Accessibility
We want you to be able to explore history at your own pace. Our target is WCAG 2.2 Level AA. We are working towards it. We do not claim that the whole website conforms to that standard.
Last reviewed: . This page describes the reviewed accessibility features and the limitations we still need to address.
Why we built this
We built this because as a family we were unable to go on guided tours due to the neurodivergence of our children. We feel that developing the website gives families and individuals with additional needs the space and ability to enjoy history, its landmarks and its stories through features such as Easy Read, audio narration and Ask the Past, to name a few.
Easy Read version of this page
Explore at your own pace
- We made this website for people and families like ours.
- Guided tours did not work for our family.
- You can read a story or choose to play its audio.
- You can type a question in Talk to the Past. You do not have to use the microphone.
- Choose Accessibility options to make text larger, use high contrast or stop animations.
- Easy Read asks for shorter sentences in new stories. The computer may still use difficult words.
- You can browse trails in a list instead of using map pins.
- You can read text alternatives for the two visitor films. Some words are unclear, and other films still need checking.
- We are still testing the site with phones and screen readers.
- Need help? Email info@teacherspace.ie. Tell us what you need.
You can close this section and read the fuller information below.
Ways to use the guide
- Easy Read: the existing mode asks for short sentences and plain words in newly generated narration. It does not rewrite every page or guarantee an Easy Read standard.
- High contrast and text size: Accessibility options offers a high-contrast display and larger text on the reviewed home, Explore, map, schools and accessibility pages. Explore also keeps its separate high-contrast narration text panel. Browser zoom is available.
- A calmer display: Calm display stops the reviewed pages’ animations. The pages also respect your device’s reduced-motion preference. This does not stop movement within a film you choose to play.
- Reading and listening: generated narration and Talk answers are shown as text. You choose when to play the generated audio. Talk has a slower-playback option and Repeat. Audio depends on your connection and the voice service.
- Talk to the Past: use a typed question or the microphone at supported landmarks, subject to your existing access and usage limits. Explain it simply, 3 key facts and short, standard or detailed responses remain available.
- Languages: Explore offers 12 narration languages. The menus remain in English. The language attribute on generated stories and answers helps screen readers pronounce them. AI output may contain mixed-language text or errors.
- Map and trails: area, collection and search filters have labels. A matching trail list provides links without requiring you to select a pin. Maps next-stop directions open Google Maps.
We try to remember accessibility choices in this browser. If storage is blocked, these options still work on the current page but may not be remembered. Other existing app features also use browser storage.
What still needs work
- The two visitor films have descriptive transcripts, with unclear or cut-off speech marked. They were prepared using local speech recognition and visible film content; an owner listening check is still needed. Synchronized captions in the embedded players and school-video alternatives remain unfinished. A transcript does not replace synchronized captions for WCAG testing.
- Map clusters can have small or partly clipped targets at the map edge. Use the matching trail list as an alternative. Map tiles, Google Maps and embedded YouTube players are external interfaces.
- Automated checks cover five existing page views, this page and the film-transcripts page. They do not establish accessibility of every page, generated worksheet, certificate, checkout, embedded player or access state.
- The original six reviewed views have been checked at 200% desktop Chrome zoom. Real-device VoiceOver and TalkBack tests and a complete keyboard review of paid and teacher states are still needed before any conformance claim.
- AI-generated descriptions are not a substitute for checked image descriptions, historical verification or route-access information. Trails may include uneven ground, steps, closed gates or other barriers. The app does not certify step-free routes.
Tell us about a problem or ask for another format
Email info@teacherspace.ie for accessibility feedback, help or an alternative format.
If you can, include the page or trail, what you were trying to do, and your device or assistive technology. Do not send passwords, pass codes or payment details. Tell us the format or help that would work for you.