Digital accessibility Theaterfestival Boulevard
Accessibility has been a key focus for Theaterfestival Boulevard for years. The organization takes various measures to improve the digital accessibility of the festival. In 2022, we made a significant step by improving functionalities on the website. In 2023, there was a desire to go even further. The website was further improved based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Setting up a website fully according to the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines is a complex task. It affects the organization's working methods, the setup of content, but also the design and appearance of the website. Within the possibilities, we made inprovements in optimizing and further developing the structure of the code. Such optimization makes the website better suited to visitors with disabilities who use their own hardware and software to navigate through our website. This helps external tools not only to navigate the website better but also understand the content better. Research showed that we could make significant progress in this area. As technology improved and standards evolved, we wanted to lay a solid foundation for the future with this adjustment.
A large part of these optimizations is in the structure of the HTML (website code). The foundation of this code has been revised (think of the order and structure of the code). The setup and order of titles, subtitles, images, and text, as well as what is not shown to such tools. Alt texts (descriptions of images) that are not automatically set for images are now labeled decorative.
In the program overview, the layout has been adjusted to make it clear which information belongs to which event. In other words: information is better bundled for external tools. This helps users to better understand information such as articles, events, and other clickable options.
Buttons got a label. The HTML code describes what is on a button and where it refers to. Navigation for hidden content has also been improved, so this content can easily be made visible. Such content is found, for example, in frequently asked questions. It is important that this content is accessible with external tools.
Furthermore, there are visitors who use a single button for navigating on the website. For them, it is important to work with so-called quick links. Now it is visibly shown where you are in the navigation or on a page.
Additionally, an extension has been made to the existing functionalities of high contrast and enlarged text. We have added low stimulus. This functionality stops all hover states (animations), colors, and moving images, making the website calm and low stimulus.
What we are still working on
The website is continuously evolving, and each year we review what steps we can take. For example, we continue to work on subtitling videos. We are also exploring the possibility of adding audio descriptions to videos. Additionally, we are working on the structure and content of the pages to better align them with WCAG.
Pages on accessibility
In the menu, we have a special page on accessibility that can be read all year round. When our ticket sales start our website will be extended with more information. The following extra pages on accessibility will be added at that moment:
- Information for people with a visual impairment - English
- Low stimulus visit - English
- Relaxed Performances - English
- Noteworthy - English
- Accessibility and Mobility - English
- Facilities - English
- Informatie voor dove en slechthorende bezoekers - Nederlands
- Informatie voor blinde en slechtziende bezoekers - Nederlands
- Prikkelvriendelijk bezoek - Nederlands
- Relaxed Performances - Nederlands
- Bijzonderheden bij voorstellingen - Nederlands
- Bereikbaarheid en mobiliteit - Nederlands
- Faciliteiten - Nederlands
Other accessibility measures on our website
- We make videos featuring sign language interpreters who provide information about performances where a sign language interpreter is present.
- General videos from Theaterfestival Boulevard have Dutch subtitles and a transcript in an unformatted Word file, so blind and visually impaired people can also access the information from the video.
- Texts on the website are written as much as possible at B1 language level.
- We communicate when a performance is not accessible for wheelchairs.
- On the programme page, you can filter various accessibility topics such as suitable for blind and visually impaired, suitable for deaf and hard-of-hearing, not wheelchair accessible, and free admission.
- There is an accessibility panel with experts that advises on the website.
If you need help with for example finding the route, or if you don't have a companion or supporter, we have several volunteers ready to assist! We do our utmost to make your visit as pleasant as possible, but due to busyness or the nature of the request, we cannot do everything. Please contact our accessibility team in advance to submit your request by sending an email to toegankelijkheid@festivalboulevard.nl.
