Accessibility Statement
Helm is committed to making our platform usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Accessibility is part of how we build, not an afterthought.
Our conformance target
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are the internationally recognized standard for making web content more accessible. We treat WCAG 2.1 AA as the bar for our website and web app.
Helm is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 AA. "Partially conformant" means that most of the platform meets the standard, and we are actively working to bring the remaining areas into full conformance.
What we've done
Steps we have taken to make Helm accessible include:
- Readable color contrast. Text and interface colors are set to meet the WCAG AA contrast ratios so content is easier to read for people with low vision.
- Visible keyboard focus. A clear focus indicator follows you as you move through the site with a keyboard, so you always know where you are.
- Full keyboard operation. You can reach and operate the main features of Helm using a keyboard alone, without a mouse.
- Reduced motion. If your device is set to "reduce motion," Helm minimizes animations and transitions to help people who are sensitive to movement.
- Text alternatives. Meaningful images include alternative text so screen readers can describe them.
- Clear structure. Pages use proper headings, landmarks, and labels so assistive technology can navigate them.
- Responsive and zoom-friendly. Layouts adapt to your screen and remain usable when you zoom in or increase text size.
Known limitations
Despite our efforts, some content may not yet be fully accessible. We are aware of, and working on, the following:
- Live video and user-uploaded media. Live streams and media that members upload may not always include captions or descriptive text, because that content is created by users.
- Third-party content. Some embedded or third-party components may not fully meet our standard while we work with providers to improve them.
- Ongoing improvements. As we ship new features quickly, individual pages may temporarily fall short before we bring them up to standard.
If you run into a barrier that isn't listed here, please tell us — real feedback helps us prioritize.
Tell us about accessibility problems
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Helm. If you encounter a barrier, or need content in a different format, contact us:
Email: accessibility@helmsocial.app
To help us respond quickly, please include the page or feature where you had the problem, what you were trying to do, and the assistive technology or browser you were using. We aim to respond within 5 business days.
How we test
We evaluate Helm using a combination of automated accessibility testing tools and manual review, including keyboard-only navigation and testing with screen readers. Accessibility testing is part of our ongoing development process, not a one-time check.
Compatibility
Helm is designed to work with current versions of major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge) and the assistive technologies commonly used with them, such as screen readers and screen magnifiers. Using the most recent versions gives the best experience.