Accessibility

Research Connector Hub aims to provide an accessible, usable experience for public and signed-in users.

Last updated: June 2026

ResearchHub is being developed to support public visitors, researchers, partners, community members, and administrators using a range of devices, browsers, keyboards, screen readers, and assistive technologies.

Accessibility work is part of ongoing product development. As new dashboards, forms, data tables, charts, and AI tools are added, they should be reviewed for usability, keyboard access, readable content, and clear interaction patterns.

Accessibility Goals

ResearchHub targets WCAG 2.2 Level AA for new and updated public, dashboard, workspace, and admin interfaces. The project treats accessibility as an implementation requirement, not only a post-launch review item.

Core patterns should use semantic HTML, responsive layouts, sufficient contrast, keyboard access, visible focus states, clear labels, predictable navigation, and readable error messages.

  • Make core public pages, search, partnership intake, dashboards, profile editing, messaging, and admin review workflows usable without a mouse.
  • Use page headings, landmarks, form labels, button text, and link text that describe the purpose of each control.
  • Avoid layouts that require horizontal scrolling on standard mobile and desktop viewports.
  • Keep charts, icons, images, and status indicators accompanied by text or accessible labels where practical.
  • Include accessibility checks in development and release QA before significant interface changes are accepted.

Current Accessibility Features

The platform includes several accessibility-minded patterns in the current interface.

  • Responsive Bootstrap-based layouts for public pages, dashboards, forms, tables, and cards.
  • Skip links and main-content landmarks across public, admin, researcher, and partner shells.
  • Semantic headings and section structure on most public and admin pages.
  • Labeled form fields, validation messages, and contextual help text on key workflows.
  • Keyboard-friendly links, buttons, dropdowns, and dashboard controls.
  • Tooltips and inline descriptions for specialized admin tools where additional explanation is needed.
  • Alternative text for core public imagery and partner logos where available.

Known Improvement Areas

Some pilot features are still being refined. ResearchHub will continue improving accessibility as workflows stabilize and user feedback is received.

  • Continue reviewing complex data tables, graphs, maps, and network visualizations for screen-reader summaries and keyboard operation.
  • Improve accessible descriptions for AI research-engine outputs, matching explanations, and quality-review indicators.
  • Review file upload, profile photo editing, modal dialogs, and large admin workflows for focus management and error recovery.
  • Expand plain-language help articles for researchers, partners, community users, and administrators.
  • Test pages across desktop, tablet, mobile, high zoom, keyboard-only navigation, and common assistive technologies.
  • Add browser-level accessibility automation such as axe or pa11y once end-to-end browser testing is introduced.

Feedback And Support

If you encounter an accessibility barrier, contact ResearchHub support so the issue can be reviewed and prioritized.

Please include the page URL, what you were trying to do, the device and browser you used, any assistive technology involved, and a short description or screenshot of the problem if available.

  • Examples of useful reports include missing labels, confusing focus order, unreadable contrast, keyboard traps, text overlap, inaccessible charts, form errors that are hard to understand, or content that requires horizontal scrolling.
  • ResearchHub will review accessibility feedback alongside security, privacy, and operational priorities.