Website Accessibility Statement

1. Our Accessibility Standard

VHCS strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, including:

• Visual disabilities: blindness, low vision, color blindness
• Auditory disabilities: deafness and hearing loss
• Mobility and motor disabilities: limited fine motor control, inability to use a mouse
• Cognitive and neurological disabilities: attention disorders, learning disabilities, seizure disorders

Meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA also helps VHCS comply with applicable legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Maryland’s accessibility standards.

2. Accessibility Features of This Website

Our website has been designed and developed with the following accessibility features:

Semantic HTML Structure	Proper heading hierarchy (H1–H4), landmark regions, and semantic HTML elements to support screen reader navigation.
Alternative Text for Images	All meaningful images include descriptive alt text. Decorative images use empty alt attributes.
Keyboard Navigation	All interactive elements (navigation, forms, buttons, links) are fully operable using a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse.
Visible Focus Indicators	Keyboard focus is clearly visible on all interactive elements for users who navigate by keyboard.
Sufficient Color Contrast	Text and UI elements meet WCAG 2.1 AA minimum contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
Resizable Text	Text can be resized up to 200% using browser controls without loss of content or functionality.
Responsive Design	The website is fully functional on mobile devices, tablets, and all screen sizes.
Form Labels and Error Messages	All form fields have clear, associated labels. Error messages are descriptive and identify the affected field.
Skip Navigation Link	A “Skip to main content” link is provided at the top of each page for screen reader and keyboard users.
Descriptive Link Text	Links use descriptive text that makes sense out of context (not “click here” or “read more”).
PDF Accessibility	Downloadable PDF forms are designed with accessible tags, reading order, and form field labels where technically feasible.
Video Captions	Any video content published on this Site includes accurate closed captions and audio descriptions where applicable.

3. Ongoing Accessibility Efforts

Accessibility is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time checkbox. VHCS is actively working to:

• Conduct regular accessibility audits using both automated tools and manual testing with assistive technologies
• Test with common screen readers including NVDA (Windows), JAWS (Windows), and VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
• Include accessibility requirements in the evaluation criteria for all new website features and content updates
• Train staff responsible for website content updates on accessibility best practices
• Review and remediate accessibility barriers identified through user feedback

4. Known Limitations

While we strive for full WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance, some areas of our website may not yet fully meet all accessibility standards. Known limitations include:

• Third-party content: Certain embedded third-party tools (such as Google Maps on the Contact page or external referral management forms) may not fully meet our accessibility standards. We cannot control the accessibility of third-party content, and we encourage users to contact us for alternative access to that information.
• Legacy PDF documents: Older PDF documents provided for download may have limited accessibility features. We are in the process of remediating these documents. Please contact us to request an accessible alternative format.
• Live chat or WhatsApp: Our WhatsApp integration is subject to WhatsApp’s own accessibility capabilities. Alternative communication options (phone, email, contact form) are always available.

We are actively working to address all known limitations. If you encounter a barrier not listed above, please let us know.

5. Requesting Accessibility Assistance

If you encounter an accessibility barrier on our website, or if you need information in an alternative format (e.g., large print, audio, accessible electronic format), please contact us:

Phone	443-529-9099
Fax	410-617-8478
Email	inquiry@vhcsllc.com
Address	4925 Belair Rd., Baltimore, Maryland 21206
TTY/TDD	Use Maryland Relay Service at 7-1-1

When contacting us, please tell us:

• The web address (URL) of the page or content you were trying to access
• The nature of the accessibility barrier or problem you experienced
• Your preferred alternative format or method of communication

We will respond to your accessibility request within 5 business days and provide an accessible alternative or resolution.

6. ADA Compliance and Grievance Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concern or believe that we are not meeting our obligations under the ADA or other applicable law, you may file a complaint:

• Internally, with our ADA Coordinator: inquiry@vhcsllc.com
• With the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division — ADA.gov
• With the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights — mccr.maryland.gov

We will not retaliate against any person for filing a complaint about the accessibility of our website.

7. Technical Specifications

This website’s accessibility features rely on the following technologies:

• HTML5 and WAI-ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
• CSS3 for visual presentation
• JavaScript for interactive components (with graceful degradation for users who have scripting disabled)
• WordPress CMS with an accessibility-ready theme

8. Feedback and Continuous Improvement

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the VHCS website. Your experiences and suggestions help us improve access for everyone in the Baltimore community. Please reach out to us at any time using the contact information in Section 5 above.

This Accessibility Statement was prepared and will be reviewed annually. Last formal review date: July 9, 2026.