Wordsmyth Accessibility Commitment & Remediation Roadmap
1. Our Commitment
Wordsmyth is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for students of all abilities. We are currently in the process of auditing and improving kids.wordsmyth.net to meet the standards of WCAG 2.1 Level AA, in alignment with the ADA Title II and state-specific requirements (including Colorado HB 21-1110).
2. Evaluation Methodology
To identify barriers, we utilize a combination of automated testing tools (including the WebAIM WAVE suite) and manual keyboard navigation audits.
- Current Baseline Score: 5.9/10 (January 2026)
- Target Score: 9.5+/10 by Q4 2026
3. Known Non-Conformances & Remediation Timeline
Under the "Good Faith" provisions of our educational agreements, we have identified the following areas for immediate improvement:
| Priority | Issue Area | Remediation Goal | Target Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Form Labels & ARIA | Ensure search bars and buttons are correctly labeled for screen readers. | Q1 2026 |
| High | Color Contrast | Adjust WILD interface and text colors to meet 4.5:1 ratio. | Q1 2026 |
| Medium | Keyboard Nav | Ensure all dictionary features are accessible via Tab and Enter keys. | Q2 2026 |
| Medium | Alt-Text | Add descriptive text to all WILD illustrations and animations. | Q2 2026 |
4. Interim Workarounds
While we work toward full technical compliance, users may employ the following workarounds:
- Visual Support: For users with low vision, the site supports standard browser zooming (up to 200%) without loss of core functionality.
- Audio Support: Definitions and example sentences in WILD entries include built-in audio. For entries without built-in audio, we recommend using the "Speak Selection" feature built into Chrome, iOS, or Windows.
- Assistance: If a student or teacher encounters a specific barrier, they may contact our support team at [email protected] for a manual text version of the required content.
5. Responsible Parties
- Project Oversight: Angela Zhang, Product Manager (Planning and Accountability)
- Technical Implementation: Tolya Popikhin, Chief Architect (Core Code and ARIA Implementation)
- Design Standards: Andrea Ospina, Designer (Visual Compliance and Contrast)