Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Accessibility

EatPal is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to guarantee we provide equal access to all users.

We believe that every family deserves access to tools that help manage meal planning for children with dietary challenges, regardless of ability. Our commitment to accessibility is fundamental to our mission of supporting all families.

Conformance Status

EatPal substantially conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities and more user-friendly for everyone.

We also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure our digital services are accessible to users with disabilities.

Accessibility Features

EatPal includes the following accessibility features:

Navigation and Structure

• Skip Navigation Links: Bypass repetitive content and jump directly to main content
• Consistent Navigation: Navigation menus appear in the same location across all pages
• Logical Heading Structure: Properly nested headings (H1-H6) for easy navigation
• Landmark Regions: ARIA landmarks help screen reader users navigate page sections
• Breadcrumb Navigation: Clear indication of current location within the site

Keyboard Accessibility

• Full Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements are accessible via keyboard
• Visible Focus Indicators: Clear visual indication of focused elements
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Command palette (Ctrl/Cmd + K) for quick navigation
• Focus Trapping: Modal dialogs properly trap and manage focus
• No Keyboard Traps: Users can navigate away from any element using standard keys

Screen Reader Support

• ARIA Labels: Descriptive labels for all interactive elements
• Alt Text: Meaningful descriptions for all informative images
• Live Regions: Dynamic content changes are announced to screen readers
• Form Labels: All form inputs have associated labels and error messages
• Table Headers: Data tables use proper header associations

Visual Accessibility

• Color Contrast: Text meets WCAG 2.1 AA contrast requirements (4.5:1 minimum)
• Resizable Text: Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Dark Mode: Alternative color scheme to reduce eye strain
• High Contrast Support: Respects system high contrast mode preferences
• Non-Color Indicators: Information is not conveyed by color alone

Motion and Animation

• Reduced Motion: Respects prefers-reduced-motion system preference
• No Auto-Playing Media: Videos and audio do not play automatically
• No Flashing Content: Content does not flash more than 3 times per second

Compatibility with Assistive Technologies

EatPal is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) on Windows
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech) on Windows
• VoiceOver on macOS and iOS
• TalkBack on Android
• Windows Narrator
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking (voice recognition)
• Switch navigation devices
• Screen magnification software (ZoomText, Windows Magnifier)

We test our application with the latest versions of these technologies and recommend using the most recent versions of both assistive technologies and web browsers for the best experience.

Supported Browsers

EatPal works best with the following browsers (latest two versions):

• Google Chrome (desktop and mobile)
• Mozilla Firefox (desktop and mobile)
• Apple Safari (desktop and mobile)
• Microsoft Edge

Known Limitations

While we strive for full accessibility, some areas may have limitations:

• Third-Party Content: Some embedded third-party content (such as payment processors) may not fully meet accessibility standards. We work with our vendors to ensure accessibility where possible.
• User-Generated Content: Images and content uploaded by users may not always have proper alt text or descriptions.
• PDF Documents: Some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible. We are working to remediate these documents.
• Complex Data Visualizations: Some charts and graphs provide data tables as alternatives, but may not convey all nuances to screen reader users.

We are actively working to address these limitations. If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can provide accommodations.

Accessibility Settings

EatPal provides the following accessibility settings that you can customize:

• Theme: Choose between light, dark, or system-default color schemes
• Reduced Motion: Disable or reduce animations and transitions
• High Contrast: Enable enhanced color contrast for better visibility
• Font Size: Adjust text size for improved readability
• Screen Reader Mode: Optimize the interface for screen reader navigation

Access these settings in your account profile under "Accessibility Preferences."

Feedback and Assistance

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of EatPal. If you encounter accessibility barriers or need assistance, please let us know:

When contacting us about an accessibility issue, please include:

• The URL or page where you encountered the issue
• A description of the problem
• The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
• Your browser and operating system

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 2 business days and to resolve accessibility issues as quickly as possible.

Alternative Access and Accommodations

If you are unable to access any content or feature on our platform due to a disability, we will provide reasonable accommodations. These may include:

• Providing information in an alternative format (large print, audio, etc.)
• Phone-based assistance for completing tasks
• Extended time for completing time-sensitive operations
• Alternative methods for submitting information

To request an accommodation, please contact us at [email protected].

Enforcement and Formal Complaints

We are committed to resolving accessibility concerns promptly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with:

• U.S. Department of Justice: ADA.gov Complaint Filing
• Office for Civil Rights (OCR): HHS OCR Complaints

Continuous Improvement

EatPal is committed to ongoing accessibility improvement. Our efforts include:

• Regular automated and manual accessibility testing
• Accessibility training for our development and design teams
• Including accessibility requirements in our development process
• Engaging with disability communities for feedback
• Regular third-party accessibility audits
• Updating this statement as we make improvements

Technical Specifications

EatPal relies on the following technologies to work with assistive technologies:

• HTML5
• WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative - Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
• CSS3
• JavaScript (ECMAScript)

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