The Dunedin Voice & Quill is committed to providing a website accessible to all individuals. We aim for our digital content to be perceivable, operable, and understandable, aligning with the diverse needs of our readership in Dunedin and beyond.
Our editorial team understands that comprehensive accessibility is an ongoing process. We are dedicated to maintaining and improving access to our news and information for everyone, including those who rely on assistive technologies.
The Dunedin Voice & Quill endeavors to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA. These guidelines outline criteria for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities.
WCAG 2.2 provides a comprehensive framework for web accessibility. Our adherence to these standards helps to ensure a consistent experience across various devices and for users with different access requirements.
Several specific measures have been integrated into the development and ongoing maintenance of the dvq.co.nz website to enhance its accessibility. These initiatives address key areas identified by accessibility guidelines.
We utilise semantic HTML5 markup to structure our content. This approach provides a logical and clear hierarchy for assistive technologies, allowing screen readers to interpret page structure accurately.
Alternative text descriptions are provided for all meaningful images. This ensures that users who cannot see images, including those using screen readers, can still understand the content conveyed visually.
Our website supports full keyboard navigation. All interactive elements, such as links and navigation menus, can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard, without requiring a mouse.
Colour contrast ratios have been carefully considered in our design. Text and background colours meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 Level AA requirements, improving readability for users with low vision or colour blindness.
We conduct regular testing with common screen readers to identify and resolve potential barriers. This practical testing helps us understand the user experience for individuals relying on these assistive technologies.
Additionally, form fields are clearly labelled and associated with their respective input elements programmatically. This assists users of assistive technologies in understanding the purpose of each field for data entry.
Despite our extensive efforts, some limitations may still exist. Certain third-party content embedded on our site, such as video players or advertising modules, may not always fully conform to WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
We actively communicate with our third-party content providers regarding their accessibility features. However, directly controlling their code or design is often not within our purview.
Our editorial team continues to review these external integrations. We seek accessible alternatives or advocate for improvements where possible to minimise any potential impact on our users.
User feedback is instrumental in our ongoing accessibility efforts. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using The Dunedin Voice & Quill website, please inform us.
When reporting an issue, please provide specific details. Include the exact web page address (URL) where you experienced the difficulty and describe the problem you encountered.
Your observations help us identify areas for improvement and implement targeted solutions. Please send your feedback to:
We are committed to addressing reported issues promptly and working towards a resolution. Our legal and technical teams will review news tips and respond as quickly as practical.
The Dunedin Voice & Quill website may occasionally feature content from third-party sources. This can include social media feeds, video embeds, or external advertising platforms.
While we strive to select accessible third-party providers, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of their proprietary platforms or content. These elements are created and managed by their respective owners.
We encourage users to consult the accessibility statements of these external providers when encountering issues with their content. We will, however, continue to evaluate such integrations from an accessibility perspective.
The accessibility of dvq.co.nz undergoes periodic comprehensive reviews. Our commitment to continuous improvement means that these assessments are an integral part of our operational procedures.
Our editorial and technical teams conduct formal accessibility audits at least once annually. These audits evaluate compliance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA and identify any regression or new issues.
Informal internal checks are performed more frequently, typically on a quarterly basis. These ongoing reviews help to address minor issues as they arise and maintain a high standard of accessibility throughout the year.
This accessibility statement was last updated in November 2023. Any significant changes to our website’s accessibility features or policies will be reflected in an updated version of this statement.
We remain dedicated to ensuring that The Dunedin Voice & Quill serves as an accessible source of news and information for all residents of Dunedin and surrounding regions.
This publication is owned and operated by APG, an independent digital media company.