Accessibility Statement

1. Our commitment

BTMP exists to remove barriers that keep capable people out of technology. A website that excludes disabled users would contradict the whole premise of the programme, so accessibility is treated as a functional requirement rather than a compliance exercise.

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA across this website, the education platform, our documents and our live sessions. This statement describes where we currently stand, honestly, including the places we fall short.

2. Conformance status

This website is partially conformant with WCAG 2.2 Level AA. "Partially conformant" means most of the content meets the standard, with the exceptions listed in section 5.

3. Accessibility features on this site

3.1 Structure and navigation

• Semantic HTML landmarks, so screen reader users can jump between header, navigation, main content and footer.
• A visible "skip to main content" link as the first focusable element on every page.
• One h1 per page and a heading hierarchy that never skips a level.
• Breadcrumbs on every interior page, marked up with structured data.
• A table of contents on every article and policy page, with the current section highlighted as you scroll.

3.2 Keyboard and focus

• Every interactive element is reachable and operable by keyboard alone.
• A clearly visible focus indicator with a minimum three-pixel outline and sufficient contrast.
• Menus, tabs, accordions and the image viewer all support expected keyboard patterns, including arrow keys for tabs and Escape to close overlays.
• Focus is moved into dialogs when they open and returned to the triggering element when they close.
• No keyboard traps anywhere on the site.

3.3 Visual design

• Body text meets a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 and large text at least 3:1.
• Colour is never the only means of conveying information; form errors carry text as well as colour.
• Text reflows without horizontal scrolling down to a 320-pixel viewport width, and remains usable at 200% zoom.
• Touch targets are at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels.
• No content flashes more than three times per second.

3.4 Motion

• All animation respects the prefers-reduced-motion setting; when it is on, scroll reveals, counters and carousels present their final state immediately.
• No carousel advances automatically without a pause on hover and on focus.
• There is no parallax or motion triggered by scrolling that cannot be disabled.

3.5 Forms

• Every field has a programmatically associated visible label.
• Required fields are marked in text as well as with an asterisk.
• Errors are announced to assistive technology through a live region, described in words, and focus is moved to the first field that needs attention.
• Error messages explain how to fix the problem, not merely that one exists.
• Autocomplete attributes are set so that stored details can be filled automatically.
• No form has a time limit.

3.6 Media and documents

• All meaningful images carry descriptive alternative text; decorative images carry empty alternative text so they are skipped.
• Live sessions are captioned; recordings are published with captions and a transcript.
• Data tables use proper header cells with scope, and carry captions.
• The site is fully readable with images and remote fonts blocked.

4. Compatibility and testing

We test with the combinations below. If you use something not on this list and encounter a problem, please tell us — we will add it to the test matrix.

Our testing combines automated scanning on every change, manual keyboard and screen reader review of each template, and an annual external audit. We also pay disabled testers for structured review sessions; we do not rely on unpaid feedback from disabled users as a substitute for testing.

5. Known issues and what we are doing about them

We publish our shortfalls rather than describing only our successes.

6. Adjustments within the programme

Accessibility is not only about the website. Adjustments we routinely make, at no cost and without requiring medical evidence:

• Extended assessment windows and flexible capstone deadlines.
• Session recordings, transcripts and written summaries for every lab.
• One-to-one sessions rescheduled to fit energy levels or medication schedules.
• Materials supplied in large print, plain text, or a specified format.
• Alternative assessment formats where the standard format tests something other than the skill being assessed.
• Loaned assistive hardware, where we can source it.
• Communication preferences honoured — written rather than verbal feedback, or the reverse.
• A named contact so you do not have to explain your circumstances repeatedly.

You can request an adjustment on the application form, or at any point afterwards, by writing to [email protected]. Requests are handled confidentially and are not shared with mentors or facilitators without your permission.

7. Feedback and how to escalate

We welcome reports of accessibility barriers and treat them as defects rather than requests.

1. Tell us. Email [email protected] with the page address, what you were trying to do, your browser and assistive technology if you know them, and what happened. Acknowledgement within two working days.
2. Get an interim answer. We provide a workaround or an alternative format within ten working days while the underlying fix is scheduled.
3. Escalate internally. If you are not satisfied, ask for escalation to the Accessibility Lead, who responds within twenty working days with a decision and a date.
4. Escalate externally. You retain the right to complain to the relevant enforcement body in your jurisdiction. We will not ask you to waive that right.

8. Standards, scope and dates

• Standard applied: WCAG 2.2 Level AA, with Level AAA applied where practicable (notably contrast in body text and no timing constraints).
• Also referenced: EN 301 549 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Scope: all pages under btmpprogram.com, the education platform, and documents published after January 2025.
• Out of scope: third-party sites we link to; archived documents published before January 2025, which are supplied in an accessible format on request.
• Statement prepared: 1 September 2026, following a combination of self-assessment and external audit.
• Review cycle: reviewed at least annually and after any significant design change.

How to contact us about this policy

Write to [email protected], or by post to the Legal Team, Black Technology Mentorship Program, 1200 Innovation Way, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States. We acknowledge every enquiry within five working days and aim to resolve substantive questions within thirty days.

Use the contact form