Accessibility

Social Pinpoint is committed to creating meaningful web products that can be used by all users, regardless of their ability or circumstance. We endeavor to make our web products as accessible as possible and follow the WCAG Guidelines to guide us on creating compliant outputs, with our current target being Level AA compliance. Upon request, a VPAT report for WCAG 2.2 standards, based on VPAT® Version 2.5, is available to provide detailed information on our accessibility conformance.

Accessibility is a key priority for us, as we are dedicated to creating a platform that is inclusive and user-friendly for everyone. To help you make your content more accessible, we’ve compiled some essential tips and highlighted specific areas of our platform where accessibility considerations may be needed.

For a comprehensive overview of our platform's accessibility features and compliance, you can view our Accessibility statement on our website here.


Creating Accessible Content on Our Platform

Ensuring that your content is accessible is essential for creating an inclusive experience for all users. Here are some key tips to keep in mind:

1. Use Plain Language

Avoid jargon: Stick to simple, clear language that everyone can understand.

2. Structure Content with Headings

Break text into short paragraphs: This improves readability and helps users with cognitive disabilities.

Use heading elements (H1, H2, H3, etc.): Properly structured headings allow screen readers to navigate the content more easily.

3. Format Text Thoughtfully

Avoid using all caps: It can be difficult to read fro some users.

Limit excessive italics or bold: These can make text harder to read for some users.


4. Provide Descriptive Alt Text

For informative images: Include descriptive alt text to convey the image’s purpose or information.

For decorative images: It is best practice not to add alt text to decorative images. This avoids adding unnecessary audible clutter to screen reader output and prevents distractions, especially if the image's topic differs from the adjacent text. i.e. Images used in banners.


5. Use Descriptive Link Text

Avoid generic phrases like "click here": Instead, use text that clearly describes the link’s destination or action.


6. Avoid Flashing or Blinking Content

Prevent seizures: Content that flashes or blinks can trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy.


7. Reconsider Emojis and Icons

Accessibility issues: These may not be interpreted incorrectly by screen readers or could be confusing without additional context.


8. Ensure Videos are Accessible

Provide text transcripts: Make sure all videos have accompanying text transcripts for those deaf or hard of hearing users.


Accessibility Considerations on Our Platform

While we aim to make our platform as accessible as possible, there are some areas where accessibility may currently be limited or to be aware of when configuring a tools.


Quick Poll

  • Pie chart results: The alternative text for screen readers is not displaying correctly.


Gather

  • Video uploads: Currently, users cannot upload videos as the platform does not provide text transcripts for accessibility.


Social Map

  • Contrast issues: Some areas of the social map do not meet contrast requirements.
  • Keyboard accessibility: Map pins are not currently focusable via keyboard.
  • Location features: The "Find my location" feature triggers a pulsing location indicator that may be disorienting. This can be toggled off by clicking "Find my location" again.
  • Auto-suggest control: This third-party control is not fully accessible with screen readers.


Form

  • Ranking element: The drag-and-drop functionality is not keyboard accessible.


Hotspot

  • Hotspot titles: Ensure that all hotspots include a descriptive title for clarity.


Faces

  • Quotes: If you use this tool for quotes, it will not meet accessibility standards as screen readers won’t recognise the content as a quote.


Quote

  • Non-quotes: If you use this tool for content that isn’t a quote, it won't meet accessibility standards because screen readers will still interpret it as a quote.


General Platform Issues

  • Notification messages: These fade away automatically rather than allowing users to dismiss them manually.
  • Combo box selectors: These are not currently accessible with screen readers.


Conclusion

Creating accessible content is crucial to ensuring that everyone in your community can engage and participate fully. By following these tips and being aware of any specific limitations, you can help make your content more inclusive and accessible to all users.


Please feel free to reach out to your dedicated Customer Success Manager or our support team at help@socialpinpoint.com for more information.