Website Accessibility Statement
The Ford House

1. Purpose & Commitment

The Ford House is committed to ensuring that our website, fordhouse.org, is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
We believe in equal access to information, services, and experiences, and strive to provide an inclusive online environment that reflects our mission as a nonprofit cultural and historical organization.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all digital content and features on fordhouse.org, including but not limited to:

• Web pages, images, and documents
• Videos and multimedia content
• Interactive tools and online forms
• Third-party integrations and plugins

3. Accessibility Standards

• We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as our accessibility standard.
  These guidelines are recognized as the benchmark for web accessibility compliance and align with our obligations under:
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Other applicable federal, state, and local laws

4. Technical Practices

• We take the following steps to ensure accessibility:
• Semantic HTML for structure and proper ARIA roles for assistive technologies
• Alternative text for meaningful images, with decorative images properly marked
• Keyboard navigation for all interactive features, with visible focus states
• Color contrast meeting WCAG standards (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
• Responsive layouts that adapt to different devices and zoom levels without loss of functionality
• Accessible multimedia, including captions for videos, transcripts for audio, and audio descriptions where appropriate
• Accessible forms with clear labels, error identification, and instructions
• Skip navigation links for bypassing repetitive content
• Accessibility evaluation of third-party tools and content before implementation

5. Content Creation & Review

• All new content is reviewed for accessibility before publishing
• Staff use accessible templates and follow content guidelines to maintain compliance
• User testing: periodic sessions with individuals with varied disabilities.
• Existing content is monitored and updated as needed to meet current standards

6. Monitoring & Training

• Automated testing is performed regularly using tools such as axe, WAVE, or similar
• Manual reviews are conducted quarterly, including screen reader and keyboard testing
• Annual accessibility training is provided for all staff responsible for digital content and web development

7. Reporting & Remediation

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of our website.
If you encounter an accessibility barrier, you can contact us:

• Email: info@fordhouse.org
• Phone: (313) 884 – 4222
• Mail: The Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Rd.
  Grosse Point Shores, MI 48236

We aim to acknowledge all feedback within two business days and address reported accessibility issues within 30 days, prioritizing based on impact.

8. Governance & Review

• The Accessibility Coordinator oversees policy implementation, issue tracking, and staff compliance
• This policy is reviewed annually and updated to reflect new WCAG standards, laws, and user feedback
• Progress toward accessibility goals is documented and made available to the public upon request