Enhancing Accessibility: Our Commitment to Inclusive Design
At Spacewell, we believe in creating software that is accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive. We understand the importance of digital accessibility and take the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) very seriously. Accessibility is not just a feature; it's a fundamental aspect of how we design and develop our products.
While we currently do not hold official certification from bodies such as the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) or the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), our commitment to accessibility goes beyond formal accolades. We place immense value on the feedback and experiences of our users. By continuously listening to our customers and actively encouraging feedback, we ensure that our approach to accessibility is grounded in real-world usage and experiences.
Our dedication to this cause is reflected in the results of our regular polls on usability and accessibility. Time and again, Spacewell products have been recognized for exceeding the norm in these areas. This is a testament to our ongoing efforts to not only meet but surpass the standards set forth by WCAG.
Continuous improvement
We understand that accessibility is an ever-evolving field, and we are committed to continual improvement. By incorporating feedback from a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities, we ensure that our products are not only compliant with current standards but also intuitive and convenient for everyone.
At Spacewell, accessibility is not an afterthought – it is a key driver of our innovation and a core component of our mission to deliver exceptional digital experiences to all users.
Current Accessibility Practices
We follow the following accessibility guidelines within the Spacewell product policy & design guidelines:
🌟 Large texts: Our web pages and mobile apps support larger texts by zooming, enhancing readability for users with visual impairments.
🔍 Sufficient color contrast: We implement sufficient color contrast between text and background, aiding users with color vision deficiencies. Additionally, we have a feature to compose themes and floorplan coloring specifically for higher contrast or colorblindness to further enhance accessibility for users with color vision impairments.
🏷️ Clear labels and error identification: Our forms are designed with clear labels and error identification, making them easier to use for everyone.
⚡ Avoidance of flashing content: We avoid content that flashes more than three times in any one-second period to prevent seizures in susceptible individuals.
🔄 Consistent layout and navigation: Our software's layout and navigation are consistent across all pages, providing a predictable browsing experience.
💬 Clear and simple language: We use clear and simple language to enhance understanding and readability.
🌐 Consistent and predictable functionality: Our software's functionality remains consistent and predictable, preventing confusion for users with cognitive disabilities.
⏩ Skip navigation feature: We offer a skip navigation feature, allowing users to quickly jump to main content areas.
🛠️ Assistive technology accessibility: Our content is accessible with assistive technologies like screen readers and magnifiers.
🌎 Browser and assistive technology compatibility: Our website is compatible with a range of browsers and assistive technologies, ensuring broad accessibility.
🚫 Avoiding flashing or blinking content: We ensure that all moving, blinking, or scrolling content can be paused or stopped to avoid distractions or seizures.
📱 Responsive design for mobile devices and tablets: Our website and mobile app design adapts gracefully to different screen sizes, ensuring accessibility on mobile devices and tablets.
🧭 Multiple navigation options: We provide multiple ways to access different pages, such as a search bar, sitemap, and intuitive navigation menus. This ensures that users have a variety of options to find the information they need.
📝 Clear and concise forms: All our online forms are designed with clear instructions, and users are notified when a required field is missed or incorrectly filled out. This helps to prevent errors and ensure that forms are easy to complete for everyone.
📊 Appropriate use of tables: Our site avoids the use of complex tables, and when necessary, they are properly marked up for screen readers. This ensures that assistive technologies can effectively interpret and navigate tables.
🔤 Avoiding text-only images: Our site's design avoids using images of text, favoring HTML text instead for scalability and readability with screen readers. This provides better access to information for users who rely on screen readers to access the web.
🔧 Persistent user preferences: We have implemented a system that remembers user preferences for accessibility settings throughout their session. This ensures that users do not have to repeatedly configure accessibility settings.
📚 Ongoing development team training: Our development team receives ongoing training in accessibility standards and inclusive design practices to ensure continuous compliance and improvement. This helps us to stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility guidelines and incorporate best practices into our products.
Continuous Improvement
We are committed to continuous improvement of accessibility in our software products. We regularly conduct accessibility audits and user testing to identify and address any accessibility barriers.
Future Plans
We are currently evaluating the feasibility of pursuing WCAG AA compliance. If we determine that it is a viable option, we will develop a comprehensive plan to achieve this goal.