Accessibility & Diversity Statement

LegalEdge Innovators, Inc.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Version 1.0 — Effective January 1, 2025

Our Core Values

At LegalEdge Innovators, we believe that technology should empower everyone. Our commitment to accessibility and diversity is grounded in our core values:

Empathy: We design with all users in mind, understanding that each person brings unique needs and perspectives.
Integrity: We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of inclusive design and equitable treatment.
Intent: We are deliberate in our efforts to create an environment where everyone can succeed.
Drive: We continuously improve our practices to better serve our diverse community of users and employees.

Digital Accessibility Commitment

LegalEdge Innovators is committed to ensuring that our website, platform, and services are accessible to people with disabilities. We strive to provide an inclusive digital experience that enables all users to access, navigate, and interact with our content and tools effectively.

Standards We Follow

We design and develop our digital properties in accordance with the following accessibility standards and guidelines:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA: The internationally recognized standard for web accessibility, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): We are committed to effective communication with individuals with disabilities, as required under the ADA.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Our platform is designed to meet the accessibility requirements applicable to federal agencies and their contractors.

Accessibility Features

Our platform includes the following accessibility features:

Keyboard navigation support for all interactive elements
Logical heading structure and semantic HTML markup
Alternative text for images and non-text content
Sufficient color contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
Resizable text without loss of content or functionality
Focus indicators for keyboard users
Skip navigation links
Accessible forms with proper labels and error messages
Compatibility with common screen readers and assistive technologies

Assistive Technology Compatibility

We test our platform for compatibility with common assistive technologies, including:

Screen readers: Software that reads digital content aloud for users who are blind or have low vision (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
Voice recognition software: Tools that allow users to navigate and interact with digital content using voice commands (e.g., Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Voice Control)
Keyboard alternatives: Devices and software that enable navigation without a traditional mouse, including switch devices, sip-and-puff systems, and eye-tracking technology
Text-to-speech tools: Software that converts written text to spoken audio
Screen magnification software: Tools that enlarge portions of the screen for users with low vision

Colorblind-Inclusive Design

We recognize that approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women have some form of color vision deficiency. LegalEdge Innovators is committed to designing our platform to be usable by individuals with all types of color blindness.

Our Colorblind Design Principles

Sufficient Color Contrast: We maintain color contrast ratios of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text and graphical elements, ensuring readability for users with reduced color perception.

Color-Independent Information: We never rely solely on color to convey important information. All color-coded elements are supplemented with:

Patterns and textures for charts and graphs
Icons and symbols with distinct shapes
Text labels and descriptions
Spatial positioning and grouping

Tested Against Color Vision Deficiencies: Our design is tested against the three main types of color blindness:

Protanopia (red-blind)
Deuteranopia (green-blind)
Tritanopia (blue-blind)

Colorblind-Safe Palettes: We use carefully selected color palettes that remain distinguishable across different types of color vision, particularly in data visualizations and status indicators.

User Customization: We provide options for users to customize display settings, including high-contrast modes and alternative color schemes.

Workforce Diversity & Equal Opportunity

LegalEdge Innovators is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of:

Race
Color
National origin
Religion
Sex
Gender identity or expression
Sexual orientation
Age
Disability (including color vision deficiency)
Veteran or military status
Genetic information
Marital or familial status
Pregnancy or related conditions
Any other characteristic protected by applicable law

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. If you require an accommodation during the application process or in performing the essential functions of your job, please contact our Human Resources department at hr@legaledgeinnovators.com.

Legal Framework: Guiding Case Law

Our accessibility and diversity commitments are informed by landmark legal decisions that have shaped the landscape of equal opportunity and accessible design:

Employment Discrimination

Griggs v. Duke Power Co. (1971): Established the "disparate impact" theory, recognizing that facially neutral employment practices can still constitute discrimination if they disproportionately exclude protected groups without business necessity.

McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green (1973): Created the burden-shifting framework for analyzing employment discrimination claims, establishing a structure that promotes fairness in evaluating claims of disparate treatment.

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020): Held that Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, affirming equal protection for LGBTQ+ employees.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin (2001): Affirmed that entities covered by the ADA must make reasonable modifications to policies and practices unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of their goods, services, or programs.

National Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp. (2006): Established that website accessibility can be required under the ADA when a website is integrated with physical store locations and services, setting a precedent for digital accessibility obligations.

Robles v. Domino's Pizza, LLC (2019): Confirmed that the ADA applies to websites and mobile applications, reinforcing that digital platforms must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Olmstead v. L.C. (1999): While focused on community integration for individuals with mental disabilities, this decision reinforced the principle that segregation and exclusion of individuals with disabilities is a form of discrimination—a principle that extends to inclusive design in all contexts.

Feedback & Reporting Accessibility Issues

We are committed to continuously improving the accessibility of our platform. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

Accessibility Team
Email: accessibility@legaledgeinnovators.com

Human Resources (for employment-related accommodations)
Email: hr@legaledgeinnovators.com

General Contact
LegalEdge Innovators, Inc.
1165 North Clark Street, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 555-0100

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to accessibility feedback within five (5) business days and to address identified issues in a timely manner.

Ongoing Commitment

Accessibility and diversity are not one-time achievements but ongoing commitments. We regularly:

Conduct accessibility audits of our platform
Train our team members on inclusive design principles
Monitor and update our practices based on evolving standards and user feedback
Review our hiring and employment practices to promote diversity and inclusion

We believe that when we design for accessibility and embrace diversity, we create better products and a stronger organization for everyone.