The Bar Harbor & Mount Desert Police Department is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Our Commitment
We strive to ensure that our website meets or exceeds the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities including:
- Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
- Hearing impairments (deafness and hearing loss)
- Motor impairments (difficulty using a mouse, slow response time)
- Cognitive impairments (dyslexia, learning disabilities, memory issues)
- Seizure disorders (photosensitive epilepsy)
Accessibility Features
Our website includes a comprehensive accessibility menu with the following features to customize your viewing experience:
High Contrast Modes
Multiple contrast options including enhanced contrast, inverted colors, and light/dark themes.
Colorblind Modes
Specialized color filters for Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia.
Text Size Control
Increase text size for better readability without breaking page layout.
Dyslexia-Friendly Font
Switch to a specialized font designed to improve readability for users with dyslexia.
Link Highlighting
Make all links stand out with high-contrast highlighting for easy identification.
Animation Controls
Pause or disable animations for users sensitive to motion or with vestibular disorders.
Text Spacing & Alignment
Adjust letter spacing, word spacing, and text alignment for improved reading comfort.
Dark Mode
System-wide dark theme that reduces eye strain in low-light environments.
Additional Accessibility Features
- Keyboard Navigation: Full keyboard accessibility with visible focus indicators
- Screen Reader Compatible: Properly structured HTML with ARIA labels and landmarks
- Skip Links: Jump directly to main content bypassing navigation
- Alt Text: Descriptive alternative text for all meaningful images
- Semantic HTML: Proper heading structure and semantic elements
- Form Labels: Clear labels and instructions for all form fields
- Responsive Design: Mobile-friendly layout that works on all devices
- Persistent Settings: Your accessibility preferences are saved across pages
Assistive Technology Support
Our website is designed to work with the following assistive technologies:
- Screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- Speech recognition software (Dragon NaturallySpeaking)
- Screen magnification software (ZoomText, MAGic)
- Alternative input devices (switch controls, head pointers)
- Browser accessibility features and extensions
Standards & Compliance
We aim to conform to the following standards:
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- Section 508: U.S. federal accessibility requirements
- ADA Title II: Americans with Disabilities Act compliance for government websites
Known Issues & Limitations
We are aware of some accessibility limitations and are actively working to address them:
- Some PDF documents may not be fully accessible (we are working to remediate these)
- Third-party embedded content (maps, videos) may have limited accessibility
- Legacy content from before our accessibility improvements may not meet current standards
Testing & Evaluation
We regularly test our website for accessibility using:
- Automated testing tools (WAVE, axe DevTools, Lighthouse)
- Manual testing with keyboard navigation
- Screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver)
- User feedback from people with disabilities