Accessibility
In short. We want everyone to be able to use Epoch 11, including people who use a screen reader, a keyboard, zoom or other assistive technology. If something gets in your way, email [email protected] and we'll fix it or get you the information another way.
The standard we aim for
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA, the standard the United States Department of Justice points to in its guidance on web accessibility.
What we've done
- Every page has a clear title, headings in order, and a link to skip straight to the main content.
- Everything on this website can be reached and used with a keyboard, with a visible outline showing where you are.
- Text and form fields have strong contrast in both the light and dark themes.
- Pictures that carry information have a written description.
- Pages reflow to fit a phone screen and can be zoomed to twice their size without losing anything.
- The country map on the front page has a list of countries beside it, so it works without a mouse.
- On the well map, the List button lists the wells in view as buttons, nearest the centre first, and each opens the same details a click does. Arrow keys move the map and + and − zoom; the list follows.
- The well map's buttons, layer switches and details panels meet the same contrast as the website, over any part of the map.
- Nothing on this website flashes or moves on its own.
What we know still falls short
- Zoomed out, the well map is a picture. The list of wells in view starts once you zoom in to about county size, and shows the 50 nearest the centre. For a wider area, use the search box, download the records from the Data page, or email us and we'll send you the records you need in a spreadsheet.
- Colours on the map. Oil wells are green and gas wells red, the usual map colours, which look alike to people with red-green colour blindness. Zoomed in, the symbols also differ in shape, and every well's details say its type and status in words.
- Not yet tested by screen reader users. We've checked with automated tools and by hand, but not yet with people who use a screen reader every day. Tell us what doesn't work.
- Other agencies' pages. Each well links to the agency that published it. We can't change how those pages work.
We're working through these and review the site again with every major change.
Tell us about a problem
Email [email protected] with the page and what got in your way, or use the contact form. We aim to reply within five business days. If you need well records in another format, ask and we'll send them.