Access is part of publication

Our standard

Our accessibility standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 at Level AA. We apply that standard to new public pages, account screens, submission forms, documents produced by the journal, and meaningful updates to existing content.

Accessibility is evaluated through automated checks and human use, including keyboard operation, visible focus, logical headings and labels, color contrast, text resizing, status announcements, useful alternative text, and error messages that identify how to correct a problem.

Using the site

• Pages use semantic headings, landmarks, labels, and descriptive link text.
• Interactive controls can be reached and operated with a keyboard.
• Forms identify required information and explain validation errors in text.
• Text can be enlarged with browser controls without requiring a separate site setting.
• Images that communicate information receive text alternatives; decorative graphics are hidden from assistive technology.
• Color is not intended to be the only way a requirement, error, or status is communicated.

Some editorial tasks may open the Texas Digital Library’s hosted Open Journal Systems service or another external service. Those services maintain their own interfaces and accessibility practices, but accessibility feedback about any part of the journal workflow can still be reported to Ethos EM.

Alternative formats and assistance

If journal content, a submission step, or a document is not usable in its current form, contact the editorial office. Tell us the page or document, what you were trying to do, the format or accommodation that would help, and a way to reach you. Do not include a password, consent form, medical record, or confidential manuscript content in an ordinary email.

Feedback and response

Accessibility reports are reviewed as operational issues, not as editorial judgments. The journal will acknowledge a report, identify a practical way to provide access when one is needed, and use the finding to improve the affected interface or content. Raising an accessibility concern does not affect a submission or editorial decision.