Accessibility Statement
Accessibility Statement
Cooper Custom Reel Handles is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. We believe every customer deserves equal access to our products and services.
Our Commitment to Accessibility
Cooper Custom Reel Handles LLC is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and other disabilities. We recognize that accessibility is not just a legal requirement — it is a fundamental aspect of treating every customer with equal dignity and respect.
Our website at coopercustomreelhandles.com is built on the Shopify e-commerce platform, which incorporates accessibility features as part of its standard platform design. We supplement Shopify's built-in accessibility features with our own design choices and content decisions to ensure that our store is as usable as possible for all customers.
We are a small, independently owned business based in Rochester, New York. While we may not have the resources of a large enterprise, we are genuinely committed to making ongoing, meaningful improvements to the accessibility of our website. We view accessibility as a continuous process rather than a one-time achievement.
Conformance Status
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance — Level A (minimum), Level AA (mid-range), and Level AAA (highest). Our target conformance level is WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
coopercustomreelhandles.com is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 at Level AA. Partial conformance means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard at this time. We are actively working to identify and remediate any conformance gaps.
| WCAG 2.1 Principle | Description | Our Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perceivable | Information and UI components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive | Partial | Text alternatives and color contrast are addressed; some media content is under review |
| Operable | UI components and navigation must be operable by all users | Partial | Keyboard navigation supported via Shopify platform; focus indicators in review |
| Understandable | Information and operation of UI must be understandable | Met | Clear language, consistent navigation, and error identification are implemented |
| Robust | Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by assistive technologies | Ongoing | Shopify platform provides semantic HTML; custom content is being reviewed |
Accessibility Standards We Follow
Our accessibility efforts are guided by several internationally recognized and U.S.-specific accessibility standards and legal frameworks.
Accessibility Features on Our Website
- Sufficient color contrast: We aim to maintain a minimum color contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria.
- Resizable text: Our website supports browser-based text resizing up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
- Alternative text for images: We aim to provide meaningful alternative text descriptions for all informative product images and graphics, enabling screen reader users to understand image content.
- No color as sole indicator: We do not rely on color alone to convey information, indicate an action, or distinguish a visual element.
- Clear visual hierarchy: Our page layouts use clear heading structure, subheadings, and consistent spacing to make content easy to scan and navigate.
- Semantic HTML structure: Our website uses proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) and semantic HTML elements to create a logical document structure that screen readers can interpret correctly.
- Descriptive page titles: Each page has a descriptive and unique title that identifies the page content, helping users navigate between multiple browser tabs.
- Descriptive link text: We aim to use descriptive, meaningful link text rather than generic phrases like "click here," allowing screen reader users to understand the purpose of each link.
- Consistent navigation: Our website navigation is consistent across pages, helping users predict where they will find information and reducing cognitive load.
- Language declaration: Our web pages declare the primary language (English) in the HTML markup, enabling screen readers to apply the correct pronunciation rules.
- Labeled form fields: All form fields have associated labels that are readable by screen readers and clearly identify the purpose of each field.
- Error identification: When a form is submitted with an error, the error is clearly identified and described in text, including guidance on how to correct it.
- No time limits: We do not impose time limits on form completion or shopping sessions that would disadvantage users who need additional time.
Assistive Technology Support
Our website is designed to be compatible with a range of assistive technologies. The Shopify platform, on which our website is built, has been developed with assistive technology compatibility as a core consideration.
- Voice recognition software: Our website is designed to be compatible with voice recognition tools such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking, allowing users with motor disabilities to navigate using spoken commands.
- Screen magnification software: Our layouts are designed to work with screen magnification tools such as ZoomText and built-in browser zoom functions for users with low vision.
- Switch access devices: Our keyboard-based navigation supports switch access devices used by people with severe motor disabilities who cannot use a standard mouse or keyboard.
- High contrast mode: Our website does not override operating system high contrast settings, allowing users who rely on high contrast display modes to use them effectively.
Known Limitations
Despite our best efforts, we are aware that there may be areas of our website that do not yet fully meet our accessibility targets. We are committed to being transparent about these limitations and to addressing them as quickly as our resources allow.
| Area | Known Limitation | Impact | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Images | Some older product images may have incomplete or insufficient alternative text descriptions | May affect screen reader users' ability to fully understand product images | Being Reviewed |
| Third-Party Widgets | Third-party tools embedded on our website may have their own accessibility limitations outside our direct control | May create barriers for users of specific assistive technologies during checkout | Monitoring |
| PDF Documents | Any PDF documents linked from our website may not be fully accessible to screen readers | May affect users who rely on screen readers to access document content | Limited PDFs Used |
| Video Content | Any video content on our website may lack closed captions or audio descriptions | May affect users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind | Under Review |
| Focus Indicators | Keyboard focus indicators may not be clearly visible in all areas of the website | May make keyboard navigation more difficult for users who rely on visible focus indicators | Being Addressed |
Shopify Platform Accessibility
Because coopercustomreelhandles.com is powered by Shopify, a significant portion of our website's core functionality — including the product catalog, shopping cart, checkout process, and customer account system — is delivered through Shopify's platform infrastructure.
Shopify has made public commitments to web accessibility and has stated that it works to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards on its platform. Shopify maintains a dedicated team focused on accessibility improvements across its platform, and these improvements are automatically reflected in all Shopify-powered stores, including ours.
- Accessible checkout flow: Shopify's checkout process is built with accessibility in mind, including accessible form fields, error messages, and payment interfaces that work with assistive technologies.
- Semantic HTML markup: Shopify themes use semantic HTML elements that provide the structural foundation for screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation.
- ARIA landmark roles: Shopify's platform implements ARIA landmark roles to help screen reader users navigate major sections of pages efficiently.
- Mobile accessibility: Shopify's responsive design supports accessibility on mobile devices, including compatibility with VoiceOver on iOS and TalkBack on Android.
- Ongoing platform improvements: Shopify continuously improves platform accessibility as part of its regular development cycle, meaning our store benefits from these improvements automatically.
Keyboard Navigation
Keyboard accessibility is a fundamental requirement for users who cannot use a mouse. Our website is designed to support full keyboard navigation so that all content and functionality can be accessed without a mouse.
| Key / Shortcut | Action | Where It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Tab | Move focus forward to the next interactive element (links, buttons, form fields) | Throughout the entire website |
| Shift + Tab | Move focus backward to the previous interactive element | Throughout the entire website |
| Enter / Return | Activate a focused link or button; submit a focused form | Links, buttons, and form submission |
| Space Bar | Activate a focused button; scroll the page down | Buttons and page scrolling |
| Arrow Keys | Navigate within a dropdown menu or select list | Navigation menus and select elements |
| Escape | Close an open dialog, dropdown, or modal window | Modal dialogs and dropdown menus |
| Home / End | Move to the beginning or end of a page or list | Page navigation and list elements |
Visual Design & Color Contrast
Visual design choices — including color, typography, spacing, and layout — have a significant impact on accessibility. We have made deliberate design decisions to improve the visual accessibility of coopercustomreelhandles.com.
We aim to maintain a minimum color contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and its background for normal-weight text, and 3:1 for large text — in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria 1.4.3. Our primary text color (#334155) on white background (#ffffff) achieves a contrast ratio of approximately 10:1, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement.
- Readable font family: We use the Inter typeface for body text, which is widely recognized for its readability and legibility across a range of sizes and screen types.
- Adequate base font size: Our base body text size is 15 pixels, providing comfortable reading for most users and scaling well with browser text size preferences.
- Generous line height: We use a line height of 1.7–1.8 for body text, providing comfortable inter-line spacing that improves readability for users with dyslexia or reading difficulties.
- Scalable units: Typography and spacing use relative units (em, rem) where possible, allowing text to scale proportionally when users adjust their browser's default font size.
Alternative Access Options
If you experience difficulty using any part of our website — whether due to an accessibility barrier, a technical issue, or any other reason — we offer several alternative ways to shop with us and access product information.
Feedback & Contact
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of coopercustomreelhandles.com. If you experience any accessibility barriers, find content that is difficult to access, or have suggestions for improvement, we genuinely want to hear from you.
When reporting an accessibility issue, it is helpful to include the following information:
- The specific URL of the page where you encountered the accessibility barrier
- A description of the barrier — what were you trying to do, and what happened instead?
- The assistive technology or browser you were using (e.g., screen reader name, browser name and version)
- The device you were using (e.g., Windows desktop, iPhone, Android tablet)
- Your preferred contact method so we can follow up with you about the resolution
We commit to acknowledging all accessibility feedback within one business day of receiving it. We will investigate every reported accessibility barrier and provide a response regarding our findings and planned actions within five business days.
Ongoing Improvements & Updates
Accessibility is not a destination — it is a continuous journey. We are committed to making ongoing improvements to the accessibility of coopercustomreelhandles.com and to reviewing our accessibility status on a regular basis.
- Regular accessibility reviews: We commit to reviewing this Accessibility Statement and conducting informal accessibility checks of our website at least annually and whenever significant changes are made to our website's design or content.
- Addressing reported issues promptly: When accessibility barriers are reported to us by users, we will treat them as a priority and work to remediate them as quickly as our resources allow.
- Keeping pace with Shopify improvements: As Shopify continues to improve the accessibility of its platform, our store will benefit from those improvements automatically. We will monitor Shopify's accessibility updates and apply any theme-level improvements as they become available.
- Content accessibility: As we create new product listings, blog posts, and other website content, we will apply accessibility best practices including providing alternative text for images, using clear language, and maintaining a logical heading structure.
- Staying informed: We will stay informed about current accessibility best practices, emerging assistive technologies, and updates to WCAG and related standards.
Accessibility Statement Effective Date: 09 May 2026. This Accessibility Statement is effective as of 09 May 2026 and will be reviewed and updated at least annually. It applies to all content and functionality on coopercustomreelhandles.com. Published by Cooper Custom Reel Handles LLC, 39 Rouge Road, Rochester, New York 14623, United States. To report an accessibility barrier or request assistance, contact us at coopercustomreels@gmail.com, by phone at +1 315-333-0776, or by visiting our Contact page. Business hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).