Accessibility & inclusion
Access Compass · accesscompass.uk · last reviewed July 2026
Access Compass is built on a simple belief: an accessible app isn't a special version for disabled people, it's a better app for everyone. Access isn't a bolted-on feature here, it's the design language of the whole product. One experience, with access woven in, so a screen-reader user, someone who finds small text hard to read, and a busy carer looking something up on a phone all get what they need from the same place. (Read why we built it →)
It was founded and is led by a registered severely sight-impaired developer, who uses the app daily with assistive technology. This page says plainly what we've built, the standard we aim for, what doesn't work well yet, and how to tell us when something fails for you.
What we aim for
We design to WCAG 2.1 level AA as our target across the app and the how-to guides, and we keep improving. We are not formally certified, and we do not claim to "exceed AAA": we would rather tell you about a limitation than pretend it isn't there. Accessibility is something we work at continually, not a box we have ticked.
What's built in
- High-contrast light and dark themes, with a high-contrast option, and colour never used as the only way to convey meaning.
- Adjustable text size, on top of your browser's own zoom.
- A dyslexia-friendly reading font you can turn on.
- A reduced-motion option, and your device's own reduced-motion setting respected.
- Keyboard support throughout, with a visible focus indicator.
- Screen-reader labels on service and guide cards, and semantic, well-structured headings.
- An access profile you can set once, so lists and results adapt to what matters to you.
- Works offline once loaded, so you can look something up without a connection.
- Structured, sourced accessibility information on places, covering mobility, sensory environment, vision and hearing, and carer/companion needs, so you can judge for yourself whether somewhere will work for you rather than relying on a single "accessible: yes/no" flag.
- A signed video option (BSL or Auslan) on some guides, so the information itself, not just the page, is accessible to Deaf sign-language users. We are adding this to more guides over time.
Using the access settings
Open the access button in the top bar at any time. Everything here is optional. These controls change how Access Compass presents information and how it helps you find services; they do not diagnose you, certify a service, or share your needs with an organisation without your choosing to share them.
Text size
What it does: makes the app's text normal, large or extra large, alongside your device zoom.
Who it may help: people with low vision, visual fatigue, headaches, dyslexia, or anyone reading on a small screen.
Dark mode and contrast
What it does: changes the page colours and keeps text and controls distinguishable without relying on colour alone.
Who it may help: people sensitive to glare, light, contrast or screen brightness. Choose whichever is more comfortable; there is no correct choice.
Dyslexia-friendly reading and Easy Read
What it does: adds more spacing and a softer reading background; Easy Read presents key service and access facts as shorter, clearer steps where available.
Who it may help: people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, cognitive fatigue, or anyone who prefers information in smaller steps.
My access needs
What it does: lets you select the information that matters to you, including step-free routes, parking, toilets, Changing Places, terrain, sensory, vision and hearing details.
Who it may help: anyone comparing services around their own circumstances. A missing or “not yet checked” detail means exactly that, never automatically unsuitable.
My pace and list behaviour
What it does: a gentle, steady or full-on pace helps you judge how much to plan; list settings can show everything, hide verified conflicts, or show only verified matches.
Who it may help: people managing fatigue, pain, breathing, recovery time, children, or a busy day. These are planning aids, not medical advice or guarantees.
Suggested map layers
What it does: suggests live layers such as accessible places, Changing Places, toilets or accessible parking when they match your selected needs.
Who it may help: anyone who wants practical facilities near a service or journey. Live layers need a connection and may come from a different source than the directory record.
Map and 3D globe
What it does: keeps the flat map as the default and lets you opt into a 3D globe. The written service list and guide content remain available without relying on map movement.
Who it may help: the flat map is often clearer for low vision, no depth perception, motion sensitivity and screen readers; the globe is an optional visual overview.
Distance and size units
What it does: switches distances between miles and kilometres, and measurements between metres and feet.
Who it may help: everyone comparing services across countries, or anyone who needs measurements in the units they use comfortably.
Share my access needs
What it does: creates a plain-English Access Passport you can copy or share with a service, venue, carer or travel companion. It contains the needs you choose, not your name or diagnosis.
Who it may help: anyone tired of explaining the same requirements repeatedly. Check the wording before sending it and share only what you want the recipient to know.
Memberships and reminders
What it does: records memberships you choose to save on this device and can remind you about renewal dates. It helps explain possible concessions; it never proves eligibility or promises a service outcome.
Who it may help: people using membership or concession schemes. Always check the organisation's current terms, regional scope and proof requirements.
Confirm or correct listing information
What it does: lets you say whether information looked right and send a correction for human review. Reports wait safely on the device if you are offline.
Who it may help: every service user, family and carer. First-hand reports help keep opening times, eligibility, contact details and access information honest, but a report does not change a public listing automatically.
Known limitations, honestly
- Access Compass has full local packs for Northamptonshire and the Bedfordshire family (Luton, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire), a trial pack for Rutland, small early "seed" packs for Essex, Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire, a UK-wide Accessible Air Travel pack, and Victoria in Australia. Coverage varies a lot between full and seed packs; the area picker labels each one honestly, and we are adding to it, and to new regions, over time.
- The listings are public directory information gathered from each service. Details such as opening hours, eligibility and contact details can change, so please confirm with the service directly before relying on them.
- Structured accessibility information is not yet complete for every place: where a detail is missing, that means it hasn't been checked yet, never that a place is unsuitable.
- Signed video (BSL/Auslan) is currently only available for a small number of guides, not the whole app.
- We are always improving keyboard and screen-reader support and welcome reports of anything that gets in your way.
How we test
Contrast, focus behaviour, text resizing and reduced-motion are checked in the rendered app (not just in design mock-ups) as we build, alongside screen-reader spot checks. The founder uses the app daily with assistive technology. Automated checks catch only part of the picture, so we pair them with keyboard and screen-reader testing and real use. Being checked with a tool is not the same as being certified compliant, and we never claim to be: we report what works, what does not yet, and keep fixing it.
Tell us when something doesn't work
If any part of Access Compass doesn't work with your assistive technology, or a listing is wrong or out of date, use Suggest an update in the app. It creates a receipt-backed report for review; email is offered only if that service is unavailable. Reports from disabled users, families and carers are treated as the most important feedback we get, and they genuinely help us improve.