Universal School is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to all visitors — including those with disabilities. We believe that access to information about our school is a right, not a privilege.
Standard
WCAG 2.1 Level AA
Approach
Continuous Improvement
Feedback
Always Welcome
Audit Cycle
Regular Reviews
Section 01
Our Commitment
Universal School is committed to ensuring that our website is fully accessible to all visitors, including people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities. We believe that everyone deserves equal access to information about our school, programmes, and community.
Accessibility is not a checkbox — it is an ongoing commitment woven into how we build and maintain our digital presence. We continuously review and improve our website to remove barriers and ensure an inclusive experience for all.
Our Promise
If you experience any difficulty accessing information on our website, we will always provide that information through an alternative means. No visitor should ever be left without access to what they need.
Section 02
Accessibility Features
Our website has been designed and built with the following accessibility features to ensure as many users as possible can navigate and understand our content.
Clear Navigation
Logical, consistent navigation structure with clear headings and landmarks for screen reader users.
Alt Text for Images
All meaningful images include descriptive alternative text. Decorative images are marked as presentational.
Readable Typography
High-contrast text on backgrounds, scalable font sizes, and generous line spacing for readability.
Keyboard Navigation
All interactive elements are fully accessible via keyboard. Tab order follows a logical reading sequence.
Sufficient Colour Contrast
Text and interactive elements meet WCAG AA contrast ratio requirements (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text).
Skip Navigation Link
A visible "Skip to main content" link appears on focus, allowing keyboard users to bypass repeated navigation.
Section 03
WCAG Standards
We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines are internationally recognised as the standard for web accessibility.
A
Level A
Minimum requirements — essential accessibility for all users
AA
Level AA
Our target — addresses the most common barriers for disabled users
AAA
Level AAA
Enhanced — we aim to meet where possible without impacting design
WCAG 2.1 Principles
WCAG 2.1 is built on four principles: content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust — known collectively as POUR. We design with all four in mind.
Section 04
Ongoing Improvements
Accessibility is a continuous journey. We are actively working to improve our website through the following ongoing actions:
Regular Website Accessibility Audits
Periodic reviews using automated testing tools and manual evaluation against WCAG 2.1 criteria, identifying and prioritising areas for improvement.
User Feedback Implementation
Reports from users with disabilities are taken seriously and addressed as a priority. We actively invite feedback and track all reported accessibility issues.
Staff Training on Accessibility
All staff who create or manage web content receive training on writing accessible content, appropriate use of headings, and image alt text best practices.
Technology Updates
We keep our website platform, plugins, and code libraries updated to incorporate the latest accessibility improvements and standards compliance.
Section 05
Known Limitations
While we strive to make our website as accessible as possible, we acknowledge that some limitations may currently exist. We are committed to addressing these as quickly as resources allow.
Some older PDF documents may not be fully tagged for screen reader compatibility — we are progressively updating these
Certain embedded third-party content (maps, videos) may have accessibility limitations — alternatives are provided where possible
Some older archived pages may not meet current accessibility standards — we prioritise newer and most-visited pages
Our Plan
All known limitations are logged in our accessibility improvement register and are actively being addressed. If you encounter any barrier not listed here, please let us know immediately using the contact details in Section 6.
Section 06
Help Us Improve
Your feedback is invaluable. If you encounter any accessibility barriers on our website — whether a page is difficult to navigate, content is hard to read, or a feature doesn't work with your assistive technology — please tell us.
The specific page URL where you encountered the accessibility issue
2
The type of assistive technology you were using (e.g. JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, switch access)
3
Your browser and operating system (e.g. Chrome on Windows 11, Safari on iOS 17)
4
A clear description of the problem and what you were trying to do when you encountered it
Response Commitment
We will acknowledge all accessibility feedback within 5 working days and aim to provide a full response — including our planned resolution — within 20 working days.
Section 07
Alternative Access
If any part of our website is not accessible to you, we are committed to providing the information you need through alternative means. Please contact us using any of the methods below and we will arrange an accessible alternative promptly.
We can provide information in alternative formats including large print, audio recording, easy-read summary, or any other format that meets your needs. Just let us know when you get in touch.
Section 08
Third-Party Content
Some content on our website is provided by third-party platforms — such as embedded videos, maps, or social media feeds. While we do our best to choose accessible providers and configure their content responsibly, we cannot guarantee complete accessibility compliance for all third-party content.
Embedded videos — we use privacy-enhanced embeds and provide text descriptions where possible
Interactive maps — a text address and directions are always provided as an alternative
Social media widgets — used minimally and with accessible alternatives available
Third-Party Limitations
If you encounter accessibility issues with any embedded third-party content, please contact us and we will provide the information through a fully accessible alternative format.
Section 09
Statement Updates
This Accessibility Statement is reviewed and updated whenever we make significant accessibility improvements to our website, or at least annually. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects when the statement was last reviewed.
Statement reviewed and updated whenever significant improvements are made
Minimum annual review cycle regardless of changes
Families and registered users informed of material changes
Previous versions available on request from the school office
An accessible school starts long before the front gate. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in every part of how we communicate — including how our website is built and maintained.
— Universal School Administration · Aramoun, Mount Lebanon · Est. 1958
Inclusive by Design
Everyone Belongs Here
Universal School is built on the belief that every child deserves access to excellence. If you need any help accessing our information, or would like to learn more about our inclusive environment, we're here.
