Accessibility Statement

Our commitment to making shariqrefai.com usable by as many people as possible, and how to reach us if something gets in your way.

Effective date: May 25, 2026.

Our Commitment

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA is committed to making shariqrefai.com accessible to people with disabilities. We believe digital accessibility is both a legal and an ethical obligation, and we work to make sure this website can be perceived, operated, understood, and used by as many people as possible, including people who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice-recognition software, switch devices, and keyboard-only navigation.

Conformance Status

shariqrefai.com is designed and developed to conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA. WCAG 2.2 AA is the de facto technical standard used to evaluate accessibility under U.S. Section 508 and to assess compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for places of public accommodation, including websites.

At this time, we self-evaluate the site as substantially conformant with WCAG 2.2 Level AA. "Substantially conformant" means most of the website meets the standard, with known limitations noted below. Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and our goal is full conformance.

What's Been Built In

  • Semantic HTML, with one <h1> per page and a clear heading hierarchy.
  • A "Skip to main content" link as the first focusable element on every page.
  • Keyboard operability for all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms, menus), with no keyboard traps.
  • A highly visible focus indicator for keyboard users on every focusable element (meets WCAG 2.4.11 and 2.4.13).
  • Scroll-padding so that focus moved by skip link, anchor, or programmatic navigation isn't hidden behind the sticky header (WCAG 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured).
  • ARIA landmarks (banner, main, contentinfo) and accessible names where needed.
  • Descriptive link text and aria-current on the active navigation item; state is not communicated by color alone.
  • Form fields with persistent visible labels programmatically associated with inputs, with native browser validation and autocomplete hints for common fields (WCAG 1.3.5).
  • Touch targets sized for comfortable use on mobile (meets WCAG 2.5.8 Target Size minimum).
  • Mobile menu that's keyboard accessible, closes on Esc, returns focus to its trigger, and uses inert on background content while open so focus doesn't leak behind the overlay.
  • Alt text on meaningful images and aria-hidden on purely decorative graphics.
  • Responsive layouts that reflow to a 320px viewport without loss of content or functionality (WCAG 1.4.10 Reflow).
  • Color combinations chosen to meet or exceed WCAG AA contrast ratios for body text (4.5:1) and non-text UI components (3:1).
  • Status messages (such as the contact form confirmation) announced to assistive technology via role="status" with aria-live (WCAG 4.1.3).
  • Honoring the operating-system prefers-reduced-motion setting to minimize non-essential animation and transitions.
  • External links open in a new tab with rel="noopener noreferrer" and an accessible label noting they open in a new tab.

Compatibility Statement

shariqrefai.com is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies and browsers:

  • Recent versions of NVDA and JAWS on Windows.
  • VoiceOver on macOS and iOS.
  • TalkBack on Android.
  • Recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
  • Keyboard-only navigation, switch devices, and voice-control software (Dragon, Voice Control).
  • Browser zoom up to 200% and OS-level text scaling.

The website may not function reliably with browsers more than three major versions out of date.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility on this site relies on the following technologies, which must be supported by your browser and any assistive technology in use:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

Evaluation Method

The accessibility of this website is reviewed through a combination of:

  • Self-evaluation by the development team using WCAG 2.2 Level AA as the working standard.
  • Automated tooling, including browser accessibility audits and Lighthouse checks.
  • Manual keyboard-only testing of primary user flows.
  • Screen reader spot-checks across new pages and templates.
  • Color-contrast verification of body text, interactive controls, and focus indicators.

Reviews are performed during major releases and on a recurring basis as part of editorial maintenance. Where third-party audit results become available, they will be referenced here.

Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, some aspects of the site may not fully meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA at all times. Known limitations include:

  • Embedded third-party content. Media players, external profile widgets, or publisher embeds linked from this site may not fully meet the same standards. Where this is the case, we provide alternative ways to access the same information (such as a direct link or a text summary).
  • Third-party fonts. Typography is loaded from Google Fonts. If Google Fonts is unavailable in your region or blocked, the site falls back to system fonts that may affect line length and visual hierarchy.
  • PDFs and downloadable documents. Older PDFs that may be linked from this site (for example, reference materials) might not be fully tagged for screen readers. We are working to remediate or replace these on request.

If you encounter any other accessibility issue not listed here, please report it so it can be added and prioritized.

Reporting an Accessibility Barrier

If you encounter any part of this site that's difficult or impossible to use with your assistive technology, that fails to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA, or that you'd like improved, please tell us. We treat accessibility reports as a priority.

How to report:

What to include, if you can:

  • The page URL where you encountered the issue.
  • A brief description of the barrier (for example, "the menu won't open with the keyboard," or "the contrast on this button is too low to read").
  • The assistive technology, operating system, and browser you're using.
  • Whether the issue prevented you from completing what you were trying to do.

Our response commitment: We aim to acknowledge accessibility reports within five business days, provide an initial assessment within ten business days, and resolve substantiated WCAG 2.2 Level AA issues as quickly as reasonably possible based on scope and complexity. For urgent barriers that prevent access to essential information, we'll work to provide an alternative means of access while a permanent fix is in progress.

Accessibility Coordinator

Accessibility for shariqrefai.com is coordinated by the editorial and development team for Dr. Refai. The point of contact for all accessibility matters, including formal complaints, is accessibility@shariqrefai.com.

Formal Complaints

If you believe an accessibility barrier on this website has not been adequately addressed after contacting us, you may file a formal complaint with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We would prefer the opportunity to resolve the issue first, and we treat that as our obligation, not as a courtesy.

Alternative Means of Access

If a specific piece of content on this site is inaccessible to you, we'll work with you to provide the same information in an alternative format (for example, a plain-text version of a page, a transcript of audio or video content, or a structured email response to a question). Request alternative access by emailing accessibility@shariqrefai.com.

An Ongoing Effort

Accessibility is an ongoing effort, not a one-time milestone. We work to maintain and improve accessibility over time as standards evolve and as we receive feedback from readers, users of assistive technology, and accessibility audits. This statement is reviewed at least annually and after any significant change to the website.

Crisis Resources

This site is not a substitute for clinical care. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, call or text 988 in the United States, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Outside the United States, contact your local emergency services.