Accessibility Statement

As a tool designed to help others create accessible content, SpectraCheck must exemplify best practices in web accessibility. We are committed to ensuring that our website and tool are accessible to people with disabilities, including those with:

• Color vision deficiencies (CVD) - Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia, Achromatopsia
• Low vision or blindness
• Motor disabilities affecting keyboard or mouse use
• Cognitive disabilities affecting comprehension or navigation
• Hearing impairments
• Temporary disabilities or situational limitations

WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance

SpectraCheck is designed to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. This internationally recognized standard ensures our content is:

• Perceivable - Information and UI components are presentable to users in ways they can perceive
• Operable - UI components and navigation are operable by all users
• Understandable - Information and UI operation is understandable
• Robust - Content works with current and future assistive technologies

Additional Standards

Beyond WCAG 2.1 AA, we also consider:

• Section 508 - U.S. federal accessibility requirements
• EN 301 549 - European accessibility standard
• ADA Title III - Americans with Disabilities Act web compliance

1. Color and Contrast

Contrast Ratios: All text and interactive elements meet or exceed WCAG AA contrast requirements:

• Normal text: Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio (we achieve 8.59:1+)
• Large text: Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio
• UI components: Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio

Shape and Pattern Indicators: We never rely on color alone. CVD types are distinguished by:

• ■ Square symbol for Protanopia
• ● Circle symbol for Deuteranopia
• ▲ Triangle symbol for Tritanopia
• Text labels and descriptive icons

2. Keyboard Navigation

All functionality is accessible via keyboard alone:

• Tab navigation: Logical tab order through all interactive elements
• Enter/Space: Activate buttons and links
• Arrow keys: Navigate sliders and controls
• Escape key: Close modals and overlays
• Skip links: Jump to main content (press Tab on page load)
• Visible focus indicators: Clear blue outline on focused elements

3. Screen Reader Support

SpectraCheck is compatible with modern screen readers including JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver:

• Semantic HTML: Proper heading hierarchy (H1-H3), landmarks, and structure
• ARIA labels: Descriptive labels for all interactive elements
• ARIA live regions: Real-time updates announced (e.g., file upload progress)
• Alt text: Descriptive alternative text for all meaningful images
• Form labels: All form inputs have associated labels
• Status messages: Success, error, and loading states are announced

4. Responsive and Mobile Accessibility

Our mobile-first design ensures accessibility across all devices:

• Touch targets: Minimum 44x44px for all interactive elements
• Responsive text: Scales appropriately at all screen sizes
• Portrait/landscape: Works in both orientations
• Zoom support: Text remains readable at 200% zoom
• Mobile screen readers: Compatible with TalkBack (Android) and VoiceOver (iOS)

5. Content Accessibility

Our content is designed to be clear and understandable:

• Plain language: Clear, concise writing without unnecessary jargon
• Descriptive headings: Logical hierarchy and descriptive section headers
• Link text: Descriptive link text (never "click here")
• Reading level: Content written at an accessible reading level
• No time limits: Users can take as long as needed
• Error recovery: Clear error messages with suggestions for correction

6. Motion and Animation

We respect users' motion preferences:

• Reduced motion support: Honors prefers-reduced-motion setting
• Optional animations: Page transitions are subtle and purposeful
• No auto-play: No auto-playing videos or carousels
• Pause controls: Users can control all motion and animation

Testing and Validation

We regularly test SpectraCheck using multiple methods:

Automated Testing

• Lighthouse: Google's automated accessibility audits (target: 95+ score)
• axe DevTools: Automated WCAG violation detection
• WAVE: WebAIM's accessibility evaluation tool
• Pa11y: Continuous integration accessibility testing

Manual Testing

• Keyboard navigation: Complete site navigation without a mouse
• Screen readers: NVDA (Windows), JAWS (Windows), VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
• Browser zoom: Testing at 200% and 400% zoom levels
• Color blindness simulation: Using our own tool to test our design
• High contrast mode: Windows High Contrast and browser settings

User Testing

We conduct regular usability testing with users who have disabilities, including:

• Users with various types of color vision deficiencies
• Screen reader users
• Keyboard-only users
• Users with motor disabilities

While we strive for full accessibility, we acknowledge the following limitations:

• WebGL dependency: CVD simulation requires WebGL support, which may not be available on all devices or with some assistive technologies. We're exploring fallback options.
• Third-party content: External links and embedded content (e.g., Google Analytics) may not meet our accessibility standards. We have limited control over these elements.
• Canvas accessibility: The image canvas element has inherent accessibility limitations. We provide alternative text descriptions where possible.

We are actively working to address these limitations in future updates.

Compatible Browsers and Assistive Technologies

Supported Browsers

SpectraCheck is tested and supported on:

• Chrome/Edge (last 2 versions) - Windows, macOS, Linux
• Firefox (last 2 versions) - Windows, macOS, Linux
• Safari (last 2 versions) - macOS, iOS
• Chrome Mobile - Android 10+
• Safari Mobile - iOS 14+

Supported Assistive Technologies

• NVDA (latest version) - Windows with Chrome/Firefox
• JAWS (latest version) - Windows with Chrome/Edge
• VoiceOver - macOS with Safari, iOS with Safari
• TalkBack - Android with Chrome
• ZoomText - Screen magnification software
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking - Voice recognition software

Accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a destination. We are committed to:

• Regular audits: Quarterly accessibility audits of all site features
• User feedback: Actively incorporating feedback from users with disabilities
• Technology updates: Staying current with accessibility standards and best practices
• Team training: Ongoing accessibility training for our development team
• Documentation: Maintaining comprehensive accessibility documentation
• Community engagement: Participating in accessibility communities and conferences

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of SpectraCheck. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please let us know:

Third-Party Content and Services

SpectraCheck may link to or embed content from third-party websites and services. While we strive to link only to accessible resources, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of external content. Third-party content includes:

• WCAG documentation (W3C)
• Color contrast checkers (WebAIM)
• Color blindness information resources
• Social media platforms

If you encounter accessibility issues with linked resources, please contact the respective content owners.

Formal Complaints and Legal Compliance

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concern, you may:

• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (ADA)
• Contact your country's equivalent disability rights organization
• Seek legal counsel regarding your rights under applicable disability discrimination laws

SpectraCheck is committed to complying with all applicable accessibility laws and regulations, including:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• European Accessibility Act (EN 301 549)
• UK Equality Act 2010

Statement Approval and Review

This accessibility statement was:

• Created: September 30, 2025
• Last reviewed: September 30, 2025
• Next review date: March 30, 2026 (or sooner if significant changes occur)
• Approved by: SpectraCheck Product Team