Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment

We believe that everyone deserves equal access to find their perfect pet companion. PetAdoption.ai strives to ensure that our platform is accessible to all users, regardless of ability or the technology they use to access the web.

Our goal is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities and more user-friendly for everyone.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following accessibility features throughout PetAdoption.ai:

Navigation and Structure

• Consistent navigation across all pages
• Clear page headings organized in a logical hierarchy
• Skip navigation links to bypass repetitive content
• Descriptive page titles that identify the current page
• Breadcrumb navigation where applicable
• Logical focus order for keyboard navigation

Visual Design

• Sufficient color contrast between text and backgrounds
• Color is not used as the only means of conveying information
• Resizable text that maintains readability when enlarged up to 200%
• Clear visual focus indicators for interactive elements
• Consistent spacing and layout for readability

Images and Media

• Alternative text descriptions for all meaningful images
• Decorative images are appropriately marked to be ignored by assistive technology
• Pet photos include descriptive alt text noting breed, color, and distinguishing features

Forms and Interactive Elements

• Clear labels associated with all form fields
• Error messages that identify the field and describe how to correct the error
• Instructions for complex forms and multi-step processes
• Buttons and links with descriptive text indicating their purpose
• Sufficient time provided for time-limited operations

Keyboard Accessibility

• All functionality available via keyboard
• No keyboard traps that prevent users from navigating away
• Visible focus indicators on all interactive elements
• Logical tab order following visual layout

Assistive Technology Compatibility

PetAdoption.ai is designed to be compatible with common assistive technologies:

AI Chatbot Accessibility

Our AI-powered pet matching chatbot is designed with accessibility in mind:

• Full keyboard navigation support
• Screen reader announcements for new messages
• Clear visual distinction between user and AI messages
• Alternative form-based search option for users who prefer traditional interfaces
• Text-based interaction that doesn't rely on voice input

Mobile Accessibility

Our responsive design ensures accessibility on mobile devices:

• Touch targets sized appropriately for easy tapping
• Responsive layout that adapts to different screen sizes
• Compatibility with mobile screen readers (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
• Support for system-level accessibility settings
• Landscape and portrait orientation support

Known Limitations

While we strive for full accessibility, some areas are still being improved:

• Some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible; we are working to remediate these
• Third-party content from partner shelters may have varying accessibility levels
• Some interactive map features may have limited screen reader support

We are actively working to address these limitations and welcome your feedback on areas needing improvement.

Browser Recommendations

For the best accessible experience, we recommend using the latest versions of:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

We also recommend keeping your assistive technology software updated to the latest version for optimal compatibility.

Accessibility Settings Tips

Here are some ways to customize your experience:

Increasing Text Size

Use your browser's zoom feature (Ctrl/Cmd + Plus) to increase text size. Our layout will adapt to larger text sizes.

High Contrast

Enable high contrast mode in your operating system settings for enhanced visibility. Our design supports system-level contrast preferences.

Reduced Motion

If you prefer reduced motion, enable the "Reduce Motion" setting in your system preferences. Our platform respects this preference and will minimize animations.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of PetAdoption.ai. If you encounter accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know:

Alternative Formats

If you need information from our website in an alternative format, please contact us. We can provide:

• Large print versions of content
• Plain text alternatives
• Phone assistance for navigating the platform
• Email support for completing adoption inquiries

Third-Party Content

PetAdoption.ai aggregates listings from many shelter and rescue organizations. While we encourage our partners to follow accessibility best practices, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of content they provide. We are working with partners to improve accessibility across the platform.

Compliance Status

PetAdoption.ai is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. "Partially conformant" means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard, and we are actively working toward full conformance.

We conduct regular accessibility audits and prioritize remediation based on user impact. Our most recent audit was completed in January 2025.

Legal Compliance

This statement was prepared in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are committed to meeting the accessibility requirements set forth in these laws.