Trust & Transparency
Accessibility Statement
Last updated: May 19, 2026
Our Commitment
Paws & Purpose is committed to ensuring that our Platform is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We believe that supporting animal rescue should be open to all people, regardless of how they navigate the web.
We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, a set of shared standards for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.
Perceivable
All images include descriptive alt text, including product photos, shelter animal profiles, and QR code illustrations.
Text and background color combinations meet WCAG 2.1 AA contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
Information is not conveyed by color alone — icons, labels, and patterns supplement color-coded elements.
Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
Operable
All interactive elements — buttons, links, forms, and navigation — are fully operable using keyboard alone.
Focus indicators are visible and consistent across all pages and components.
No content contains flashing or strobing effects that could trigger photosensitive reactions.
Form inputs have properly associated labels, and error messages are clear and programmatically linked to fields.
Understandable
Page language is declared programmatically, and language changes within content are marked where applicable.
Navigation is consistent across all pages, with breadcrumb or logical structure where appropriate.
Error prevention is built into forms — users are prompted to confirm significant actions like donations and purchases.
Content is written in plain, accessible language with defined terms for specialized concepts.
Robust
HTML markup follows semantic standards (proper heading hierarchy, landmark regions, list structures).
ARIA labels and roles are used appropriately to support screen reader navigation.
The Platform is tested with current versions of major screen readers, including NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
Dynamic content updates are announced to assistive technologies without requiring a full page reload.
Known Limitations
We are continuously improving the accessibility of our Platform. The following areas are currently being enhanced:
Some third-party embedded content (such as social media widgets) may not fully meet WCAG standards. We are working with vendors to improve compatibility.
Complex data visualizations in impact reports are being supplemented with text summaries and tabular alternatives.
Video content is being retroactively captioned. All new video content published after January 2026 includes captions and transcripts.
Feedback and Assistance
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Paws & Purpose Platform. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know.
Assessment and Standards
Our accessibility compliance is assessed through a combination of automated testing tools, manual audits by accessibility professionals, and user testing with assistive technology users. We conduct comprehensive audits quarterly and address any issues within 30 days of identification.
This statement was prepared using the W3C Accessibility Statement Generator Tool and follows the recommended structure for accessibility conformance statements. For more information about WCAG, visit the W3C WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference.
Accessibility is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time checklist. If you need assistance using any part of our Platform, we are here to help. Every person deserves to participate in the mission to help shelter animals find homes.