At Achill Isle Walks, we are dedicated to ensuring that our digital platforms are accessible to everyone. Our commitment is rooted in providing an inclusive experience through a comprehensive approach that integrates manual accessibility evaluations, user testing, automated scans, and staff training.

Our Commitment

Achill Isle Walks strives to ensure that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have full and equal access to our information, products, and services. Our objective is to create a digital environment that is barrier-free for all users.

Measures to Support Accessibility

To facilitate meaningful access and effective communication, Achill Isle Walks has implemented the following measures:

  • Feedback Solicitation: We welcome and encourage feedback on the accessibility of our website. Please contact us with any suggestions or concerns:
  • Alternative Formats: We provide alternative formats and communication support upon request. We consult with individuals making the request to determine the most suitable accessible format or support.
  • Standards Compliance: Our website aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA, as set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
  • Compatibility: Achill Isle Walks is designed to be compatible with assistive technologies and the latest versions of major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Note that it may not display optimally in Internet Explorer or older browsers.

 

Policies and Plans

  • Accessibility Policies: We develop, implement, and maintain policies to achieve accessibility and meet relevant requirements. Our policies are reviewed annually.
  • Multi-Year Accessibility Plan: We have established, implemented, and maintained a multi-year accessibility plan to continually improve our digital accessibility.

 

Expertise and Testing

  • Expert Consultation: We utilise both in-house accessibility experts and independent third-party consultants to evaluate and test our digital assets for WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance. A written report is prepared to identify any barriers and provide recommendations for enhancement.
  • Continuous Testing: We engage in automated/ manual testing and user testing with individuals with disabilities to continually assess and improve the accessibility of our website and other digital assets.

 

Training and Compliance

  • Training Programs: We conduct regular training on accessibility and related subjects for all employees, including web content personnel. Training is delivered by internal experts and external subject matter experts.
  • Compliance: Our proactive efforts and genuine commitment to accessibility ensure that we meet and exceed digital accessibility requirements set forth by laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

 

Technical Specifications

The accessibility of Achill Isle Walks relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

Limitations and Alternatives

Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility, there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations and potential solutions:

  • User-Generated Content: Comments and other content generated by users may not be fully accessible. We monitor user-generated content and strive to address any accessibility issues promptly. If you encounter any issues with user-generated content, please contact us, and we will make every effort to provide the information in an accessible format.
  • Third-Party Content: Our website may include third-party content, such as embedded videos, social media feeds, advertisements, pop-ups, widgets etc. which we do not control. We encourage third-party providers to offer accessible content and provide alternatives where possible. If you experience difficulty accessing third-party content, please let us know, and we will assist in finding an alternative solution.
  • Complex Images and Infographics: Some complex images and infographics may not have full text descriptions. We are working to improve the accessibility of visual content. If you need assistance with any visual content, please reach out.

We appreciate your understanding and welcome your feedback as we continue to improve the accessibility of our website. 

Assessment Approach

Achill Isle Walks assessed the accessibility of web portal by the following approaches:

  • Self-evaluation
  • External evaluation by an accessibility consultancy

Resources

For more information on accessibility, you can refer to the following resources:

  • [NVDA Screen Reader](https://www.nvaccess.org/)
  • [W3C Web Accessibility Initiative](https://www.w3.org/WAI/)
  • [The Americans with Disabilities Act](https://www.ada.gov/)
  • [Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a11)

Contact Us

We are committed to making our digital assets accessible and welcome your feedback. Please contact us with any questions or suggestions:

Client Reviews

What Visitors Say About Us

rating 5 star

We climbed Craughan with Gerard and will definitely return to do Slievemore another time. Highly recommend. Gerard set a good pace, made sure we followed a safe path and saw all the best viewing points and told us all about the history of Achill and other islands.

rating 5 star

The most beautiful views. Nowhere like Ireland anywhere in the world. This is a recently opened walk over Sli Grainne Mhaol. Bit of a climb but easy enough for a family walk. Abandoned houses, old paths, bog add to the interest but the real attraction are the stunning views. Well marked. Wear sturdy boots and warm gear. And enjoy a well deserved pint in Pattens pub where you park your car. Great craic and local knowledge.

rating 5 star

I climbed Croaghaun and Slievemore with Gerard. I couldn't recommend him highly enough. An absolute pleasure to hike with, a gentleman. His relaxed manner, steady and relaxed pace and huge knowledge of the environment made these hikes most enjoyable. These mountains can be very difficult to navigate when the fog descends (and it did!), but Gerard seemed to know every rock along our trail! A most competent and confident hike leader. I'll definitely be back for more hikes around Achill soon!

rating 5 star

My wife and l thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the Deserted Village. We had our 1 year with us in a buggy. Gerrard was a fountain of knowledge and brought to the life the long and rich history of the Village and Achill Island, with reference to wider historical events providing context for the history of the island. Gerrard had a lovely relaxed and welcoming demeanour. Would highly recommend!

Achill isle walks trip advisor rating 5 star
4.7-star rating with blue stars for business or location reviews
4.9-star rating with gold stars for customer reviews