Accessibility statement

Tensile is used in classrooms, so it has to work for every student in the room. We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at level AA.

We have not yet had an independent accessibility audit, so we do not claim full conformance. Below is an honest account of what is built in and what is still missing. We would rather tell you that plainly than publish a conformance badge we cannot stand over.

• Adjustable text size. A control in the bottom-left corner of every page increases text and spacing in three steps. Your choice is remembered on that device. This works alongside your browser's own zoom.
• Keyboard access. Every control is a real button or link, so the whole platform can be operated by keyboard, and focus is visibly outlined as you move through a page.
• Skip to main content. Pressing Tab on any page reveals a link that jumps straight past the header and navigation to the content, so keyboard users do not have to tab through the same menu on every page.
• Screen reader structure. Pages use proper headings and landmark regions, the page language is set, and icon-only buttons carry text labels. Expandable items such as hints announce whether they are open.
• No images to miss. The platform uses text and drawn icons rather than pictures, so there is no image content that could be left without a description.
• Built for phones. Touch targets are large, layouts reflow to narrow screens, and students never have to type anything that identifies them.
• No time pressure in the interface. The countdown reflects the activity your teacher is running. It never removes a control or logs anyone out.

These are the gaps we are aware of. We would rather list them than hide them.

• No independent audit. Our accessibility work has not been verified by a third party or tested systematically with assistive technology users.
• Colour contrast is not fully verified. The interface uses a dark theme. Most text is high contrast, but some secondary text has not been formally measured against the AA threshold.
• JavaScript is required. The platform will not function with JavaScript disabled.
• The activity itself is physical. Building and load testing a structure involves fine motor work. Teachers know their students best, and we are glad to discuss adaptations for a particular class.

If any part of Tensile is difficult or impossible to use, email hello@tensile.ie with the page, what you were trying to do, and the device or assistive technology you were using. We treat accessibility problems as faults, not feature requests, and will aim to reply within five school days.

If you need something in a different format, such as a challenge brief or teacher guide as plain text or large print, ask and we will provide it.

If your school needs accessibility information for procurement or for a statement of its own, contact us and we will share what we have, including the limitations above. We would rather give you an accurate picture than a reassuring one. Related: privacy and data handling and terms of use.