Accessibility Statement

Melan LLC (dba The Melan Group) is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all people, regardless of ability. This policy establishes the standards, roles, and procedures by which we design, develop, and maintain accessible digital experiences in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Statement of Commitment

Melan LLC believes that equitable access to digital information is a fundamental requirement, not an enhancement. We are committed to providing inclusive digital experiences that respect the dignity and independence of every user. This commitment extends to all visitors, customers, employees, and community members who interact with our digital platforms. We actively work to identify, reduce, and eliminate barriers to access through continuous improvement in design, development, content creation, and procurement practices. This policy reflects our organization-wide dedication to digital inclusion as a core operating principle.

Scope

This policy applies to all digital assets owned, operated, or controlled by Melan LLC, including:

The primary public website and all subdomains
Mobile applications and native app experiences
Internal intranets, employee portals, and HR systems
Client-facing portals and self-service platforms
PDF documents, forms, spreadsheets, and presentation files published for public or internal use
Multimedia content including video, audio, and interactive media
Third-party platforms and software procured and deployed on behalf of the organization

All new digital assets developed or procured after the effective date of this policy must conform to the standards defined herein. Existing assets will be brought into conformance on a prioritized schedule based on user impact and regulatory risk.

Compliance Standards

Melan LLC adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as its minimum technical standard for all digital assets. WCAG 2.1 AA is the internationally recognized benchmark for digital accessibility and is referenced by the ADA, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act.

Where feasible, we aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AAA success criteria, particularly for core user journeys and high-traffic pages. We monitor the evolving WCAG 2.2 and WCAG 3.0 standards and will update this policy to adopt them within 12 months of their formal publication as W3C Recommendations.

In addition to WCAG criteria, we follow platform-specific accessibility guidelines including Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines — Accessibility, Android Accessibility Guidelines, and the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide for web applications.

Roles and Responsibilities

Accessibility is a shared organizational responsibility. Clear ownership ensures accountability at every stage of the digital lifecycle.

Executive Sponsor (CEO or Designee): Provides organizational authority and resources for accessibility initiatives. Reviews policy compliance quarterly.
Accessibility Program Manager: Owns the accessibility roadmap, coordinates audits, manages remediation, and serves as the primary point of contact for accessibility issues.
Information Technology (IT): Ensures that all software, platforms, and digital tools meet accessibility standards before deployment. Manages automated testing tools and remediation of technical barriers.
Design and User Experience (UX): Incorporates accessibility requirements into design systems, wireframes, and prototypes. Conducts usability testing with people with disabilities.
Content and Communications: Ensures all published content — including documents, images, video, and social media — conforms to accessibility standards. Maintains alt text, captions, transcripts, and accessible document templates.
Procurement: Enforces accessibility requirements in vendor contracts and Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements. Maintains a list of approved accessible vendors.
Human Resources: Ensures internal systems, training materials, and workplace communications are accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities.
Legal and Compliance: Reviews accessibility-related legal developments, advises on regulatory risk, and approves exception requests.

Procurement

Melan LLC will not procure digital products, software platforms, or third-party services that fail to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards unless an approved exception has been granted. All vendor contracts must include:

A contractual requirement that the vendor’s product or service conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA
A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent documentation, completed within the past 12 months
A timeline for remediation of any identified accessibility issues, not to exceed 90 days from discovery
Indemnification language holding the vendor liable for accessibility-related legal claims arising from their product

Procurement teams must complete accessibility awareness training and consult with the Accessibility Program Manager before issuing requests for proposal or signing contracts for digital products and services.

Training and Maintenance

Melan LLC maintains digital accessibility through ongoing training and regular audit cycles.

Training: All staff involved in digital content creation, design, development, or procurement must complete role-appropriate accessibility training within 30 days of hire and annually thereafter. Training topics include assistive technology fundamentals, WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, accessible content authoring, and inclusive design practices. Advanced training is provided for developers, designers, and quality assurance staff.

Audit schedule: Automated accessibility scans are run against all digital assets on a weekly basis. Manual expert audits are conducted quarterly on a representative sample of pages and user flows. Full conformance audits are conducted annually or whenever a significant platform redesign occurs. All audit results are documented in a centralized accessibility dashboard and reviewed by the Accessibility Program Manager.

Remediation: Critical accessibility issues (Level A failures that block core functionality) are remediated within 5 business days. Level AA issues are remediated within 30 business days. Remediation progress is tracked and reported to the executive sponsor monthly.

Exceptions Policy

Exceptions to this policy are granted only in rare circumstances where conforming to accessibility standards would result in an undue burden — defined as significant difficulty or expense given the organization’s resources — or where compliance is not technically possible with current technology.

All exception requests must be submitted in writing to the Accessibility Program Manager and include: the specific digital asset or component affected, the WCAG success criteria that cannot be met, the specific technical or financial basis for the undue burden claim, and the planned alternative means of providing equitable access to the affected functionality. Exceptions are reviewed by the Accessibility Program Manager, Legal, and the executive sponsor. Approved exceptions expire after 12 months and must be reassessed. No exception is permanent.

When an exception is granted, the affected asset must include a clear explanation of the limitation and alternative access options in the organization’s public Accessibility Statement.