BizBarrel Accessibility Statement

1. Commitment

BizBarrel Inc. is committed to providing a platform that is accessible, usable, and inclusive for all users. BB is designed to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Our goal is to ensure that all users can access BB’s features, content, and functions without barriers.

2. Accessibility Features

BB includes the following accessibility measures:

• Keyboard navigation: Primary public flows (navigation, modals, reader drawer, compose/reply) support keyboard use. Escape closes stacked dialogs where implemented.
• Screen reader compatibility: Interface elements use semantic markup and ARIA attributes where appropriate (landmarks, labels, live regions).
• Display presets: Standard, High contrast, and Comfort presets adjust borders, tap targets, and type scale on public pages and in signed-in workspaces.
• Theme options: Light, soft, dark, and glass themes on Forums, Blog, Help, and signed-in Cockpit surfaces.
• Resizable text: Browser text zoom and Comfort preset larger type are supported without breaking primary layouts on public pages.
• Mobile-friendly public shell: Collapsible site navigation, touch-sized controls, and responsive layouts on Home, Forums, Blog, Help, and legal pages.
• Error identification: Forms and actions provide clear status messages where validation applies.

3. Display Presets & Themes

Use the Display control (⊙) in the site header on public pages to cycle Standard → High contrast → Comfort. On Forums, Blog, Help, and legal pages, the Theme control (🌓) cycles light, soft, dark, and glass color themes. Presets and themes stack — any combination is allowed.

Signed-in members: preferences sync with your account when saved. Guests: display choice is remembered in the browser for return visits to public pages.

The marketing home page (index.html) stays light-branded for consistent branding but still honors your Display preset.

4. Mobile Access

Public-facing pages — Home, Forums, Blog, Help, Support, Feedback, and legal/trust pages — are designed for phones and tablets at common widths (about 375px and up).

• Site navigation collapses to a Menu control on narrow screens.
• Forums: thread reader opens as a slide-over drawer; compose and reply use full-width, keyboard-safe modals.
• Blog: post reading and comment threads reflow for narrow viewports.
• Help: topic cards stack in a single column on small screens.
• Cockpit companion (signed in): Bottom nav (Shared · Today · Group · More), FAB quick capture, list→detail readers for Archive/Research/Photos/Group, Shared inbox drawer, and Today lite dashboard. Theme and Display presets apply to companion chrome.

Display presets (especially Comfort and High contrast) apply on mobile public pages, not only in Cockpit.

5. Known Limitations

We document current gaps honestly so expectations stay clear during alpha:

• Cockpit companion (mobile): At ≤720px, Cockpit uses bottom navigation, quick capture (+), Shared-first inbox, list→detail readers (Archive, Research, Photos, Group), and a simplified Today view. Sheets support Escape to close and keyboard focus return. Full multi-pane modes (Composer, cabinet lenses, drag reorder) remain desktop-first.
• Cockpit workspace (desktop): Optimized for desktop and large screens. Complex multi-pane modes (Composer, Dashboard, Notepad, etc.) may require horizontal scrolling or zoom on small phones.
• Budget: Accounting views are desktop-first; a simplified mobile-friendly lens exists but is not the primary focus of mobile work.
• Third-party embeds: YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, and similar embeds in posts follow the provider’s own accessibility.
• Alpha state: Some flows (Support checkout, Feedback form email) are placeholders. Automated WCAG scans do not replace manual testing of real devices.
• Glass theme + High contrast: Backdrop blur is disabled in High contrast to improve legibility; surfaces may look flatter than in Standard.

6. Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing process. BizBarrel Inc. conducts:

• Regular accessibility reviews
• Automated WCAG compliance testing
• Manual audits of new features
• User feedback evaluations
• Updates to address identified issues

We integrate accessibility considerations into design, development, and testing workflows.

7. Third-Party Content

Some features may rely on third-party services or integrations. While we aim to ensure accessibility across all components, we cannot guarantee compliance for external providers. We select partners who demonstrate strong accessibility practices.

8. Feedback & Support

We welcome feedback on accessibility and usability. Users can request assistance, report barriers, or ask for accessible formats.

BizBarrel Inc.
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Email: accessibility@bizbarrel.app

We respond to accessibility inquiries within a reasonable timeframe.

9. Alternative Formats

Upon request, BizBarrel Inc. will provide this Accessibility Statement and other platform documentation in accessible formats, including:

• Large print
• Plain text
• Screen-reader-optimized versions
• Other formats as required under AODA

10. Compliance Status

BB is designed to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA on public-facing surfaces and is actively improved toward that goal across signed-in workspaces.

Full conformance is not claimed for every Cockpit mode on every device size during alpha. Where gaps remain, remediation is prioritized by user impact; report barriers using the contact below.