Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment

At Stellaris Design Studio, based in the heart of Chicago's River North, we are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. We believe that everyone deserves equal access to information and digital experiences, and we are dedicated to providing a website that meets or exceeds accessibility standards.

Our commitment to accessibility is guided by the principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines are internationally recognized standards for web accessibility and provide a comprehensive framework for creating accessible digital content. We continually strive to improve the accessibility of our website to ensure that it is usable by people of all abilities.

We understand that accessibility is an ongoing process, and we are committed to regularly reviewing and updating our website to maintain and improve its accessibility. We welcome feedback from our users regarding the accessibility of our website and are committed to addressing any accessibility barriers that may arise. Our goal is to provide a seamless and inclusive experience for all visitors to our site.

Stellaris Design Studio's team, led by founder Elias Thorne, views accessibility as integral to ethical design practices. We aim to not only meet legal requirements but also to foster a culture of inclusivity and usability in all our digital projects. This ethos is reflected in our design process, where accessibility considerations are incorporated from the initial stages of planning and development. We are always learning and adapting our practices to better serve all users.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented a variety of features to enhance the accessibility of our website. These features are designed to make our website easier to use for individuals with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. Below is a summary of the key accessibility features we have implemented:

• Semantic HTML: We use semantic HTML elements to structure our content in a meaningful and logical way. This helps assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to understand the content and present it to users in an accessible format.
• Alternative Text for Images: All images on our website include descriptive alternative text (alt text) that provides a text equivalent of the image. This allows users who are unable to see the images to understand their content and purpose. For example, the alt text for Elias Thorne's profile picture is "Elias Thorne, Founder and Creative Director, smiling in a professional headshot."
• Keyboard Navigation: Our website is fully navigable using a keyboard. Users can navigate through all interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and form fields, using the tab key.
• Color Contrast: We have ensured that there is sufficient color contrast between text and background colors throughout our website. This makes it easier for users with low vision or color blindness to read the content.
• Resizable Text: Users can easily resize the text on our website using their browser settings. This allows users with low vision to increase the text size to a comfortable reading level.
• Clear and Consistent Navigation: Our website has a clear and consistent navigation structure that makes it easy for users to find the information they are looking for.
• Form Labels: All form fields on our website include clear and descriptive labels that are associated with the corresponding input fields. This helps users understand what information is required for each field.
• ARIA Attributes: We use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies. This helps to improve the accessibility of complex interactive elements, such as menus and dialogs.
• Video Captions and Transcripts: All videos on our website include captions or transcripts to provide a text alternative for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Responsive Design: Our website is designed to be responsive, meaning that it adapts to different screen sizes and devices. This ensures that the website is accessible on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Dark Theme Support: Users can switch to a dark theme for a more comfortable reading experience, especially in low-light conditions.

We continuously audit our website using automated accessibility testing tools and manual testing techniques to identify and address any accessibility issues. We also provide accessibility training to our staff to ensure that they are aware of accessibility best practices and can contribute to creating an accessible website.

Third-Party Content

Please note that our website may contain links to third-party websites or content that are not under our control. While we strive to link to accessible websites, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of third-party content. We encourage users to contact the owners of third-party websites directly if they encounter any accessibility issues.

Feedback

We are committed to providing an accessible website and welcome your feedback. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using our website, please let us know. Your feedback will help us improve the accessibility of our website and provide a better experience for all users.

You can contact us with your accessibility feedback using the following methods:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (312) 555-0100
• Mailing Address: Stellaris Design Studio, 321 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654

When contacting us, please provide as much detail as possible about the accessibility issue you encountered, including the web page URL, the type of assistive technology you were using, and any specific steps you took to reproduce the issue. We will make every effort to respond to your feedback in a timely manner and address any accessibility barriers that are identified.

Accessibility Conformance Report

Stellaris Design Studio aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our website and are committed to providing a positive user experience for all visitors. As part of this commitment, we regularly conduct accessibility audits and implement necessary improvements.

To demonstrate our commitment to accessibility, we will maintain a detailed accessibility conformance report on this page, outlining our progress and any known limitations. This report will be updated regularly to reflect our ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create a more accessible online environment. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to improve our website and ensure that it is usable by everyone.

Sincerely,

The Stellaris Design Studio Accessibility Team

Contact Person: Anya Sharma, Accessibility Officer