HookUp

Accessibility at HookUp

At HookUp, we believe that professional networking should be available to everyone. Our commitment to accessibility is not a feature we added — it is a principle we build on. Every professional deserves equal access to opportunities, connections, and the tools that advance their career.

Our Standards

HookUp is designed and developed to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level. We treat these guidelines as a minimum standard, not a ceiling. Where we can exceed AA requirements without compromising the experience for other users, we do.

We test against the following benchmarks:

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance across all public pages
  • Section 508 compliance for users accessing HookUp through assistive technology
  • WAI-ARIA authoring practices for all interactive components

Accessibility Features

Keyboard Navigation

Every feature on HookUp is fully operable using a keyboard alone. You can navigate between sections, open profiles, browse company pages, interact with feed items, and access all platform controls without a mouse or trackpad. Focus indicators are visible on all interactive elements so you always know where you are on the page.

Screen Reader Support

HookUp uses semantic HTML throughout — headings, landmarks, lists, and ARIA labels are structured so that screen readers can present the page hierarchy accurately. Images include descriptive alternative text. Interactive controls announce their state (expanded, collapsed, selected) to assistive technology.

Color and Contrast

All text and interactive elements meet WCAG AA contrast ratios (4.5:1 for body text, 3:1 for large text and UI components). We do not use color as the sole means of conveying information — icons, labels, and patterns accompany color-coded elements.

Dark Mode

HookUp offers a dark color theme that can be toggled from the navigation bar. The dark theme maintains the same contrast ratios and readability standards as the light theme. Your theme preference is saved and persists across sessions.

Reduced Motion

If your operating system is set to reduce motion, HookUp respects that preference automatically. Transitions, animations, and auto-playing visual effects are minimized or removed entirely. No content or functionality is lost when motion is reduced.

Text and Zoom

HookUp's layout responds to browser zoom levels up to 200% without loss of content or functionality. Text does not overflow, controls remain usable, and navigation stays accessible at increased zoom levels.

Focus Management

When modals, menus, or overlay panels open, keyboard focus moves to the new content and is trapped within it until the panel is closed. When a panel closes, focus returns to the element that triggered it. This prevents focus from getting lost behind overlays.

Known Limitations

We are continuously improving. The following areas are under active work:

  • PDF and document accessibility: Downloadable resources linked from company pages may not yet meet full accessibility standards. We are working with content authors to improve document structure.
  • Third-party embedded content: Some embedded media from external sources may not meet our accessibility standards. We flag these where possible and provide alternative text descriptions.

Reporting an Issue

If you encounter an accessibility barrier on HookUp, we want to hear about it. Accessibility issues are treated with the same priority as functional bugs — they are not enhancements, they are defects.

To report an accessibility issue, email us at accessibility@hookup.wittyverse.com. Please include:

  • The page or feature where you encountered the issue
  • The assistive technology you were using (screen reader, switch device, voice control, etc.)
  • A description of what you expected to happen and what happened instead

We aim to acknowledge all accessibility reports within two business days and to resolve confirmed issues within two weeks.

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is not a checkbox we mark and move on from. We conduct regular audits of new and existing features, and we include accessibility acceptance criteria in our development process. When platform updates are released, accessibility conformance is verified before deployment.

We are committed to making HookUp a place where every professional can participate fully.