Accessibility (ADA) Policy

The Iron Patina is committed to equal access for all visitors. Our website provides information and services related to cast iron cookware, seasoning, and long-term maintenance, and we work to ensure that everyone can navigate, understand, and use our content.

Our Commitment

We aim to make our digital experience usable by the widest range of people, regardless of ability or technology. Accessibility considerations are integrated into our content design, product information, care guides, and site upkeep so that key tasks—such as reading tutorials, reviewing product specifications, or contacting support—can be completed without barriers.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide standards for improving web accessibility at three levels: A, AA, and AAA.

The Iron Patina is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. “Partially conformant” means that some parts of the site may not fully meet the standard. We continuously review and enhance our site to improve conformance and resolve identified issues.

Measures to Support Accessibility

The Iron Patina supports accessibility through the following measures:

  • Accessible-by-design process: Accessibility is considered during planning, design, development, publishing, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Quality assurance and testing: We use automated tools and manual reviews (including keyboard-only navigation checks and screen reader spot checks) to identify and remediate barriers.
  • Team training: Content creators and developers receive guidance on accessible writing, media, and interface patterns.
  • Clear ownership: Designated team members oversee accessibility improvements and track remediation efforts.
  • Content practices for our niche: Product and care imagery is accompanied by meaningful alternative text; tables, charts, and icons used in maintenance guides include appropriate descriptions; videos and diagrams strive to include accessible alternatives where feasible.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of The Iron Patina website depends on the following technologies working with your browser and any assistive tools or plugins:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for compatibility with accessibility standards and assistive technologies.

Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technology

The Iron Patina is designed to work with commonly used assistive technologies and current versions of major browsers.

  • Screen readers (such as JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver)
  • Screen magnification software
  • Voice recognition software
  • Keyboard-only navigation

Our site is intended to function with current and recent releases of modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Limitations and Alternatives

While we strive for full accessibility, some limitations may occur. If you encounter an issue, please contact us. Known areas that may present challenges include:

  • Third-party content and services: Embedded media, social feeds, analytics, payment or shipping tools, or other external components may not fully meet our accessibility standards. We work with providers to encourage accessible implementations and seek alternatives when available.
  • Legacy or archived materials: Older documents (such as PDFs or scanned files) may lack full text alternatives. We are remediating these assets over time and can provide reasonable alternatives upon request via our contact page.
  • Ongoing enhancements: As we update our care guides, product pages, and educational materials, we continuously refine color contrast, heading structure, link purpose, and media alternatives. If you experience any difficulty, please contact us.

Feedback

Your input helps us improve. If you face an accessibility barrier on The Iron Patina website, please let us know through our contact us page. We review and address issues as promptly as possible.

  • Include the page URL and a brief description of the problem.
  • Tell us the browser, device, and any assistive technology you used.
  • Share steps to reproduce the issue, if known.

When contacting us, as much detail as possible helps us locate and resolve the issue efficiently.

Formal Complaints

We take accessibility concerns seriously and will work with you to find a fair and practical resolution. If you believe your concern has not been adequately addressed, you may pursue available remedies under the Americans with Disabilities Act or other applicable laws. We are committed to cooperating in good faith to resolve any issues that arise.

Assessment Approach

The Iron Patina evaluates accessibility through ongoing self-assessments, including automated testing and manual reviews of templates, navigation, images, forms, and interactive elements. We periodically reassess as new content and features are introduced and may engage external specialists when appropriate.