Accessibility Statement

public.help is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all people, including those with disabilities. We are continually working to improve the user experience for everyone and apply the relevant accessibility standards.

Our mission is to help people find community resources, and that means making our website accessible to everyone who needs help, regardless of ability.

1. Our Commitment to Accessibility

We strive to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities and more user-friendly for everyone.

Accessibility is not a one-time project but an ongoing commitment. We regularly test our website and continue to make improvements to ensure equal access to information and functionality.

2. Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following accessibility features on public.help:

Automated Testing

• Axe accessibility scanner runs on all major pages before deployment
• Automated tests must pass before changes go live
• Continuous integration testing ensures ongoing compliance

Semantic HTML and Structure

• Proper HTML5 semantic elements (header, main, footer, section)
• Logical heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) for screen reader navigation
• Descriptive link text that makes sense out of context
• Proper labeling of form elements and interactive components

Screen Reader Support

• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels where needed
• Alternative text (alt text) for images
• Decorative elements hidden from screen readers with aria-hidden
• Screen reader-only text for important context

Keyboard Navigation

• All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
• Logical tab order follows visual layout
• Links and buttons can be activated with Enter or Space keys

Visual Design

• Color contrast ratios meet WCAG AA standards
• Information is not conveyed by color alone
• Text is resizable without breaking page layout
• Responsive design works on all device sizes

3. Known Limitations and Workarounds

Despite our best efforts, some limitations currently exist on our website. We are actively working to address these issues:

Interactive Map Component

Our interactive map for displaying service locations may have limited keyboard navigation and screen reader support for complex features.

Workaround: All service location information (address, contact details, directions) is available in text format below the map. You can also contact service providers directly using the phone numbers and email addresses listed on each service page.

Third-Party Images and Content

Some images provided by service organizations may not have optimal alternative text descriptions. We work with our content partners to improve this, but some gaps may exist.

Dynamic Content Updates

Service information is managed through our content management system and updated regularly. While we maintain accessibility standards for the website structure, the quality of alt text and descriptions depends on content entry by various contributors.

4. Compatible Technologies

public.help is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

• Screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack, etc.)
• Keyboard-only navigation
• Voice recognition software
• Screen magnification software
• Browser text-to-speech tools

We test with modern web browsers including:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

5. Ongoing Improvements

We are actively working to enhance accessibility in the following areas:

• Enhanced focus indicators for better keyboard navigation visibility
• Improved keyboard accessibility for map controls
• More comprehensive ARIA labeling for complex components
• Automated contrast ratio testing in our deployment pipeline
• Regular manual accessibility audits with assistive technologies
• Training for content contributors on accessibility best practices

6. Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services:

• Cloudflare Workers - Hosting and infrastructure
• Sanity CMS - Content management and image delivery
• PostHog - Privacy-friendly analytics

While we have selected accessibility-conscious providers, some features provided by these third-party services may have inherent limitations that are beyond our direct control. We work with our vendors to ensure their services meet accessibility standards where possible.

7. Report Accessibility Issues

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of public.help. If you encounter accessibility barriers while using our website, please let us know:

We take accessibility feedback seriously and will respond as quickly as possible. We prioritize resolving high-impact accessibility issues that prevent users from accessing essential information.

If you need immediate assistance accessing information about a specific service or resource, please contact us and we will provide the information in an alternative accessible format.

8. Accessibility Standards and Guidelines

We reference the following standards and guidelines in our accessibility work:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA - Published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - U.S. federal law prohibiting discrimination based on disability
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act - Federal accessibility standards for electronic and information technology

Learn more about web accessibility: W3C Web Accessibility Initiative

9. Formal Accessibility Complaints

We aim to resolve all accessibility concerns through direct communication. However, if you believe we have not adequately addressed your accessibility concern, you have the right to file a formal complaint.

For ADA-related complaints regarding website accessibility, you may contact:

10. Technical Specifications

Accessibility of public.help relies on the following technologies to work with your web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins you have installed:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript
• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used.