Our website is designed to support people with different abilities, devices, languages and internet connections, including visitors who use keyboards, screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Accessibility is part of our approach to communicating health information clearly and making knowledge available to the communities we serve.
1. Our accessibility approach
BOSAD uses the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA as a reference for its website’s design and development.
Our approach emphasizes:
- Clear page organization and meaningful headings.
- Consistent navigation and descriptive links.
- Keyboard-accessible interactive elements.
- Visible keyboard-focus indicators.
- Readable typography and appropriate color contrast.
- Responsive layouts for different screen sizes.
- Text alternatives for meaningful images.
- Accessible form labels and validation feedback.
- Appropriate language information and captions for video content.
- English and Amharic support where approved translations are available.
We continue to maintain and improve these features as the website and its content develop.
Using WCAG as a reference does not, by itself, constitute a claim of independent accessibility certification.
2. Reading and navigating the website
BOSAD organizes its content through consistent navigation, descriptive page titles and a structured heading hierarchy.
The website includes a skip-to-content link to help visitors bypass repeated navigation and move directly to the main page content.
Links, buttons, forms and other interactive elements are designed for keyboard access, with visible focus indicators to help visitors identify their current position.
Pages are designed to adapt to desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices. Text can be resized using browser controls, and layouts are designed to accommodate different screen widths.
Where practical, essential information is presented as selectable text rather than embedded in images.
3. Language and typography
BOSAD provides content in English and Amharic where reviewed and published translations are available.
The website uses fonts and typography that support Latin and Ethiopic scripts, with attention to readable text, appropriate line spacing and natural text wrapping.
Language information is provided to support correct interpretation by browsers and assistive technologies.
Translation availability may differ between pages and resources. The presence of an English version does not necessarily mean that an approved Amharic version is available.
BOSAD continues to improve the clarity, terminology and accessibility of its multilingual content.
4. Images and visual information
Images are used to support understanding and provide relevant visual context.
Meaningful images are provided with text alternatives where appropriate. Decorative images that do not contribute essential information are treated accordingly so they do not create unnecessary interruptions for assistive-technology users.
Health information and other essential instructions should not depend exclusively on color, imagery or visual layout.
Photographs and illustrative media are presented in accordance with their intended editorial context.
5. Videos and multimedia
BOSAD provides video and multimedia resources for public education and professional learning.
Where available, video pages identify the audio language, caption language and other information that may help visitors select suitable resources.
Some professional learning materials include Amharic audio and English captions.
Accessibility features may vary between individual videos and externally hosted media. Captions or other alternatives are identified according to their actual availability.
BOSAD continues to improve the accessibility of its multimedia resources as materials are developed and maintained.
6. Documents and educational resources
BOSAD aims to make its educational materials accessible, readable and usable across different devices.
Where suitable, worksheets, communication sheets and other simple resources are provided as webpages with print-friendly formatting. This allows visitors to read the material without requiring a separate document reader.
Some resources may also be available in downloadable formats.
The accessibility of individual documents can vary depending on their format, age and origin. Third-party publications and documents may not provide the same accessibility features as BOSAD’s own webpages.
If you experience difficulty accessing a document or educational resource, you may contact BOSAD to ask about an accessible alternative.
7. Forms and interactive features
BOSAD’s Contact form uses visible field labels, required-field indicators and submission feedback to help visitors complete and send enquiries.
The form includes a security-verification service to reduce spam and automated misuse. The verification process is designed to minimize unnecessary interaction while maintaining appropriate security.
Visitors should receive understandable feedback when required information is missing or a submission cannot be completed.
If an interactive feature creates an accessibility barrier, please report the difficulty so it can be investigated.
8. Accessibility and low-bandwidth access
BOSAD recognizes that visitors may access the website through mobile devices, slower internet connections or limited data plans.
The website uses responsive layouts and seeks to avoid unnecessary downloads and excessive visual effects.
Educational content is organized so that visitors can access written information without having to play videos or download large files unless those formats are necessary for the particular resource.
Media and other bandwidth-intensive content may depend on the visitor’s connection and the capabilities of the relevant hosting service.
9. External content and known limitations
Some materials available through BOSAD link to external research publishers, institutional websites, video platforms and other third-party services.
These services operate independently and may have different accessibility features.
Older documents, external publications, embedded media and some specialized resources may not provide the same level of accessibility as the main BOSAD webpages.
BOSAD uses WCAG 2.2 Level AA as an accessibility target but does not present the website as independently certified for conformance.
We continue to address accessibility barriers as they are identified, prioritizing issues that prevent visitors from accessing information or completing essential tasks.
10. Report an accessibility issue
If you encounter an accessibility problem, we encourage you to contact BOSAD.
To help us understand the issue, please include any of the following information you are comfortable sharing:
- The page or resource you were trying to access.
- What you were trying to do.
- A description of the difficulty.
- Your device or browser, if relevant.
- Any assistive technology you were using, if you choose to share that information.
Please do not include passwords, identifiable patient information or other confidential material.
You may also contact BOSAD to request assistance accessing a particular resource or to ask whether an alternative format is available.
Use the Contact form and select General enquiry to report an accessibility issue.