Accessibility
We are a foundation for the eye. A website that some people cannot read would be an odd thing for us to publish, so we have tried hard not to.
The standard
We aim for every page to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA, and for body text to meet the AAA contrast level of 7 to 1. The text typeface, Atkinson Hyperlegible, was designed by the Braille Institute for readers with low vision; it distinguishes letters that are easily confused, such as I, l and 1.
Display settings
Every page has three settings at the top, which work without JavaScript and without cookies:
- Text size: standard, 125% or 150%. Pages reflow without sideways scrolling at every size, on phones as well as desktops.
- Contrast: standard; high, which is pure black on white with heavier lines; and yellow on black, which many people with low vision find easiest to read. Drawings and charts change with the theme.
- Spacing: standard or wide, which increases the space between lines, letters and words.
If your device is set to ask for more contrast, we use the high contrast theme automatically. Your browser’s own zoom and text settings also work.
Other features
- Every page can be used with a keyboard alone, with a visible focus outline and a link to skip to the main content.
- Every drawing has a text description; diagrams have long descriptions and their keys are real text.
- Data in charts is also given in tables.
- Animation is minimal and respects the reduced motion setting.
- All public content works without JavaScript. The grants database is a full table without it; JavaScript adds search and filters.
How we test
Every page is checked automatically with the axe accessibility checker at desktop and phone widths, in the yellow on black theme and at 150% text, before it is published. Pages are also reviewed by people: with NVDA and VoiceOver screen readers, with a keyboard only, and with magnification. Sugawara Midori, who leads our low vision work and uses a screen reader, reviews new page designs.
Known issues
- Mieru at home is a test of sight and cannot be taken without it. Screen reader users will find the chart’s rows described in text, so that someone helping them can use the printed chart.
- The Japanese labels set vertically beside section headings are decorative and hidden from screen readers; the English headings carry the same meaning.
- Our older PDF annual reports, before 2022, are not fully tagged. We will send an accessible version of any of them on request.
Tell us about a problem
If something on this site does not work for you, please tell us at access@kiroshi.org, in English or Japanese. A person reads every message, and we aim to fix problems within ten working days or tell you why we cannot.