflow.

These activities follow the conformance determination approach in Annex C of EN 301 549 and are updated at least annually.

10. Statement Maintenance

  • First published: 26th June 2025
  • Last reviewed: June 2025
  • Next scheduled review: December 2025 or sooner if significant changes occur.