This webpage utilizes special characters. This can create an accessibility issue. Screen readers may misinterpret these characters or may not be able to ‘read’ the characters. This makes it difficult for users who rely on assistive technologies to understand the content. Special characters can also reduce clarity and comprehension, for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Cognitive disabilities can affect how people process information, and having unusual symbols can create unnecessary hurdles in understanding content.

To improve accessibility, it’s better to use plain language and standard text. If special characters are necessary, then it would be best to add an explanation to ensure all users can easily understand the material.

The menu/navigation bar at the top of the page is inaccessible for individuals with motor impairments. It is currently not keyboard accessible, meaning users cannot navigate through the different tabs using a keyboard. The only navigation option available on the entire webpage is moving up and down, which limits the ability to interact with the content if you have a physical disability.

To make the menu accessible, we can implement keyboard navigation features, allowing users to access different tabs using the Tab key and current selections with the Enter key.

** I was unable to highlight the navigation bar, so this was the closest item I could highlight.**

This webpage has multiple images without descriptive alt tags. This creates an accessibility barrier for individuals with visual impairments. Often times, people who are blind rely on assistive technologies such as text-to-speech software to access web content. Without descriptive alt tags, tools cannot provide meaningful context for the images, preventing users from having the full online experience.

For example, even as someone without visual impairments, I find it challenging to understand the image below without any context. If I find it frustrating, it must be even more difficult for those with physical disabilities. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that every image has a descriptive alt tag of 125 characters or less. This description should be concise yet detailed enough to effectively convey the image’s content.

** I was unable to highlight the image, so this was the closest item I could highlight.**

This webpage does not display its content in a linear format, which creates challenges for users with physical disabilities who rely on screen readers. For easier navigation, web content should be structured logically rather than scattered from side to side in a cluttered manner. While the organization in this page isn’t completely ineffective, there is certainly room for improvement. When information is presented randomly or in a disorganized way, it can lead to confusion and frustration for those using assistive technologies. For example, the bullet point below the image could be placed under the "Applications" heading, alongside the other related bullet points.

To enhance accessibility, you can use headings, subheadings, and other elements. Additionally, organizing information in a linear fashion rather than having one topic on the far right and another on the far left can significantly improve readability.

Certain areas of this website, such as the one highlighted makes it difficult to distinguish between the foreground and the background. Specifically, the dark blue background with black text showcases a significant accessibility challenge, particularly for individuals with limited vision. Due to the lack of contrast, readers may struggle to distinguish the text from the background, making it difficult to understand the information on the website. This is not a good practice.

To make the website more inclusive and accessible, it’s important to ensure that the text and background colors have a high contrast. This change improves readability and the overall experience for everyone, no matter their visual abilities.