Accessibility Statement

Commitment to Digital Inclusion, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Section 508

The Shepherd Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people of all abilities. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply relevant accessibility standards in alignment with the University of Hawaiʻi Section 508 Guidelines and the State of Hawaiʻi Digital Accessibility Standards.

Conformance Status

The web content produced by the Shepherd Research Laboratory aims to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.

Measures Taken to Support Accessibility

  • Semantic HTML Structure: The site utilizes clean HTML5 landmarks (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>, <section>) to ensure clear document flow for assistive technologies.
  • WAI-ARIA Specifications: Dynamic interface components, including the responsive navigation menu, incorporate explicit aria-expanded, aria-controls, and descriptive aria-label attributes.
  • Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements, links, and form inputs are operable using a standard keyboard. Visible focus rings are preserved for keyboard navigators, and skip links (#main-content) allow immediate bypass of repetitive header blocks.
  • Text Alternatives: All informative imagery includes descriptive alternative text (alt). Purely decorative graphics utilize aria-hidden="true" or empty alt="" attributes to prevent screen-reader clutter.
  • Color Contrast: All body typography, navigation items, buttons, and alert components are engineered to meet or exceed the minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio required for normal text under WCAG 2.1 Criterion 1.4.3.
  • Device and Viewport Flexibility: Responsive styling ensures uninterrupted content reflow across desktop screens, tablets, and mobile devices without loss of functionality.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of the Shepherd Research Laboratory website relies on the following technologies:

  • HTML5
  • WAI-ARIA 1.2
  • CSS3
  • ECMAScript 6+ (with non-blocking progressive enhancement)

Feedback and Assistance

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Shepherd Research Laboratory website. If you encounter accessibility barriers, require materials in an alternative format, or need assistance accessing study information:

We strive to respond to accessibility inquiries within two business days.

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New publications, study announcements, and research updates — occasional, no spam.