Accessibility Statement

1. Reading preferences and read-aloud

• The “Accessibility” button opens text enlargement from 100% to 400%, higher contrast, comfortable spacing, underlined links, reduced motion and a reading guide. The guide follows the pointer or keyboard focus without changing the content.
• News articles offer a focused reading view with an exit button. Existing sharing, text-size and print tools remain available; article text size stays in sync with the site setting.
• Read-aloud starts only when requested and can be paused, resumed or stopped. Published Chinese, English, French and Spanish news and site information pages offer the institutional AISLI online voice. Audio is generated in segments for continuous playback, preparing the next segment while the current one plays; busy periods may cause a wait. Arabic and Russian, or unavailable online service, can use an on-device voice when a matching local voice is installed. Narration does not start automatically or accept user-entered text or unpublished drafts. Article narration does not replace a full screen reader.
• Preferences remain in this browser and are not uploaded as account preferences. Reset removes saved preferences while respecting the system’s reduced-motion setting. Browser zoom also enlarges controls. Video, animated images and external players may require their own controls.

2. Keyboard, screen readers and mobile devices

• Use Tab / Shift+Tab to move, Enter to follow links, and Enter or Space to operate buttons. Separate disclosure buttons open navigation submenus; Escape closes them and returns focus to the button. “Skip to main content” bypasses navigation.
• Settings and sharing dialogs contain keyboard focus, close with Escape and return focus to their trigger. The site does not take over global screen-reader shortcuts.
• Page languages, heading levels, landmarks and control names support assistive navigation. System forced-colour and reduced-motion preferences are respected.
• Layouts support mobile touch and text reflow, with generous primary control targets. Wide data tables can scroll within their own region and become keyboard-focusable when overflowing.

3. Approach and scope

Improvements draw on WCAG 2.2, the WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices and GB/T 37668-2019, focusing on semantics, keyboard and focus, readability, contrast and touch operation. Reading controls complement these foundational improvements.

This round checks the six-language homepages, representative news, resource search and information pages, combining structural checks and manual keyboard interaction. It is not an independent assessment of every page, device or assistive technology.

4. Current limitations

Some historical images, scanned documents, text within images, audiovisual materials and external courses may still lack adequate alternatives, captions or accessible formats. Automated checks cannot determine whether every description is accurate; editorial review remains necessary. External sites and resources are managed by their providers.

Improvements are ongoing. This statement does not claim completed whole-site WCAG conformance assessment or accessibility certification. Screen-reader compatibility also requires continued checks with real software, devices and user feedback.

5. Assistance and feedback

If you encounter a barrier or need a text explanation or another feasible format, email unescochair.aied@bnu.edu.cn with the page link, difficulty and, if convenient, your device or assistive technology. No diagnosis or medical evidence is required. The team will review the issue and assist where feasible.