Creative West is dedicated to providing inclusive and accessible spaces in the arts. We recognize accessibility is an ongoing commitment, and we rely on our team and partners to learn and implement practices that enhance the experience for all we serve in the Creative West region and beyond.
Accessibility Center
Recent & Completed Improvements
We’re always working to improve accessibility. Here’s what we’ve recently updated:
| Date | Improvement | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | General Accessibility Updates | Added unique titles to pages for better navigation. Added primary headings to establish a clear hierarchy. Set the page language to support screen readers. Added a “Skip to Content” link for easier access to main content. Updated the homepage for proper use of landmarks and content visibility at 200% zoom. Underlined all links. | Released |
| April 2025 | Accessibility Updates to the Scorecard | Correctly labeled form fields on the search form, artwork scoring, entry list sorting, pagination, and round selector drop-downs. Updated keyboard accessibility across multiple interactive elements. Grouped search result controls for better usability. Updated link text. Resized clickable targets to meet accessibility requirements. Updated color contrast. Ensured proper heading structure. | Released |
| March 2025 | Accessibility Updates to the Upload & View Media Process | Added an empty alt attribute to the images in the My Portfolio section for better screen reader navigation. Added an empty alt attribute to the “Click to Play” video thumbnail images. Added an appropriate alt attribute with the image title to the “Click to Enlarge” media viewer. Added correctly associated labels to form fields and the linked work sample icons. Updated the “Choose File” field to be focusable from a keyboard and added visible focus. Updated the “Click to Play” option for linked videos to be operable from a keyboard. Updated the color contrast on the selected media option in the Media Preview. Replaced the custom select combobox used for navigation with separate buttons. Added explicit instructions for file uploads to the “Choose File” input. Added labels to the audio/video link fields. Added a label for character limits to the description field. Updated field errors to be properly associated with their inputs. Replaced the custom select dropdown with a more accessible native option. Added an upload processing announcement for screen readers. Labeled all required fields with “(required).” | Released |
| March 2025 | Accessibility Updates to the Admin/Juror Login Page | Added alt text to the CaFÉ logo. Added an H1 heading to the page title, and H2 headings to each section of the login form. Added labels to all input fields, and added clarifying descriptions to the Forgot Password form to indicate field requirements. Implemented error messages to be specifically associated with each field when an invalid form submission occurs. | Released |
| March 2025 | Accessibility Updates to the Admin/Juror Site | Updated the menu toggle button to report its state and repositioned it for better navigation. Updated the Jury dropdown menu to report its state. | Released |
| March 2025 | Accessibility Updates for Site Navigation | Updated the focus to return to the control that opened the Help dialog after it was closed. | Released |
| March 2025 | Accessibility Updates to the Call Listings | Added visible focus states to the filter checkboxes. Added an accessible name to the Help toggle. Updated the color of the toggle text to meet contrast requirements. Updated the filters to announce changes to screen readers. Replaced the custom slider control with a native range control for better screen reader support. Added clear references to the associate listings on the “More Info” and “Apply Now” linked. Added structural headings to the search page to improve content hierarchy. | Released |
| March 2025 | Updated Required Fields on Artist Forms with Proper Labels | Added labels to the required fields on the Application, Upload Media, and Checkout forms. Removed the “fields in bold are required” text. | Released |
| Jan 2025 | Administrator & Juror Header & Menu Updates | Added a “Skip to Content” link for users who use assistive technology to allow them to bypass the header and menu. Added appropriate heading markers throughout the Juror Scorecard page. | Released |
| Jan 2025 | Call Listing Updates | Added accessible names to the search button and favorite icon. Updated the filter toggles and the favorite icon to be more keyboard friendly. Updated the “More Info” and “Apply Now” links to open in a new tab. Updated the “Select All Regions” option to a button. Properly labeled the “Search Call Listings” box. | Released |
| Jan 2025 | Artist Profile & Registration Updates | Added heading text for expanding panels. Added an accessible name to the “Remove Team Partner” button. Added labels to the password fields, custom checkboxes, and radio buttons to include a focus state. Updated the page design for better keyboard navigation. | Released |
| Jan 2025 | Login Page Updates | Added autocomplete to every field in the “Forgot Password,” “Forgot Username,” and “Login” forms. | Released |
| Jan 2025 | Loading Spinners | Added accessible loading spinners to the artist Registration, Profile, and Application pages. | Released |
Upcoming Accessibility Improvements
Here’s what we’re actively working on to improve accessibility:
| Feature/Fix | Expected Release | Impact | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding Alt Text | Q3 2025 | Allows users to add in their own alternative text for images and ensures that is used throughout the site. | Planned |
| Improving Error Handling | Q4 2025 | Improves the way error text and the way it displays on the page so any issues are clear for users. | Planned |
| Improve Application Form | Q4 2025 | Improving and ensuring there are application form labels, improved error handling and ability to navigate with a keyboard. | Planned |
| Improve Checkout Forms | Q4 2025 | Improving and ensuring there are application form labels, improved error handling and ability to navigate with a keyboard. | Planned |
| Administrator Accessibility Updates | 2026 | Improves the accessibility on the administrator side of CaFÉ. | Planned |
How to Get Support or Provide Feedback
Creative West is committed to continuously improving our technical platforms, and we invite all users to reach out with questions, concerns, or feedback on the accessibility of our sites.
We want to hear from you! If you experience any accessibility issues or have suggestions, please reach out. Thank you for helping us create a more inclusive experience!
Email: accessibility@WeAreCreativeWest.org
Submit the form below.
