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Accessibility Statement

The California Equestrian Association (CEA) is committed to making our website accessible to all individuals, including people with disabilities, in accordance with our mission to promote equestrian activities, education, and community in California. We strive to provide equal access to information about membership, events, resources, competitions, and services.

 

We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the standard for accessibility. These guidelines, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), define requirements to make web content more perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities.

Conformance Status


Our website is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This means most content meets the standard, but some portions may not fully conform due to ongoing improvements or technical limitations (e.g., certain legacy content, third-party embedded tools, or complex interactive features). We are actively working toward full conformance.


Known areas of non-conformance or partial conformance include:

  • Some older event photos or documents without complete alt text.

  • Limited accessibility in certain third-party forms or calendars (we are evaluating replacements).

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We regularly test and update our site to address these issues.


Measures to Support Accessibility

  • Accessibility is integrated into our website development and content creation processes.

  • We provide text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., alt text for images).

  • We ensure keyboard navigation and sufficient color contrast.

  • Videos include captions where applicable.

  • We conduct periodic automated and manual testing, including with screen readers (e.g., NVDA, VoiceOver).

  • Staff receive training on accessible content creation.

 

Feedback and Contact Information
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter
barriers or have suggestions, please contact us:

  • Email: accessibility@ceainc.org (or your main contact email)

  • Phone: [Your phone number] (with TTY/VRS support if available)

  • Mail: California Equestrian Association, [Your address], Ceres, CA [or appropriate location]


We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 business days and work with you to resolve issues.

 

Additional Assistance
 

If you need information in an alternative format (e.g., large print, audio, Braille), please contact us using the details above. We will provide reasonable accommodations.


This statement was last updated: February 27, 2026.


For more on WCAG, visit: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/


Remedy to Avoid a Lawsuit and Instructions to Accomplish
Compliance


Publishing a strong accessibility statement is a positive step—it demonstrates good faith and can help in defense or settlement discussions—but it is not a complete shield against lawsuits. Demand letters and suits under ADA Title III and California’s Unruh Act often target non-conformance itself (e.g., screen
reader incompatibility, missing alt text, keyboard traps). 


The most effective remedy is achieving and maintaining substantive compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which significantly reduces legal risk by removing the alleged barriers.


Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Your Website Compliant:

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1. Conduct a Thorough Accessibility Audit (Immediate Priority)

  • Use free automated tools first: WAVE (wave.webaim.org), axe DevTools (browser extension), Google Lighthouse (in Chrome DevTools).

  • Follow with manual testing: Navigate the site using only a keyboard; test with screen readers (free: NVDA on Windows, VoiceOver on Mac); check color contrast (tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker).

  • Hire a professional accessibility consultant or firm (experienced in ADA/Unruh litigation) for a comprehensive audit, including user testing with people who have disabilities. This is highly recommended for credibility in any legal response.

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2.  Prioritize and Remediate High-Impact Issues

Focus on POUR principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust):

  • Add alt text to all images (decorative images can use empty alt=””).

  • Ensure keyboard accessibility (no focus traps; visible focus indicators).

  • Fix color contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for text).

  • Label forms properly and provide error messages.

  • Add captions/transcripts to videos.

  • Use semantic HTML (proper headings, landmarks, ARIA where needed).

  • Avoid auto-playing media or flashing content.

Work with your web developer/team to fix issues—integrate checks into your CMS or build process.


3.  Implement Ongoing Maintenance

  • Add accessibility checks to your content workflow (e.g., train staff, use accessible templates).

  • Run automated scans regularly (e.g., monthly). 

  • Re-audit after major updates. 

  • Avoid reliance on accessibility overlays/widgets alone—they often fail in court and don’t fully remediate issues.

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4.  Document Your Efforts
Keep records of audits, fixes, training, and feedback responses. This shows proactive compliance if a demand letter arrives.


5.  If You Receive a Demand Letter or Lawsuit

  • Do not ignore it—respond promptly through an attorney experienced in ADA/Unruh defense.

  • Often, quick remediation + settlement can resolve matters without full litigation.

  • Consult legal counsel specializing in California disability access law for tailored advice.

 

By following these steps, you position the CEA to minimize exposure while improving the site for all users (e.g., better SEO, mobile usability). Start with the audit—it’s the foundation. If you share more details about your current website platform or specific features, I can offer more targeted suggestions. For official
resources, see ada.gov or w3.org/WAI.

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