Creative West is dedicated to providing inclusive and accessible spaces in the arts. We recognize accessibility is an ongoing commitment, and we rely on our team and partners to learn and implement practices that enhance the experience for all we serve in the Creative West region and beyond.

Our accessibility initiatives align with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. We aim to make our content accessible to those with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities.

We’re always working to improve accessibility. Here’s what we’ve recently updated:

Date	Improvement	Details	Status
March 2025	Updates to the Homepage	Updated hidden navigation elements to be no longer focusable.  Added proper heading markups to key sections, such as Events List, Blog, and Getting Started.  Updated focused items in the Events List to scroll into view.	Released
March 2025	Updates to the Event Details Page	Updated hidden navigation elements to be no longer focusable. Added an accessible name to the “Favorite event” control, changed it to a button, and included an attribute to indicate its current state.	Released
March 2025	Updates to the Registration	Added an accessible name to the “Remove Social Media Link” button, changed it to a button, and improved the error color contrast.  Ensured proper focus order when adding social media links and associated error messages.  Removed the placeholder text to prevent repetition for screen reader users. Clearly labeled required fields. Ensured proper labels for Terms and Conditions, Password, and Confirmed Password fields, and fixed the “What is your age?” label association.  Connected instructions to relevant input fields. Corrected radio and checkbox group markup to include fieldset and legend.  Updated the “Other” input labels to prevent confusion.	Released
March 2025	General Accessible Updates	Added “Skip to Content” link for better navigation.  Added a focus state to the menu icon.  Updated the login/signup button focus to meet contrast guidelines.	Released
Jan 2025	Labeled Required Fields in Event Editor	Updated the fields in the Event editor with the “(required)” label to help users identify the information necessary to publish their event.	Released
Jan 2025	Artist Login Label Updates	Properly labeled the “Log In” heading and the “Show Password” field.	Released

Here’s what we’re actively working on to improve accessibility:

Feature/Fix	Expected Release	Impact	Status
Improving Contrast and Labels on Homepage & Login	Q2/3 2025	Ensures that the contrast on the homepage is sufficient and that there are appropriate labels.	In Progress
Improving Form Labels, Heading Structure, and add Language to Login Page	Q2/3 2025	Improving the labels, heading structures, and adding the languages to the administration and juror login pages.	In Progress
Adding Skip to Content Link	Q2/3 2025	Ensuring all pages have a skip to content link so users can bypass the header and menu.	In Progress
Artist Search & Filter Labels	Q2/3 2025	Ensuring that the search and filter labels are associated appropriately and users can access via keyboard.	In Progress
Upload Media Form Labels	Q3 2025	Ensuring that the form labels, instructions and error messages are associated correctly on the upload form.	In Progress
Adding Alt Text	Q3 2025	Allows users to add in their own alternative text for images and ensures that is used throughout the site.	Planned
Improving Color Contrast Throughout Site	Q3 2025	Improves the colors that are used throughout the site to meet WCAG AA standards.	Planned
Calendar Accessible Names & Colors	Q3 2025	Improves links to include accessible names, improve color contrast, and include legend.	Planned
Improve Jury Profile	Q3 2025	Improves the field labels, instructions, and announcing of the MFA selection.	Planned
Add Labels, Headings, and Improve Jury Table	Q3 2025	Add/ensure all field labels are associated, improving heading structure, and improve keyboard functionality on the jury table.	Planned
Add Alternative Text on Jury Scorecard	Q3 2025	Add the alternative text to the juror scorecard.	Planned
Improve Labels & Keyboard Functionality on Scorecard	Q3 2025	Improves the scorecard to be fully keyboard accessible. Adds labels to be read by screen readers.	Planned
Administrator Accessibility Updates	2026	Improves the accessibility on the administrator side of ZAPP.	Planned
ZAPP Onsite Accessibility Updates	2026/2027	Improves the accessibility within ZAPP Onsite.	Planned

Creative West is committed to continuously improving our technical platforms, and we invite all users to reach out with questions, concerns, or feedback on the accessibility of our sites. We want to hear from you!

If you experience any accessibility issues or have suggestions, please reach out. Thank you for helping us create a more inclusive experience!

Email: accessibility@WeAreCreativeWest.org

Submit the form below.