Handshapes is a platform built for the Deaf community. Accessibility isn't a checkbox — it's foundational to what we do.
Handshapes is working toward conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA. We believe everyone who depends on interpreting services — Deaf consumers, interpreters, agency staff, and customers — deserves an interface that works for them.
We are actively testing and remediating our application. Where we haven't yet achieved full conformance, we're transparent about it and committed to making progress.
We use a combination of automated and manual testing to identify and fix accessibility barriers.
Every pull request runs axe-core accessibility scans against key views via Playwright, plus Lighthouse CI accessibility audits in our CI pipeline. Violations above our threshold block the build.
We test core workflows with VoiceOver on macOS and iOS, keyboard-only navigation, and high-contrast mode. We check focus management, heading hierarchy, form error association, and screen reader announcements.
Accessibility isn't a one-time audit. Our CI pipeline continuously enforces accessibility standards on every code change, and we regularly expand coverage to new views and workflows.
Our axe-core audit suite covers the following key views, chosen for their frequency of use and diversity of interface patterns:
We are continuously expanding this list as new views and workflows are added.
We believe in being transparent about what we haven't yet fixed. The following are known issues we are actively working to resolve:
| Issue | Impact | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Some heading levels skip (e.g. h1 to h3) on detail views | Moderate | Tracked for fix |
| Calendar views have limited keyboard navigation for drag-and-drop interactions | Moderate | Investigating alternatives |
| Some third-party embedded content (e.g. document signing) may not meet AA standards | Moderate | Working with vendors |
If you encounter an accessibility barrier not listed here, please let us know.
We evaluate our application against:
If you encounter a barrier or have suggestions for improving accessibility, we want to hear from you. We take every report seriously.
[email protected]