Digital Accessibility Statement & Policy

1. Our Commitment

Global Mayors Academy is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. We believe that equitable access to knowledge and digital participation is fundamental to our mission as a global learning platform for city leaders.

2. Standards and Legal Framework

Our accessibility work is guided by the following standards and legislation:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 — Level AA
• The Equality Act 2010 (United Kingdom)
• EN 301 549 — Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
• International accessibility best practices

3. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• Our public website (globalmayors.academy)
• Online learning environments and course platforms
• Digital forms and registration systems
• Downloadable materials hosted on our domain

This policy does not extend to third-party platforms outside our direct control.

4. Accessibility Features and Design Principles

Structural and Technical Accessibility

• Semantic HTML structure and logical heading hierarchy
• Full keyboard navigability for all interactive elements
• Visible focus indicators
• ARIA roles and landmarks
• Responsive design across mobile, tablet, and desktop
• Compatibility with assistive technologies

Visual Accessibility

• WCAG AA color contrast ratios throughout
• Text scaling support up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Clear typography and readable font sizing
• No seizure-inducing content

Content Accessibility

• Alternative text for all meaningful images
• Descriptive link text
• Accessible form labels and validation messaging
• Plain language support
• Screen reader-compatible structured content

Multimedia Accessibility

• Subtitles or captions for video content
• Transcripts where practicable
• Accessible media players

5. Ongoing Accessibility Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process rather than a one-time compliance exercise. Our continuous improvement activities include:

• Integration of accessibility into design and procurement
• Periodic reviews and user testing
• Automated audit monitoring
• Content review before publication
• Engagement with platform providers on accessibility standards
• Legacy content updates where feasible

6. Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, some areas may not yet fully conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA. These include:

• Third-party embedded content outside our control
• Older PDF documents or legacy materials
• Archived resources
• Third-party contributor content

We are actively working to address these limitations and welcome feedback where issues are encountered.

7. Reasonable Adjustments

GMA is committed to making reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not placed at a substantial disadvantage. Where content is not accessible in its current format, we will provide alternative formats where reasonably practicable upon request.

8. Feedback and Accessibility Requests

If you encounter an accessibility barrier or wish to request content in an alternative format, please contact us:

Please include the webpage or content reference, a description of the issue, and the assistive technology you are using (if applicable).

9. Enforcement (UK Users)

If you are not satisfied with our response to an accessibility complaint, you may contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) at equalityadvisoryservice.com.

10. Governance and Responsibility

Responsibility for digital accessibility resides with our Digital & Platform Team, Content and Program Leads, and external development and platform partners. Accessibility considerations are integrated into technology selection, procurement, vendor evaluation, and content workflows.

11. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed:

• Annually as standard practice
• Following significant changes to our website or platforms
• In response to updates in legislation or accessibility standards