HIBISCUS

Accessibility statement

Last updated:

The HIBISCUS project consortium is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 and Italian Law no. 4 of 9 January 2004.

This statement applies to the HIBISCUS project website, in both its English and Italian versions.

Compliance status

This website is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, level AA, which correspond to the requirements of the European standard EN 301 549 that apply to websites.

  • 50 success criteria evaluated
  • 31 passed
  • 0 failed
  • 19 not applicable

Non-accessible content

No non-accessible content has been found.

Preparation of this statement

This statement was prepared on 16 October 2026, based on a self-assessment by the development team covering every page of the site (home page, accessibility statement and error page, in both languages).

Method:

  • Automated testing with axe-core 4.10.2 (WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 A/AA rules plus best practices): no violations.
  • HTML and CSS validation with the W3C Nu Html Checker: no errors.
  • Manual checks of all 50 level A and AA success criteria, including:
    • full keyboard navigation and focus visibility;
    • contrast ratios calculated for every colour combination;
    • reflow at 320 px width and text zoomed to 200%;
    • increased text spacing as defined in criterion 1.4.12;
    • heading structure, landmarks, accessible names and language of parts.

Tests were carried out with Google Chrome on macOS.

Issues found and fixed during the evaluation

  • 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum): at intermediate screen widths a decorative shape lowered the contrast of the white text in the opening banner to 3.65:1. The shape’s colour has been darkened (contrast now ≥ 4.58:1).
  • 1.4.12 Text Spacing: on 320 px screens with increased spacing, the name “HIBISCUS” in the opening banner was clipped. It now wraps.
  • 2.5.3 Label in Name: the accessible names of the language links (“English”, “Italiano”) did not contain their visible labels (“EN”, “IT”). They are now “EN – English” and “IT – Italiano”.
  • 3.1.2 Language of Parts: the project’s full English name and partner names in other languages have been marked up with the lang attribute.

Limitations of the evaluation

The site has not yet been tested by people with disabilities or with every combination of browser and assistive technology. These tests are planned, and this statement will be updated whenever the site changes substantially.

Evaluation report

Outcome for each WCAG 2.1 success criterion, levels A and AA
Success criterion Level Outcome Notes
1.1.1 Non-text Content A Passed Decorative SVG graphics are hidden from assistive technologies; the EU emblem has a text alternative.
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) A Not applicable No audio or video content.
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) A Not applicable No video content.
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) A Not applicable No video content.
1.2.4 Captions (Live) AA Not applicable No live media.
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) AA Not applicable No video content.
1.3.1 Info and Relationships A Passed Semantic landmarks, hierarchical headings, lists, tables with header cells, address element.
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence A Passed Source order matches the visual reading order.
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics A Passed No instructions rely on shape, size, position or sound.
1.3.4 Orientation AA Passed Content works in both portrait and landscape.
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose AA Not applicable No input fields.
1.4.1 Use of Color A Passed Links in text are underlined; the coordinator is identified by a text label, not only by the border colour.
1.4.2 Audio Control A Not applicable No audio.
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) AA Passed All text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.58:1 (lowest value: white text on the coral banner).
1.4.4 Resize Text AA Passed Text can be zoomed to 200% without loss of content; sizes use relative units.
1.4.5 Images of Text AA Passed No images of text are used.
1.4.10 Reflow AA Passed No horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS px; on narrow screens table rows are shown as cards.
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast AA Passed Focus indicators have a contrast of at least 4.5:1 against adjacent colours.
1.4.12 Text Spacing AA Passed No loss of content with increased line, paragraph, letter and word spacing.
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus AA Not applicable No content appears on hover or focus.
2.1.1 Keyboard A Passed All functionality uses native links, operable by keyboard.
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap A Passed No component traps keyboard focus.
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts A Not applicable No keyboard shortcuts.
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable A Not applicable No time limits.
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide A Not applicable No moving, blinking or auto-updating content.
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold A Passed No flashing content.
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks A Passed "Skip to main content" link and ARIA landmarks.
2.4.2 Page Titled A Passed Every page has a descriptive title.
2.4.3 Focus Order A Passed Focus order follows the logical order of the content.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) A Passed Link texts are descriptive; "Read the full article" includes the news title for screen readers.
2.4.5 Multiple Ways AA Passed Every page links to all the others through the header, the language switcher and the footer.
2.4.6 Headings and Labels AA Passed Headings and navigation labels describe their content.
2.4.7 Focus Visible AA Passed A 3 px outline is shown on every focusable element.
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures A Not applicable No multipoint or path-based gestures.
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation A Passed Native links activate on the up-event.
2.5.3 Label in Name A Passed Accessible names contain the visible label (e.g. "EN – English").
2.5.4 Motion Actuation A Not applicable No motion-activated functionality.
3.1.1 Language of Page A Passed The lang attribute is set on every page (en / it).
3.1.2 Language of Parts AA Passed Passages and names in a different language carry a lang attribute.
3.2.1 On Focus A Passed Receiving focus never changes the context.
3.2.2 On Input A Not applicable No form controls.
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation AA Passed Header and footer are identical on every page.
3.2.4 Consistent Identification AA Passed Components with the same function have the same labels.
3.3.1 Error Identification A Not applicable No forms.
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions A Not applicable No forms.
3.3.3 Error Suggestion AA Not applicable No forms.
3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) AA Not applicable No transactions or data submission.
4.1.1 Parsing A Passed HTML validated with the W3C Nu Html Checker.
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value A Passed Native HTML elements; the current language is exposed with aria-current.
4.1.3 Status Messages AA Not applicable No status messages.

Outcome for each WCAG 2.1 success criterion, levels A and AA

  • 1.1.1 Non-text Content

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Decorative SVG graphics are hidden from assistive technologies; the EU emblem has a text alternative.

  • 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No audio or video content.

  • 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No video content.

  • 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No video content.

  • 1.2.4 Captions (Live)

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No live media.

  • 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No video content.

  • 1.3.1 Info and Relationships

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Semantic landmarks, hierarchical headings, lists, tables with header cells, address element.

  • 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Source order matches the visual reading order.

  • 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    No instructions rely on shape, size, position or sound.

  • 1.3.4 Orientation

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Content works in both portrait and landscape.

  • 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No input fields.

  • 1.4.1 Use of Color

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Links in text are underlined; the coordinator is identified by a text label, not only by the border colour.

  • 1.4.2 Audio Control

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No audio.

  • 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    All text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.58:1 (lowest value: white text on the coral banner).

  • 1.4.4 Resize Text

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Text can be zoomed to 200% without loss of content; sizes use relative units.

  • 1.4.5 Images of Text

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    No images of text are used.

  • 1.4.10 Reflow

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    No horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS px; on narrow screens table rows are shown as cards.

  • 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Focus indicators have a contrast of at least 4.5:1 against adjacent colours.

  • 1.4.12 Text Spacing

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    No loss of content with increased line, paragraph, letter and word spacing.

  • 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No content appears on hover or focus.

  • 2.1.1 Keyboard

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    All functionality uses native links, operable by keyboard.

  • 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    No component traps keyboard focus.

  • 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No keyboard shortcuts.

  • 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No time limits.

  • 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No moving, blinking or auto-updating content.

  • 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    No flashing content.

  • 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    "Skip to main content" link and ARIA landmarks.

  • 2.4.2 Page Titled

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Every page has a descriptive title.

  • 2.4.3 Focus Order

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Focus order follows the logical order of the content.

  • 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Link texts are descriptive; "Read the full article" includes the news title for screen readers.

  • 2.4.5 Multiple Ways

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Every page links to all the others through the header, the language switcher and the footer.

  • 2.4.6 Headings and Labels

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Headings and navigation labels describe their content.

  • 2.4.7 Focus Visible

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    A 3 px outline is shown on every focusable element.

  • 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No multipoint or path-based gestures.

  • 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Native links activate on the up-event.

  • 2.5.3 Label in Name

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Accessible names contain the visible label (e.g. "EN – English").

  • 2.5.4 Motion Actuation

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No motion-activated functionality.

  • 3.1.1 Language of Page

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    The lang attribute is set on every page (en / it).

  • 3.1.2 Language of Parts

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Passages and names in a different language carry a lang attribute.

  • 3.2.1 On Focus

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Receiving focus never changes the context.

  • 3.2.2 On Input

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No form controls.

  • 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Header and footer are identical on every page.

  • 3.2.4 Consistent Identification

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Passed
    Components with the same function have the same labels.

  • 3.3.1 Error Identification

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No forms.

  • 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No forms.

  • 3.3.3 Error Suggestion

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No forms.

  • 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No transactions or data submission.

  • 4.1.1 Parsing

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    HTML validated with the W3C Nu Html Checker.

  • 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

    Level
    A
    Outcome
    Passed
    Native HTML elements; the current language is exposed with aria-current.

  • 4.1.3 Status Messages

    Level
    AA
    Outcome
    Not applicable
    No status messages.

Feedback and contact information

If you have difficulty accessing any content on this site, or want to report an accessibility problem, please contact the project coordination team:

  • Coordinating institution: CNR – Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Via de Marini, 16 – 16149 Genova, Italy
  • Phone: +39 010 647 5303

We aim to reply within 30 days.

Enforcement procedure

If you are not satisfied with the reply, or receive none within 30 days, you can submit a report to the Digital Ombudsman (Difensore civico per il digitale) at the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID).