Accessibility

The standard we target

ZEPRA aims to meet WCAG 2.2 level AA. Accessibility is treated as part of whether the platform works at all, not as a later addition.

What this means in practice

• Everything works from the keyboard. Every filter, table sort, map alternative and form can be operated without a mouse, with a visible focus indicator throughout.
• Skip links to the main content and to the navigation are the first stops for keyboard and screen-reader users.
• Semantic structure. Real headings in order, real tables with captions and row headers, real form labels, and landmarks on every page.
• The map is never the only route. Every map is accompanied by the same records as a list or table, server-rendered.
• Every chart has a table. Charts are enhancements; the figures behind them are always available as an accessible table. No chart uses 3D effects.
• Colour is never the only signal. Status labels carry text and a shape as well as a colour, and the palette is checked for contrast.
• Form errors are summarised at the top of the form, linked to the field, and described in words rather than by colour.
• Reduced motion is honoured; there are no auto-rotating carousels or decorative animations anywhere on the platform.
• Text resizes to 200% without loss of content or function, and the layout reflows rather than scrolling sideways.
• It works without JavaScript. Searching, filtering, sorting, paging and exporting are all ordinary links and form submissions handled on the server.
• Every project record prints to a usable paper summary.

Known limitations

These are stated rather than left to be discovered.

• The interactive map requires JavaScript and a reasonably modern browser. The list alternative beside it carries the same records and does not.
• Some documents ZEPRA links to are held on other institutions' websites and may not meet this standard. ZEPRA does not control their accessibility, and links to them are marked as leaving the site.
• Very wide tables scroll horizontally within their own container on narrow screens. The page itself never scrolls sideways.
• The platform is currently available in English only. It is built so that additional Zambian languages can be added once translations are commissioned.

Reporting a barrier

If something on ZEPRA prevented you from getting information you needed, please tell us — it is treated as a defect. Telephone 0211 777 400 (+260 211 777 400), write to projects@zepra.co.zm, or use the contact form. Describing the page and what you were trying to do helps us reproduce it.