Accessibility Statement for Simpler Story

Simpler Story is committed to ensuring our platform is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of ability or technology. Our goal is to design and maintain a user experience that aligns with the principles and requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Our Commitment

• Accessibility is integrated into our design and development process.
• We conduct regular accessibility reviews using automated tools, manual testing, and assistive technologies.
• We provide features that help content creators make their stories more accessible, such as accessible templates, raw data download button option, and optional alternative text fields for images and charts.

Accessibility Features

• Semantic HTML and WAI-ARIA attributes for screen reader compatibility
• Support for alt text on all graphic elements (images, charts, maps, etc.), with prompts encouraging users to add meaningful descriptions
• Keyboard navigability for all platform features
• Responsive layouts for multiple device sizes
• Support for high-contrast themes and accessible color palettes
• Guidance within the editor to encourage accessible content creation

Known Limitations

While the Simpler Story platform is designed and maintained with WCAG 2.1 AA in mind, some features allow user-generated content that may not always comply:

• Images/Charts without alternative text: Users may upload images without providing alt text. We offer an optional alt text field during upload and encourage its use.
• Custom color combinations: Users can select any colors, which may result in low contrast. We provide accessible color presets as defaults, but final choices are up to the content creator.

These limitations apply only to user-created content. The Simpler Story platform’s core features and default templates are developed with WCAG 2.1 AA standards in mind.

Assessment Approach

• Automated testing tools: Axe DevTools and Google Chrome Lighthouse
• Manual review by our development team
• Testing with built-in assistive technologies, including Windows Narrator

Technical Requirements

• The latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
• Mobile operating systems released within the last 5 years
• Standard assistive technologies including screen readers and browser zoom features

Feedback

We welcome feedback on accessibility. If you experience any accessibility barriers using Simpler Story, please contact us:

Review Schedule

This statement is reviewed annually or when major updates are made to the platform to ensure ongoing alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Reviewed: May 2025