ACCESSIBILITY & DIGITAL INCLUSION
Page Updated (effective date): 9 October 2025
Operated by Steven Patrick Sim t/a The Tartan Artisan®
Governing Law: Scotland | Framework: Equality Act 2010 & WCAG 2.1
1. Purpose of This Policy
At The Tartan Artisan®, accessibility is part of our design ethos — not an afterthought.
We believe everyone should be able to experience the creativity, heritage, and craftsmanship of Scotland through our digital spaces, regardless of ability, technology, or circumstance.
This policy explains our ongoing commitment to digital inclusion across all websites, online stores, and digital media channels operated by The Tartan Artisan®, including thetartanartisan.com, tartan.love, and TARTAN250.
2. Our Commitment
We are dedicated to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience.
Our goal is to achieve and maintain compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA — the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility — and to ensure that all visitors can:
Navigate and understand content easily.
Interact with products, images, and forms without barriers.
Access important information using assistive technologies (such as screen readers or voice navigation).
Request alternative formats when required.
3. What Accessibility Means to Us
Accessibility goes beyond legal compliance; it’s about respect, dignity, and user empowerment.
We design for inclusion by ensuring:
Readable text: clear fonts, strong colour contrast, and scalable text.
Keyboard navigation: all core functions accessible without a mouse.
Alt-text for images: meaningful descriptions for artworks, products, and photographs.
Logical heading structure: so screen readers can interpret pages correctly.
Video and audio content: subtitled or transcribed when applicable.
Forms and buttons: labelled clearly for easy comprehension.
Responsive design: mobile, tablet, and desktop compatibility.
4. Platform Accessibility (Shopify & Integrations)
Our website runs on the Shopify platform, which is continually improving accessibility for merchants and customers.
We complement Shopify’s accessibility features with careful editing and testing of all custom content, including:
Tartan imagery and fine-art visuals tagged with descriptive alt text.
Accessible product templates for theprintspace and Contrado integrations.
Logical menu hierarchy and consistent navigation.
Embedded content (such as videos or galleries) with captions or transcripts where possible.
If any third-party app or integration introduces accessibility barriers, we will seek an alternative or apply manual improvements.
5. Assistive Technologies & Supported Browsers
Our website is tested on major browsers and operating systems, including:
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge
Android and iOS mobile devices
We aim to ensure compatibility with common assistive technologies, including:
Screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver
Text-to-speech and magnifier software
Speech-recognition tools
6. Alternative Access & Assistance
If you have difficulty using any part of our website or digital materials, we’re here to help.
You can request information in alternative formats (e.g. large print or plain text) by contacting:
Accessibility Team
The Tartan Artisan® Studio, Arbroath, Scotland
✉ enquiries@thetartanartisan.com
We will do our best to provide a suitable alternative within a reasonable timeframe.
7. Continuous Improvement
Accessibility is an evolving journey.
We review our site regularly to identify and remove barriers through:
Quarterly audits of design and navigation.
Feedback-based testing with real users.
Monitoring Shopify updates for new accessibility features.
Training and awareness to maintain accessible copywriting and media standards.
We welcome user feedback and aim to act quickly when accessibility issues are identified.
8. Reporting Accessibility Issues
If you encounter any problem accessing our website or believe content is not fully accessible, please contact us directly with details of:
The page or product you were viewing
The nature of the problem
The device or browser you were using
Email enquiries@thetartanartisan.com or use the form on our Contact page.
We will acknowledge your message within 3 business days and provide an initial resolution plan within 10 business days.
9. Compliance & Legal Framework
Our accessibility practices align with:
Equality Act 2010 (UK) — ensuring equal access to goods and services.
Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (guidance applied voluntarily to maintain best practice).
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.
We are committed to keeping pace with new standards such as WCAG 2.2 and European Accessibility Act 2025, ensuring readiness for international visitors.
10. Digital Inclusion Beyond the Website
We extend accessibility principles to all communication channels:
Social media content uses alt text, captioned videos, and plain-language descriptions.
PDF documents (such as certificates or press kits) are exported with accessibility tagging.
Emails and newsletters use high-contrast design and scalable text.
11. Responsibility & Oversight
Accessibility oversight is managed by:
Steven Patrick Sim
Founder & Creative Director, The Tartan Artisan®
✉ stevie@thetartanartisan.com
He is responsible for ensuring that accessibility considerations remain integral to all design, development, and publishing processes.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically to reflect evolving standards, new tools, or feedback received.
The latest version will always be published here and dated at the top of this page.
End of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion Policy
(This policy forms part of The Tartan Artisan® Legal Framework and applies to all domains including TARTAN250 and Tartan.LOVE.)