Our Commitment to Accessibility
SpoonieFans, operated by Pickii Group, LLC, is built for and by people living with chronic illness — a community in which disability, sensory differences, cognitive variability, and the daily reality of limited energy are not edge cases. They are the norm. Accessibility is not a feature we added later. It is foundational to who we are and what we exist to do.
We are committed to providing a digital experience that is usable, understandable, and welcoming to as many people as possible, regardless of ability, assistive technology, or how many spoons they have today.
💚 Our goal: every spoonie should be able to fully participate in this community — as a creator, a subscriber, a commenter, or simply a reader — without their disability being a barrier.
Standards We Follow
SpoonieFans aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities, including:
- Visual disabilities (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
- Hearing disabilities (deafness, hard of hearing, auditory processing differences)
- Motor and mobility disabilities (limited dexterity, tremors, paralysis, chronic pain)
- Cognitive and neurological disabilities (brain fog, ADHD, autism, learning differences, memory issues)
- Speech disabilities
- Photosensitivity (epilepsy, vestibular disorders, migraine triggers)
We also strive to align with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III requirements for digital accessibility, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (where applicable), and the European Accessibility Act principles for users in the EU.
Accessibility Features Built Into SpoonieFans
We have built — or are actively building — the following accessibility features into the Platform:
Visual Accessibility
- High color contrast ratios meeting or exceeding WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
- Resizable text up to 200% without loss of functionality
- Dark mode and light mode options
- Compatibility with screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- Descriptive alt text fields for all uploaded images, with prompts encouraging creators to provide them
- Logical heading structure for screen reader navigation
- Visible focus indicators for keyboard navigation
- No information conveyed by color alone
Hearing Accessibility
- Caption support for video content, with creator tools to add or auto-generate captions
- Transcript fields for audio content (podcasts, voice notes)
- Visual indicators for audio cues and notifications
- Sign language video support encouraged for creators
Motor Accessibility
- Full keyboard navigation — every interactive element reachable without a mouse
- Large tap targets (minimum 44x44 pixels) for touch devices
- No time-limited interactions that cannot be extended or paused
- Voice control compatibility (Voice Access, Voice Control)
- Drag-and-drop alternatives (every drag action has a non-drag option)
Cognitive & Neurological Accessibility
- Plain language used wherever possible across the Platform
- Consistent navigation and predictable layouts
- Clear error messages with specific guidance on how to fix them
- Option to reduce motion and disable autoplaying videos
- Content warnings encouraged on all sensitive posts
- "Low-spoon" content formatting options for creators (short-form, simple layouts, gentle pacing)
- Bookmarking and "read later" features for users with limited focus or energy
- No flashing content above 3 flashes per second (photosensitivity safety)
Energy & Spoonie-Specific Accessibility
Because chronic illness often involves cognitive fatigue, sensory overload, and unpredictable energy, we have built features specifically with low-spoon days in mind:
- Minimal, calming visual design — no aggressive autoplay, no overwhelming animations
- Optional "Low-Spoon Mode" that simplifies the interface, reduces visual noise, and limits notifications
- Voice-to-text input for users who cannot type comfortably
- Drafts saved automatically — no penalty for needing to step away mid-post
- Adjustable notification frequency, including quiet hours and full pause options
Assistive Technology Compatibility
SpoonieFans is designed to work with commonly used assistive technologies, including:
- Screen readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver (macOS/iOS), TalkBack (Android), Narrator (Windows)
- Screen magnifiers: ZoomText, built-in OS magnifiers
- Speech recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Voice Control, Voice Access
- Switch access devices
- Eye-tracking software
- Browser accessibility extensions (high contrast modes, dyslexia-friendly fonts, reading rulers)
Known Limitations
We are committed to honesty about where we fall short. Despite our efforts, some areas of the Platform may not yet be fully accessible. Known limitations may include:
- User-generated content (videos, images, posts) may not always include captions, alt text, or transcripts — we encourage creators to add them but cannot guarantee compliance
- Some third-party embedded content (payment forms, analytics widgets) may have accessibility limitations beyond our direct control
- Newly released features may take time to be fully tested with all assistive technologies
- Auto-generated captions for video and audio may contain errors and should not be considered a replacement for human-created captions
When we identify accessibility barriers, we prioritize fixing them. If something is not working for you, please tell us — see "Reporting Accessibility Issues" below.
Ongoing Accessibility Work
Accessibility is never "done." Our ongoing commitments include:
- Annual third-party accessibility audits against WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- Internal accessibility testing as part of every new feature release
- Accessibility training for our entire product, design, and engineering team
- Including disabled users — particularly chronic illness community members — in user research and testing
- Publishing accessibility improvements in our changelog
- Continuously expanding language and translation support
Creators & Accessibility
Creators play a critical role in making SpoonieFans accessible. While we provide the tools, much of the content on the Platform is created by you. We strongly encourage all creators to:
- Add descriptive alt text to every image you upload
- Add captions or transcripts to video and audio content
- Use content warnings (CW: flashing, CW: graphic medical, CW: distressing topic) on relevant posts
- Use plain, clear language whenever possible
- Avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning
- Avoid posting flashing or strobing content
- Format text for readability: short paragraphs, clear headings, generous spacing
💡 Accessibility Benefit: Accessibility is not extra work — it is how you reach more of your community. Every accessibility improvement you make brings your content to subscribers who otherwise could not engage with it.
Reporting Accessibility Issues
If you encounter any accessibility barrier on SpoonieFans — anything that prevents you from using the Platform fully — please tell us. Your feedback directly shapes what we fix and when.
Please include:
- A description of the issue (what you were trying to do, what happened)
- The page or feature where it occurred (URL if possible)
- The device, browser, and assistive technology you were using (if you are comfortable sharing)
- Any screenshots, screen recordings, or examples that help illustrate the problem
How to reach us:
Response Commitment
- We will acknowledge your report within 3 business days
- We will provide an initial assessment and proposed timeline within 10 business days
- We will work with you to provide an alternative way to access the content or feature in the meantime, where possible
- We will update you when the issue is resolved
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
We aim to comply with the following accessibility laws and standards where applicable:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III — United States
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act — for federal-related services
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA — international standard
- European Accessibility Act (EAA) — for EU users, effective June 2025
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) — for Ontario, Canada users
- Equality Act 2010 — for United Kingdom users
Formal Complaints
If you believe we have failed to provide an accessible service and your concern has not been resolved by contacting accessibility@spooniefans.com, you may file a formal complaint with us at legal@spooniefans.com. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may also have the right to file a complaint with a relevant regulatory body (e.g., the U.S. Department of Justice for ADA matters). We encourage you to contact us first so we have the opportunity to address your concern directly.
Updates to This Statement
We will update this Accessibility Statement as our Platform evolves, our accessibility features improve, and applicable laws change. The "Last Updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. We recommend reviewing this statement periodically.