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♿ Accessibility Statement

SpaceExplore is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continuously improve user experience for everyone and apply relevant accessibility standards.

Last Updated: October 25, 2025

Our Commitment to Accessibility

We believe that everyone, regardless of ability, should have equal access to our tools. Accessibility isn't an afterthought—it's built into every design decision, every line of code, and every feature we create. Our goal is WCAG 2.1 Level AAA compliance wherever possible.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

✅ WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliant

SpaceExplore is fully conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. We meet all Level A and Level AA success criteria, and we're actively working toward Level AAA compliance for enhanced accessibility.

Accessibility Features

🎯 Keyboard Navigation

  • ✅ All interactive elements accessible via keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space)
  • ✅ Visible focus indicators on all interactive elements
  • ✅ Skip to main content link for faster navigation
  • ✅ Logical tab order throughout the site
  • ✅ No keyboard traps - users can navigate in and out of all sections

🔊 Screen Reader Compatibility

  • ✅ Semantic HTML5 elements (header, nav, main, section, footer)
  • ✅ ARIA labels on all buttons and interactive elements
  • ✅ Alt text for all informative images
  • ✅ aria-hidden for decorative elements
  • ✅ Tested with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver
  • ✅ Proper heading hierarchy (h1-h6) for document structure

👁️ Visual Accessibility

  • ✅ Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text (Level AA)
  • ✅ Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio for large text and UI components
  • ✅ Text resizable up to 200% without loss of functionality
  • ✅ Dark mode option for reduced eye strain
  • ✅ No text in images (except logos)
  • ✅ Clear, readable fonts at minimum 16px base size

🎨 Color & Contrast

  • ✅ Information never conveyed by color alone
  • ✅ Form errors indicated with text and icons, not just red color
  • ✅ Links distinguishable from regular text
  • ✅ High-contrast mode supported

⚡ Interaction Design

  • ✅ Touch targets minimum 44x44 pixels (mobile)
  • ✅ Sufficient spacing between interactive elements
  • ✅ No time limits on tool usage
  • ✅ No auto-playing media or animations that cannot be paused
  • ✅ Forms with clear labels and error messages

📱 Responsive & Mobile

  • ✅ Fully responsive design works on all screen sizes
  • ✅ Content reflows without horizontal scrolling up to 400% zoom
  • ✅ Portrait and landscape orientation support
  • ✅ Touch-friendly interface on mobile devices

Tested with Assistive Technologies

We regularly test SpaceExplore with popular assistive technologies to ensure compatibility:

Screen Readers

  • NVDA (Windows)
  • JAWS (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)

Browsers

  • Chrome (latest)
  • Firefox (latest)
  • Safari (latest)
  • Edge (latest)

Tools Used

  • WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
  • axe DevTools
  • Lighthouse Accessibility Audit
  • Color Contrast Analyzer

Known Limitations

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

⚠️ Third-Party Content

Some third-party embedded content (such as ads) may not meet our accessibility standards. We're working with providers to improve this.

Accessibility Feedback

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

When reporting accessibility issues, please include:

  • Specific page URL where the issue occurred
  • Description of the accessibility barrier
  • Browser and assistive technology you're using
  • Any error messages or screenshots (if applicable)

Technical Specifications

SpaceExplore's accessibility relies on the following technologies:

  • HTML5
  • WAI-ARIA 1.2
  • CSS3
  • JavaScript (progressively enhanced)

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Assessment Approach

SpaceExplore was assessed using the following methods:

  • Self-evaluation: Ongoing internal audits using WCAG 2.1 checklist
  • Automated testing: Regular scans with WAVE, axe, and Lighthouse
  • Manual testing: Keyboard-only navigation, screen reader testing, color contrast verification
  • User testing: Feedback from users with disabilities

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a destination. We continuously monitor, test, and improve our accessibility features. This statement is updated regularly to reflect our current status.