Accessibility (ADA) Policy

At Hay Hutch, we are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. As a site dedicated to guinea pig care, habitat setup, and general small-pet wellbeing, we continually work to improve the experience for all visitors and follow recognized accessibility standards to achieve this goal.

Our Commitment

We aim to provide a website that is usable and accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We actively enhance the accessibility and usability of Hay Hutch and strive to meet applicable guidelines and best practices when producing and maintaining site content.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. They describe three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

Hay Hutch is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. “Partially conformant” means that some parts of the content may not fully meet the accessibility standard. We continuously monitor and work to improve our conformance level.

Measures to Support Accessibility

Hay Hutch takes the following measures to ensure accessibility:

  • Integrating accessibility into our development process: We consider accessibility at every stage of website design, content creation, and maintenance.
  • Employing formal accessibility quality assurance methods: We use a mix of automated tools and manual testing to find and fix barriers to access.
  • Providing continual accessibility training for our staff: We train our team on accessible content practices and inclusive design.
  • Appointing an accessibility officer or team: Dedicated staff oversee and coordinate our accessibility efforts.

Technical Specifications

Accessibility of Hay Hutch relies on the following technologies to function with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins you may have installed:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used on this site.

Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technology

Hay Hutch is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

  • Screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
  • Screen magnification software
  • Voice recognition software
  • Keyboard-only navigation

The website is designed to work with current and recent versions of major web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Limitations and Alternatives

Despite our efforts to ensure the accessibility of Hay Hutch, there may be some limitations. Please contact us if you encounter an issue. Below is a description of known limitations and potential alternatives.

  • Third-Party Content: Our site may include embedded content from third-party providers—such as videos, maps, or social feeds—that we do not fully control. We cannot guarantee the accessibility of these third-party elements but will work with vendors when possible to improve them.
  • Archived Documents: Some historical guides or resources may exist as scanned images or older file formats without full text alternatives. We are actively working to update and remediate archived materials.
  • Ongoing Improvements: We continually pursue solutions that will bring all areas of Hay Hutch up to a consistent level of web accessibility. If you experience difficulty accessing any part of the site, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Hay Hutch. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers. We aim to respond to feedback within 45 business days.

    When contacting us, please provide as much detail as possible about the issue you encountered and the page where it occurred, including device, browser, and any assistive technology used.

    Formal Complaints

    We aim to promptly and respectfully address accessibility concerns. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may pursue further action under the Americans with Disabilities Act or other applicable laws. We are committed to working with you to resolve any issues fairly and transparently.

    Assessment Approach

    Hay Hutch assesses the accessibility of its website through the following approaches:

    • Self-evaluation conducted by our internal team.