Quick answer
Virtual Sleep Care is working to make its website, information and digital services usable by people with disabilities. We use WCAG 2.2 Level AA as our current design and testing target, welcome reports of accessibility barriers and will work with people who need information in another usable format.
Our accessibility commitment
Virtual Sleep Care wants people with different vision, hearing, mobility, speech, cognitive and neurological access needs to be able to find, understand and use our information and services. Accessibility is considered when we plan content, choose technology, design components, publish documents and support visitors.
Meeting a technical checklist does not address every person’s needs. We aim to combine recognized standards with plain language, practical testing and feedback from people who encounter barriers.
Our current accessibility target
We use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA as our current target for web content and user-interface components. WCAG is an international technical standard covering principles such as perceivable information, operable controls, understandable interactions and compatibility with assistive technologies.
This is a target, not a blanket conformance claim. Accessibility can vary by page, device, browser, assistive technology, document and third-party service. Applicable legal requirements may also differ by jurisdiction and by the nature of a service.
What accessible use should include
Our accessibility work includes:
- a logical heading structure and meaningful page landmarks;
- keyboard access, visible keyboard focus and controls that do not require precise pointer movement;
- readable text, sufficient colour contrast, zoom and responsive reflow;
- descriptive links and meaningful text alternatives for informative images;
- labels, instructions and understandable error messages for forms;
- captions, transcripts or another suitable alternative for relevant media;
- accessible tables, accordions and downloadable documents;
- support for reduced-motion preferences where animation is used; and
- clear language and more than one way to understand an important process where feasible.
Accessing Virtual Sleep Care with assistive technology
The website is designed to work with current browsers and common assistive technologies, including keyboard navigation, screen readers, browser zoom and operating-system accessibility settings. Experiences may differ across combinations of technology.
When reporting a problem, it helps to identify the page, the task you were trying to complete, the browser or device and—if you are comfortable sharing it—the assistive technology involved. You do not need to disclose a diagnosis or explain why you use an accessibility feature.
Known limitations and third-party content
Some product manuals, older documents, embedded services or third-party tools may not provide the same level of accessibility as content controlled directly by Virtual Sleep Care. A third party’s limitations do not remove our responsibility to provide a practical route for help where reasonably possible.
If a document, tool or process is not usable for you, contact us and identify what you need to access or accomplish. We will review the barrier and look for an accessible alternative. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, contact accessibility@virtualsleepcare.ca so we can help and investigate.
Request an alternate format or communication method
You may request information in an alternate format or ask about another communication method by emailing accessibility@virtualsleepcare.ca. Tell us which page or document you need and the format or communication method that would be useful.
Please do not send unnecessary personal health information through ordinary email. If your request concerns a sleep-care service, we can help identify the appropriate secure or service-specific channel.
Report an accessibility barrier
Email accessibility@virtualsleepcare.ca with “Accessibility barrier” in the subject line. If possible, include:
- the page address or name of the document;
- what you were trying to do;
- what happened and any error message;
- the device and browser involved; and
- the assistive technology involved, if you wish to share it.
We will acknowledge requests and barrier reports through the contact information provided, review their impact and prioritize issues that prevent access to essential information or services. If email itself is a barrier, use the options on our Contact page and identify the request as accessibility-related. The federal government’s guidance on accessibility feedback processes informs this approach; this reference does not by itself mean that every federal requirement applies to Virtual Sleep Care.
How we test and improve accessibility
Accessibility work may include automated checks, keyboard-only review, screen-reader review, zoom and reflow testing, contrast testing, document checks and manual review of forms and interactive controls. Automated tools can identify some defects but cannot determine whether an entire experience is accessible.
We review higher-impact barriers first, including anything that prevents a visitor from reading important health information, understanding a safety message, navigating a service or completing an essential task. Material corrections may also be recorded through our Transparency and Corrections Policy.
Accessibility and health information
Accessible information supports informed decisions, but website content does not replace individualized assessment, diagnosis or treatment. Accessibility requests should not be used for emergencies or urgent clinical messages. Call emergency services for an emergency. If sleepiness makes driving or another safety-sensitive activity unsafe, stop the activity and seek prompt professional advice.
About this statement
This statement describes Virtual Sleep Care’s current accessibility approach and is reviewed as the website, standards, services and known barriers change. It should be updated when a material accessibility issue is confirmed, a major service or platform changes, or the contact process changes.