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Bower is used by researchers, clinicians, and students who work in very different ways. We want the product to be usable regardless of how you navigate it: keyboard only, screen reader, magnification, voice, or reduced motion.

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Conformance target

Bower targets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA.
We have not yet completed a formal evaluation against that target, so we make no conformance claim today. This page states what we are building toward and how to reach us, not a result. When we have completed an assessment we will publish the outcome here, including where we fall short.
WCAG has no certifying body. Conformance is always declared by the product owner, which is exactly why a claim is only worth what the evaluation behind it is worth. We would rather tell you we have not finished than publish a badge with nothing underneath it.

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What we are building toward

These are our design targets. They are not audited results.

Keyboard navigation

Core flows, including capture, the editor, and search, operable without a pointer, with a visible focus indicator throughout. The keyboard shortcuts reference covers what exists today.

Colour contrast

The Level AA ratios of 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface components, in both light and dark themes.

Semantic structure

Headings, landmarks, lists, and tables built on native HTML semantics, so a screen reader can navigate by structure rather than reading linearly.

Text alternatives

Alt text on images and attachments. Bird’s AI-generated descriptions can give you a starting point for a figure or photo, which you then correct.

Resize and reflow

Usable at 200% zoom without loss of content or function.

Reduced motion

Animation that respects the reduced-motion preference set in your operating system.

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Known gaps

Two parts of Bower are visual by nature, and we would rather name them now than have you discover them.

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Tell us about a barrier

If you hit something you cannot use, we want to hear about it. A specific report is worth more to us than a general audit.
  • Email: [email protected]
  • What helps: the page or feature, what you were trying to do, and your browser and assistive technology if you use one.
  • What we do: we acknowledge accessibility reports within two business days and tell you our plan and timeline, or give you a workaround.
If you need a VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report for a procurement or institutional review, email the same address. We will tell you honestly where our evaluation stands rather than send you a document we cannot stand behind. This statement was last reviewed in August 2026. We review it at least annually and whenever a major feature ships.