Accessibility Statement

Our commitment to inclusive design

Our Commitment

SammyStories is built for children who experience the world differently. As parents of an autistic child, we know what sensory overload looks like — because we see it in our own home. Accessibility isn't an afterthought. It's the foundation of everything we build. We strive to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AAA standards throughout the application.

Accessibility Features

High Contrast (7:1 ratio)

All text meets WCAG AAA contrast requirements. An optional high-contrast mode increases visibility further.

Reduced Motion

All animations respect the prefers-reduced-motion system setting. Animations are disabled entirely when this preference is active.

OpenDyslexic Font

An optional dyslexia-friendly font can be enabled in accessibility settings for improved readability.

AAC Symbol Support

Every story includes a Visual Support mode with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) symbol sequences for non-verbal or emerging communicators.

Sensory Load Controls

Stories are rated for sensory load (low/medium/high). No flashing content is ever used. Calming breaks are offered during extended reading sessions.

Touch Targets (44px minimum)

All interactive elements meet the WCAG minimum touch target size of 44x44 pixels for easy tapping on tablets and mobile devices.

Keyboard Navigation

Full keyboard navigation support including arrow keys for story pages, Escape to close modals, and visible focus indicators.

Screen Reader Support

Semantic HTML, ARIA labels, live regions for page transitions, and proper heading hierarchy ensure screen reader compatibility.

Reading Aids

Bionic reading (bold word beginnings), reading ruler overlay, and emotion colour coding help children focus and comprehend.

Text-to-Speech

Built-in TTS reads stories aloud with continuous reading mode and auto-advance between pages.

Known Limitations

  • AI-generated illustrations may not always include descriptive alt text beyond the scene description.
  • Custom stories created via the Story Wizard have not been clinically validated by human reviewers.
  • TTS audio quality depends on the Cloudflare Workers AI service and may vary by browser.

Feedback

We're always working to improve accessibility. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions, please let us know through our contact page or email us at accessibility@withsammy.org.

Standards

SammyStories aims to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AAA where possible and Level AA as a minimum. We test with screen readers (VoiceOver, NVDA), keyboard navigation, and automated accessibility tools.