Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Inclusive Shopping

Last Updated: December 2024

Our Commitment

At Hippie and the Geek, we believe that everyone should be able to shop online with ease and dignity. We are committed to ensuring our website is accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

We continuously work to improve the accessibility of our website and services to provide an excellent experience for all our customers, regardless of the technology or abilities they bring to the table.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance

Our website aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities.

Perceivable

Alternative text for images, proper color contrast, and text alternatives for non-text content.

Operable

Full keyboard navigation, no keyboard traps, and sufficient time for interactions.

Understandable

Clear instructions, helpful error messages, and consistent navigation.

Robust

Compatible with assistive technologies and follows web standards.

Accessibility Features

Keyboard Navigation

  • Tab:Navigate through interactive elements
  • Shift + Tab:Navigate backwards
  • Enter/Space:Activate buttons and links
  • Escape:Close modals and dropdowns
  • Arrow Keys:Navigate through menus and suggestions
  • Cmd/Ctrl + K:Open search (coming soon)

Screen Reader Support

Our website is compatible with popular screen readers:

  • JAWS (Windows)
  • NVDA (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (macOS, iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)

Our site provides live announcements for dynamic content updates like cart changes, search results, and form validations.

What We've Implemented

Semantic HTML & ARIA

  • • Proper heading hierarchy (h1-h6)
  • • Semantic landmarks (nav, main, footer)
  • • ARIA labels on all interactive elements
  • • Form fields with proper labels and instructions
  • • Error messages announced to screen readers

Visual Design

  • • High contrast text (4.5:1 minimum ratio)
  • • Focus indicators on all interactive elements
  • • Consistent, predictable navigation
  • • Clear visual hierarchy
  • • Responsive design for all screen sizes

Dynamic Content

  • • Live announcements for cart updates
  • • Search result counts announced
  • • Filter application feedback
  • • Loading state announcements
  • • Form validation announcements

Navigation & Interaction

  • • Skip to main content link
  • • Keyboard-accessible menus and modals
  • • No keyboard traps
  • • Descriptive link text
  • • Clear button and control labels

Known Limitations

While we strive for full accessibility, we're aware of some areas that need improvement:

  • • Some product images uploaded by vendors may lack optimal alt text
  • • PDF documents may not be fully accessible - we provide alternative formats upon request
  • • Third-party payment widgets (Stripe) may have their own accessibility considerations
  • • Complex data visualizations in admin dashboard are being enhanced

We are actively working to address these limitations and appreciate your patience as we improve.

Feedback & Assistance

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

Response Time

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 2 business days and work towards resolving issues within 14 business days.

Testing & Standards

Our website has been tested with:

  • Automated accessibility testing tools (axe DevTools, Lighthouse)
  • Manual keyboard navigation testing
  • Screen reader testing (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
  • Color contrast analysis
  • Focus management verification

We follow the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide for implementing interactive patterns and continuously monitor our site for accessibility issues.

Questions or Concerns?

We're here to help ensure you have the best shopping experience possible.