Accessibility

Our approach

We want Upgrader.ie to be usable by as many people as possible, including people using assistive technology, a keyboard rather than a mouse, or a smaller screen. We aim to follow WCAG 2.2 AA principles in how the site is built, without claiming full formal compliance, which would need a proper independent audit.

How this is reflected in the site

• Semantic HTML: pages use headings, lists, landmarks such as header, nav, main and footer, and native elements such as <details> for expandable sections, rather than generic elements dressed up to look interactive.
• Keyboard use: navigation menus, expandable FAQ items and interactive tools are built to work with a keyboard, and a "Skip to main content" link is provided at the top of every page.
• Visible focus: interactive elements show a visible focus state so you can see where you are when navigating by keyboard.
• Colour contrast: our colour palette is chosen with text and background contrast in mind, rather than relying on colour alone to convey information.
• Responsive layouts: pages are built mobile-first and are designed to work across phone, tablet and desktop screen sizes without horizontal scrolling.
• Alternative text: meaningful images include descriptive alternative text, and decorative images are hidden from assistive technology.
• Heading structure: each page uses a single, clear heading (H1) and a logical heading hierarchy below it, so the structure of a page can be understood without relying on visual styling alone.
• Forms and interactive tools: our calculators and checks use labelled fields and native form controls, and show results within the page rather than in a way that depends on colour or motion alone.
• Plain language: we write in plain English and try to explain technical or Irish-specific terms, such as scheme names or regulator names, the first time they appear on a page.

Ongoing improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process rather than a one-off task. As we add or update pages, we try to apply the approach above consistently, and we welcome feedback that helps us find and fix problems we have missed.

Reporting an accessibility difficulty

If you have difficulty using any part of Upgrader.ie because of a disability or access need, please email [email protected] with details of the page and the problem you encountered. This address is monitored directly by the operator of Upgrader.ie. We cannot promise a response within a fixed period, but we do want to hear about problems so we can address them.