Accessibility Statement

Last updated: 31 March 2026

1. Our commitment to accessibility

Women’s Aid Federation of England is dedicated to ensuring digital accessibility for all users of the Trace & Cache: Digital Detectives website, including those with disabilities. This suite of online safety games is designed to help young people learn about staying safe online, and it is essential that the experience is accessible, usable, and inclusive for everyone — including the children and young people who are the primary audience, and the parents, carers, and support workers who guide them.

We continuously strive to improve the user experience and adhere to evolving accessibility standards.

2. Conformance status

We are committed to aligning our digital properties with the latest accessibility standards.

  • Current standard: This website has been audited against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA conformance criteria. A number of issues were identified during the audit and are documented in the Known Limitations section below. We are actively working to resolve all identified issues.
  • Target conformance: WCAG 2.2 Level AA. All issues identified in the March 2026 audit are scheduled for resolution by 30 April 2026.
  • Future enhancements: As the accessibility landscape evolves, we are monitoring the development of WCAG 3.0 and will work to incorporate these enhancements into our digital assets as they are finalised and adopted.

Please note that while we aim for full conformance, some areas of the site do not yet fully meet these standards. These are documented below with target resolution dates.

3. Technical standards

Our digital content is developed following these key standards and practices:

  • Accessibility guidelines: WCAG 2.2 (Level AA), with awareness of the forthcoming WCAG 3.0 guidelines.
  • Assistive technologies: The website is designed to support screen readers, screen magnifiers, keyboard-only navigation, and voice recognition software.
  • Testing methodology: Accessibility auditing is conducted using a combination of automated scanning (axe-core), simulated assistive technology journeys (keyboard navigation, screen reader, and cognitive assessment), and manual expert review.
  • Development practices: Accessibility is considered at every stage of the website’s build and ongoing maintenance.

4. Known limitations

An accessibility audit was completed on 31 March 2026 covering the Homepage and the Guidance for Adults page. The audit identified a number of issues across both pages. All issues documented below are scheduled for resolution by 30 April 2026.

This section covers the main informational pages of the Trace & Cache website. For the status of the interactive games, please see Section 5.

These issues prevent some users from accessing core content or functionality.

Images missing alternative text

Images on both the homepage and guidance page lack alt attributes, making them inaccessible to screen reader users who receive no information about image content or purpose.

WCAG reference: WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Logo and footer links have no accessible names

The header logo link and footer image links (Women’s Aid and Giant Digital) have no accessible names on either page. Screen reader users cannot determine what these links do or where they lead.

WCAG reference: WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Placeholder text present in published content

The Guidance for Adults page contains Lorem ipsum placeholder text in the ‘What to know about each game’ section, which creates confusion for all users and is particularly problematic for those who may not recognise it as placeholder content.

WCAG reference: WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Colour contrast does not meet minimum thresholds

Multiple elements across both pages fail to meet the minimum colour contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text or 3:1 for large text. Affected elements include buttons, headings, card text, tag elements, safeguarding section content, and links. This affects users with low vision or colour perception difficulties.

WCAG reference: WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) — Level AA

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Modal dialog has focus management issues

The incognito/private browsing modal has several focus-related issues: it lacks proper focus trapping (keyboard users can tab out to background content), has no visible focus indicator, its elements remain in the tab order after dismissal, and its content sits outside any ARIA landmark region. These issues affect keyboard and screen reader users.

WCAG reference: WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order — Level A, WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible — Level AA, WCAG 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Heading hierarchy has skipped levels

The Guidance for Adults page skips heading levels (h1 to h3, h2 to h4), creating a broken document outline that makes it difficult for screen reader users to navigate and understand the page structure.

WCAG reference: WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Landmark elements have misleading accessible names

The main, header, and footer landmark elements have overly verbose or misleading accessible names that include page content rather than concise labels. This confuses screen reader users navigating by landmarks.

WCAG reference: WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Content structure and cognitive accessibility improvements needed

The Guidance for Adults page has several content-related issues that affect users with cognitive disabilities, ADHD, or reading difficulties. These include: dense text blocks without adequate spacing, a long page without a table of contents or jump links, weak visual hierarchy between sections, the term ‘Trace and Cache’ introduced without explanation, and the exit site button positioned in a location that may be missed by users who need it most. Additionally, the exit button’s target size needs verification against WCAG 2.2 minimum requirements.

WCAG reference: WCAG 2.4.6 Headings and Labels — Level AA, WCAG 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation — Level AA, WCAG 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) — Level AA

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Minor issues

These issues cause inconvenience but do not prevent access to content. They are scheduled for resolution alongside the other issues listed above.

  • External links in the safeguarding section are displayed as raw URLs rather than descriptive link text.
  • Play buttons on game cards use generic ‘Play’ text without specifying which game they launch.
  • The logo image alt text includes the unnecessary word ‘logo’ rather than describing the link destination.
  • The hero image on the Guidance for Adults page has an empty alt attribute and may benefit from descriptive text if the image conveys meaningful content.
  • No ARIA live regions are present for any dynamic content that may update without a page reload.

Target resolution for all minor issues: 30 April 2026

5. Trace & Cache interactive games

The Trace & Cache: Digital Detectives website includes a suite of interactive online safety games that sit within the same domain. Due to the fundamentally different nature of these games — involving interactive gameplay, dynamic state changes, timed elements, and rich media — their accessibility status is documented separately from the main informational pages.

Games covered

The following interactive games are hosted at traceandcache.dev1.giantmade.net:

Current conformance status

An initial accessibility review of the interactive games has been conducted alongside the main site audit. The games have been assessed against WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance criteria. A number of issues have been identified and are documented below. A more comprehensive games-specific audit covering all game pages is planned and this section will be updated as that work progresses.

Known limitations — games

The following accessibility issues have been identified within the interactive games and are scheduled for resolution by 30 April 2026.

Game language may be difficult for some users to understand

Some games use informal, fragmented language that does not always form complete sentences. This style of writing may be confusing or difficult to follow for users with cognitive disabilities, learning difficulties, or those for whom English is not their first language. While the informal tone is intentional to engage a younger audience, clearer phrasing would improve comprehension for all users.

Affected pages: All game pages. Particularly noticeable on: https://traceandcache.dev1.giantmade.net/ai-detection.html

WCAG reference: WCAG 3.1.2 Language of Parts — Level AA

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Game menu page lacks instructions

The game menu page does not include any introductory guidance or instructions explaining what the games are, how to get started, or what users should expect. This creates a barrier for users with cognitive disabilities who benefit from clear orientation before interacting with content.

Affected page: https://traceandcache.dev1.giantmade.net/menu.html

WCAG reference: WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Password game lacks introductory instructions

The Password Protector game does not provide any explanation of its rules, objectives, or how to play before the game begins. Users are expected to understand the interaction without guidance, which creates a barrier for users with cognitive disabilities and anyone unfamiliar with the game format.

Affected page: https://traceandcache.dev1.giantmade.net/password.html

WCAG reference: WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions — Level A

Target resolution: 30 April 2026

Testing approach for games

The games have been assessed using a combination of automated scanning (axe-core), keyboard navigation testing, screen reader simulation, cognitive accessibility review, and manual expert review. Due to the interactive nature of the games, particular attention has been given to input handling, state changes, and instructional clarity.

Accessing the games — we’re here to help

We understand that interactive games can present unique accessibility challenges that may not be fully captured in an audit. If you or someone you support is having difficulty accessing or using any of the Trace & Cache games in the way you need, we want to hear from you. We are committed to ensuring every user can engage with this content, and we will work with you to resolve any barriers you encounter.

Please contact us using the details in Section 7 of this statement. We will treat all game-related accessibility reports as a priority and work to address them as quickly as possible.

This section was last updated on 31 March 2026.

6. Disproportionate burden

At this time, Women’s Aid Federation of England has not identified any areas of the Trace & Cache website where achieving full WCAG 2.2 AA conformance would impose a disproportionate burden. All identified issues are scheduled for remediation by 30 April 2026.

Should any disproportionate burden be identified in future — for example, relating to legacy content or complex interactive elements within the games — this section will be updated with details of the specific areas affected, the reasons a disproportionate burden applies, and any alternative measures put in place to support affected users.

7. Feedback and contact information

We value your input in our accessibility journey. If you experience any difficulty accessing content on the Trace & Cache website, or have suggestions for improvement, please reach out using one of the following methods:

  • Email: [accessibility contact email address]
  • Phone: [contact number]
  • Feedback form: [link if available]

We aim to acknowledge and respond to all accessibility feedback within 5 business days.

8. Requesting alternative formats

If you require content in an alternative format (such as large print, audio, or accessible PDF), please contact us using the details above. We are committed to providing materials in formats that meet your needs.

9. Our process and future plans

  • Ongoing audits: We perform accessibility audits using a combination of automated tools (axe-core with custom WCAG 2.2 AA checks), simulated assistive technology journeys, and manual expert review. The most recent audit was completed on 31 March 2026.
  • Training and development: Continuous training for our development and content teams ensures accessibility remains a priority throughout the build and maintenance process.
  • Remediation roadmap: All issues identified in the March 2026 audit are documented in this statement with a target resolution date of 30 April 2026. This statement will be updated as issues are resolved.
  • Future standards: We are monitoring the development of WCAG 3.0 and will incorporate these guidelines into our accessibility strategy as they are finalised.

10. Reporting and resolving accessibility issues

To report an accessibility problem, please provide a detailed description of the issue, including the page where it occurred and steps to reproduce it, to:

Email: [accessibility contact email address]

We strive to acknowledge all accessibility-related feedback within 5 business days and work to resolve issues as promptly as possible.

11. Legal disclaimer

While we are committed to making the Trace & Cache website accessible, some content provided by third parties may not fully conform to WCAG 2.2 standards. We are working closely with all providers to improve accessibility. This statement does not apply to content not controlled by Women’s Aid Federation of England.

12. Additional resources

For more information about web accessibility and the standards we follow:

Thank you for visiting Trace & Cache: Digital Detectives. Your experience matters to us, and we appreciate your feedback as we work to continuously improve our digital accessibility.