Accessibility Statement

ADA Help exists because disabled New Yorkers get shut out of places that are open to the public. A website that shuts people out would make us part of the problem. We work to make ada-help.org usable by as many people as possible, including people who use screen readers, magnification, speech input, switch devices, or a keyboard alone.

This statement describes what we aim for, what we have actually done, what we know still falls short, and how to reach a person if the site gets in your way.

The standard we aim for

Our target is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA (opens in a new tab). That is the standard we measure our own work against and the one we use when we decide whether something is a defect.

We do not claim that ada-help.org fully conforms to WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and we hold no accessibility certification. Parts of the site have been tested more thoroughly than others, and new content goes up regularly. Treating accessibility as finished is how it stops being maintained.

What we have done

• Semantic HTML. Pages are built from real headings, lists, landmarks, and form elements, in a reading order that matches the visual order, so assistive technology can present the structure rather than guess at it.
• Keyboard operability. Navigation, links, forms, and the chat window can be reached and used with a keyboard alone, with no keyboard traps.
• Visible focus. Every interactive element shows a focus indicator, including on dark backgrounds, where the default indicator would disappear.
• A skip link.Every page starts with a “skip to content” link so keyboard and screen reader users can pass the header.
• Labelled forms with announced errors. Every field has a bound label, required fields say so in text rather than by colour or an asterisk alone, and validation errors are announced and take focus instead of appearing silently.
• Contrast checks. Text and interface colours are checked against the WCAG contrast ratios, and brand colours that failed have been replaced with darker variants where they carry text.
• Screen reader testing of the forms. The intake, petition, and survey forms have been walked through with a screen reader, because those are the pages where a barrier costs someone a claim rather than a click.
• Reduced motion. Animations and transitions are switched off for visitors whose system asks for reduced motion.

Known limitations

We would rather name these than let you discover them:

• Third-party embeds and content. Some features are supplied by other companies, including the scheduling and e-signature steps and any embedded video. We do not control their code, and parts of it may fall short of our target standard.
• Older blog images. Some images published earlier in the life of the blog have thin or missing alternative text, and some illustrations carry text inside the image. We are working through them.
• Documents. Downloadable guides and PDFs may not be fully tagged for screen readers. Ask us and we will send the content in another format.
• Automated and machine-assisted content. Parts of the blog are drafted with automated tooling and reviewed afterwards, which means accessibility defects can reach the page before a person catches them.

We fix issues as they are reported, and reported problems go ahead of planned work.

Report a barrier, or get help

If any part of this site is hard or impossible for you to use, tell us. You do not need to describe the technical cause; telling us what you were trying to do is enough.

• Phone: (845) 613-9972
• Email: info@ada-help.org

It helps if you can include the page address, what you were trying to do, and the browser or assistive technology you were using. We aim to respond within 5 business days. If a fix will take longer than that, our reply will tell you what we are doing and when to expect it.

Alternative formats and help by phone

You never have to use this website to reach us. Anything the site offers, we can do another way:

• Any form on this site can be completed by phone. Call (845) 613-9972 and a person will take your answers and fill it in with you, including the case check, the petition, and the survey.
• Alternative formats on request. We can send any page or document as plain text, large print, or accessible email, at no cost. Email info@ada-help.org and say which format suits you.
• Communication preferences. Tell us how you would rather be contacted, including if you need us to avoid phone calls, and we will use that instead.

How this page is maintained

We review this statement when the site changes materially and at least once a year. It was last reviewed on September 17, 2026. It describes ada-help.org only, not the third-party services linked from it.