Accessibility & Inclusion Policy

CTDC Accessibility & Inclusion Policy

Effective Date: 15 December 2025

1. Purpose and Commitment

CTDC is committed to ensuring that all its services, platforms, spaces, content, and communications are accessible, inclusive, and equitable. This includes all CTDC companies, services, and operational areas—research, consultancy, facilitation, education (including CTDC Academy), internal systems, events, and public communications.

Accessibility and inclusion are not treated as technical or compliance-based add-ons, but as core ethical, political, and institutional commitments. They reflect CTDC’s feminist, justice-centred values, and its responsibility to design systems that do not reproduce exclusion, hierarchy, or structural barriers.

This policy affirms CTDC’s commitment to:

• Equal and meaningful access to all CTDC services, activities, and spaces;
• Inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally responsive design;
• Reasonable adjustments for disabled and neurodivergent people;
• Linguistic, cultural, and educational accessibility;
• Ongoing accountability and continuous improvement.

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2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All CTDC digital and physical spaces, including websites, platforms, systems, documents, meetings, and events;
• All services: CTDC Academy, research, consultancy, facilitation, innovation, and external collaborations;
• All staff, consultants, facilitators, researchers, learners, clients, and partners;
• All third-party systems, tools, and contractors engaged by CTDC.

The policy applies across all countries in which CTDC operates and establishes a minimum global standard, regardless of local norms or regulatory thresholds.

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3. Legal and Standards Framework

CTDC’s accessibility and inclusion commitments are grounded in:

• The UK Equality Act 2010, including duties to make reasonable adjustments;
• Relevant UK and international non-discrimination, disability, and human rights frameworks;
• The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 – Level AA, as the minimum digital benchmark;
• Inclusive, universal, and learner/client-centred design good practice.

Where local legal frameworks impose higher standards, CTDC will meet or exceed those requirements.

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4. Digital and Platform Accessibility

CTDC commits to ensuring all digital platforms, systems, and content are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, including those using assistive technologies.

Key areas include:

• Compatibility with screen readers, keyboards, and assistive tech;
• Logical structure, consistent navigation, and accessible design;
• Captioning, transcripts, clear language, and alt text;
• Avoidance of sensory overload and unjustified complexity.

5. Reasonable Adjustments and Access Support

CTDC recognises its legal and ethical obligation to provide reasonable adjustments and access support across all functions—not limited to education.

Requests may relate to:

• Format, communication style, or delivery method;
• Participation, documentation, or process expectations;
• Deadlines, pace, or scheduling;
• Use of assistive or supportive technologies.

All requests are handled confidentially, respectfully, and without requiring unnecessary disclosure.

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6. Inclusion Across Identities and Contexts

Accessibility is inseparable from broader justice-based inclusion. CTDC is committed to resisting exclusion across all social, political, cultural, and structural lines.

6.1 Cultural and Political Awareness

• Design and delivery across CTDC reflect diverse geographies, lived realities, and local knowledge.
• We reject universalist assumptions and extractive approaches.

6.2 Gender-Inclusive and Non-Essentialist Practice

• We use gender-inclusive and non-binary language where appropriate.
• We avoid reductive or stereotypical representation.

6.3 Linguistic and Educational Accessibility

• CTDC communicates in accessible, plain English by default.
• Where applicable, content is offered in multiple languages, including Arabic.
• We avoid jargon, explain specialist terms, and respect diverse educational backgrounds.

6.4 Neurodiversity-Affirming Design

• Systems, materials, and workflows are designed to accommodate different cognitive styles, sensory sensitivities, and engagement preferences.
• We aim for structure, predictability, and reduced cognitive load where possible.

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7. AI, Automation, and Access

Where CTDC uses AI tools to support accessibility (e.g. captions, translation, summaries), these are governed by the CTDC Responsible AI Use Policy and Data Protection Policy.

Principles include:

• Transparency about AI use;
• Optional/opt-in participation;
• Human review and contextualisation;
• Protection of user autonomy, dignity, and consent.

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8. Modern Slavery and Structural Exclusion

CTDC recognises that accessibility includes freedom from structural, institutional, or labour-based coercion. As such:

• We do not tolerate any form of modern slavery, forced labour, or trafficking;
• We extend inclusion to the right to fair, safe, and dignified work;
• This applies across staff, contractors, collaborators, and supply chains.

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9. Accessibility Support and Contact

Any person engaging with CTDC who faces accessibility or inclusion barriers may contact:

📧 [email protected]

We commit to responding promptly, respectfully, and constructively.

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10. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

CTDC will:

• Periodically review digital systems against WCAG and inclusion metrics;
• Integrate accessibility into procurement and partnerships;
• Use feedback to improve structures, systems, and culture;
• Treat accessibility as core to safeguarding and learning integrity.

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11. Alignment with CTDC Policies

This policy is aligned with and reinforced by:

• CTDC Code of Conduct;
• Data Protection and Privacy Policies;
• Responsible AI Use Policy;
• Anti-Corruption and Modern Slavery Commitments;
• EDI and Safeguarding Policies.

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12. Review

This policy will be reviewed every two years or sooner if required due to legal, technical, or organisational developments.