Accessibility Policy

SECTION 1: OUR COMMITMENT

BMEssentia is committed to making BMEssentia accessible to all users regardless of ability, disability, or the assistive technology they use. This covers the website (www.bmessentia.com), the Platform (platform.bmessentia.com), the BMEssentia App and the BMEssentia Medical City desktop application. We believe that biomedical engineering education should be available to every person who wants it, and that barriers to access are barriers to the field itself.

This Accessibility Policy sets out our current accessibility features, our ongoing commitments, the standards we are working toward, and how users can report accessibility issues or request accommodations.

We are honest about where we are. BMEssentia is a growing platform and accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time checkbox. This policy describes what we have built, what we are building, and what we are committed to achieving.

SECTION 2: APPLICABLE STANDARDS

BMEssentia is working toward meeting the following accessibility standards:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA: the internationally recognized standard for web and digital platform accessibility, covering four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): for users accessing BMEssentia from the United States
• UK Equality Act 2010: for users accessing BMEssentia from the United Kingdom
• European Accessibility Act (EAA): for users accessing BMEssentia from the European Union
• UAE Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 on the Rights of People with Disabilities, for UAE-based users

Where BMEssentia's institutional clients have specific accessibility requirements under their own regulatory obligations, for example US universities subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act or UK public bodies subject to the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, BMEssentia will work with those institutions to address their specific compliance needs through the institutional support process.

SECTION 3: CURRENT ACCESSIBILITY STATUS

The following table describes BMEssentia's current accessibility features and their implementation status. We update this table as features are implemented or improved.

This policy was last updated in October 2026. Next scheduled review: April 2027.

SECTION 4: ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES IN DETAIL

Mobile Responsive Design

The BMEssentia platform is fully responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. The platform automatically adapts its layout, navigation, and content display to the screen size and orientation of the user's device. The BMEssentia mobile app on iOS and Android provides full platform access in a native mobile environment.

AI Voice Narration

BMEssentia offers real-time AI voice narration across all platform content. Every lesson, device breakdown, guide, and course module is available as spoken audio, enabling users to access the platform entirely hands-free. This feature provides meaningful accessibility support for users with visual impairments, reading difficulties including dyslexia, and users who prefer audio-based learning. Voice narration is available on both web and mobile platforms.

Essentia Assistant: Accessible Learning Support

The Essentia Assistant provides an accessible conversational interface for platform navigation and content explanation. Users can ask the Assistant to explain concepts in simpler terms, provide alternative descriptions of technical content, or navigate to specific platform sections. This provides an accessible entry point for users who find traditional navigation challenging.

Color Contrast and Visual Design

BMEssentia's primary interface uses high-contrast color combinations, dark blue on white backgrounds and orange for key interactive elements, designed to meet WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio requirements for normal text. We are conducting an audit of all interface elements to confirm contrast ratios across the full platform and will address any identified gaps.

Text and Typography

BMEssentia uses legible font sizes across the platform. Users can increase text size through their device or browser accessibility settings and the platform responds appropriately. We do not use fixed pixel font sizes that prevent text scaling.

SECTION 5: KNOWN LIMITATIONS

We are committed to transparency about areas where our accessibility is not yet where it needs to be. The following are known limitations we are actively working to address:

• Screen reader compatibility: The platform has not been fully audited for screen reader support across all content types. We are working to improve compatibility with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
• Alt text on illustrations: BMEssentia's library of 3,800 plus custom illustrations is being updated to include descriptive alt text. This is a significant undertaking and is in progress.
• Video captions: BMEssentials video modules do not currently have closed captions. Caption implementation is planned for a future platform update.
• High contrast mode: A dedicated high contrast mode for users with low vision or light sensitivity is planned but not yet implemented.
• Complex data tables: Some content involving complex technical data may not be fully optimized for screen reader navigation. We are reviewing this content category.
• Medical City: the 3D desktop application needs a keyboard and mouse and is not yet usable with a screen reader. All 69 devices are also explained in text in the Device Library on the Platform.

If you encounter an accessibility barrier not listed here, please report it using the process in Section 7. Every report is reviewed and contributes to our improvement roadmap.

SECTION 6: OUR ACCESSIBILITY ROADMAP

BMEssentia's accessibility improvement roadmap includes the following planned actions:

• Conduct a full independent WCAG 2.1 AA audit of the website and the Platform, planned for Q1 2027
• Complete alt text implementation across the full illustration library, ongoing, target Q4 2026
• Implement closed captions for all BMEssentials video modules: planned for Q4 2026
• Implement a dedicated high contrast mode: planned for Q1 2027
• Full screen reader optimization audit and remediation: planned for Q1 2027
• Publish an updated Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) following the WCAG audit, planned for Q2 2027
• Integrate accessibility testing into the platform development process as a standard step, in progress
• Accessibility review of Medical City (input options, text size, contrast and colour use), planned for Q2 2027

We will update this policy following each significant accessibility improvement. The roadmap is subject to change as we learn more from user feedback and the results of our accessibility audit.

SECTION 7: REPORTING ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES AND REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

If you encounter an accessibility barrier on the BMEssentia platform or need an accommodation to access the platform effectively, contact us:

• Email: team@bmessentia.net with the subject line "Accessibility Request"
• Include a description of the accessibility barrier or accommodation needed
• Include the specific page, feature, or content where the issue occurs where possible
• Include the assistive technology you are using if relevant

BMEssentia will acknowledge all accessibility requests within 48 business hours and aim to respond with a solution or a clear timeline for resolution within 5 business days. We will not always be able to resolve every barrier immediately but we will always engage with every request honestly and work toward a solution.

For institutional clients with specific accessibility compliance requirements, contact institutionalsupport@bmessentia.com. We will work with your institution's accessibility or procurement team directly to address your specific requirements.

SECTION 8: THIRD-PARTY CONTENT AND INTEGRATIONS

BMEssentia's platform may include links to or integrations with third-party services. BMEssentia is not responsible for the accessibility of third-party websites or services. Where we have control over third-party integrations, we prioritize selecting partners who demonstrate a commitment to accessibility. We encourage users who encounter accessibility barriers on third-party services to contact those services directly.

SECTION 9: UPDATES TO THIS POLICY

BMEssentia reviews and updates this Accessibility Policy at least every six months or following any significant platform accessibility change. The Last Updated date at the top of this policy reflects when it was most recently revised. Users who have previously reviewed this policy are encouraged to check for updates periodically.

SECTION 10: CONTACT

• Accessibility requests and issue reports: team@bmessentia.net, subject line "Accessibility Request"
• Institutional accessibility requirements: institutionalsupport@bmessentia.com
• General support: team@bmessentia.net
• Website: www.bmessentia.com

BMEssentia LLC-FZ, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Response time: BMEssentia aims to respond to all accessibility inquiries within 48 business hours.