In short
- We aim for WCAG 2.2 level AA on the website, the teacher panel and the game’s menus and settings.
- The game board has its own alternatives: high contrast, tap-to-select, keyboard play, a screen reader grid and more.
- Calm mode removes time pressure, for players with dyscalculia, maths anxiety or who use a screen reader.
- Some timed modes are still hard to play with a screen reader. We explain the workarounds below.
- Tell us what does not work: [email protected]. We reply within 2 business days.
Our goal
We want everyone to be able to play Tallyfall, whatever their age, eyesight, motor skills or way of learning. Our target is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, level AA, for:
- the website tallyfall.com,
- the web game at tallyfall.com/play and the Tallyfall and Tallyfall Kids apps (menus, cards, settings),
- the teacher panel at teach.tallyfall.com.
We test new screens with automated accessibility checks and by hand.
Accessibility features in the game
You find these in the game under Settings → Accessibility. They are saved for each player.
Seeing
- High contrast theme: white background, black numbers, bold tile edges and contrast of at least 7:1 for all text.
- Colour is never the only signal: numbers are always written on the tiles. A valid or invalid path is shown with a symbol (✓ or ✕) and a line style (solid or dashed), not only with colour. Tile colours are checked for the common types of colour blindness.
- Dot pattern: each tile can also show its value as dots, like on a dice. This is on by default in the levels for grades 1 and 2.
- Readable font: you can switch to Lexend, a font designed for easier reading. The game also follows your device’s text size.
- Screen reader grid: an accessible grid sits over the board, so a screen reader can read each tile (for example “Row 3, column 2: 7”). The selected path and its result are read aloud (for example “4 plus 4 plus 8 equals 16, matches the rule”), as are the rule card, the goal counter and your results.
Moving and touching
- Tap-to-select: instead of dragging, tap the tiles one by one, then press Done. Back removes the last tile. Dragging still works.
- Large tiles: in turn-based Learn levels and free practice, the board has fewer columns and tiles are about 40% larger.
- Left-handed layout: mirrors the buttons and the rule card. The main buttons are at the bottom, in easy reach of your thumb.
- Wider touch area: you can make tiles easier to hit.
- Keyboard play: arrow keys move the cursor, Space or Enter selects a tile, Backspace undoes, Enter confirms a path, H gives a hint, S skips, P pauses. The focused tile has a thick, visible frame.
Calm mode
One switch for players who find time pressure stressful or who find maths hard:
- all Learn levels are played turn by turn, with no timer and no danger signal,
- no shaking and no negative sounds for mistakes; the explanation uses neutral words,
- visual helpers are always on (ten-frames, dot arrays, divided circles),
- hints come earlier, and passing a level is a little easier.
Teachers see in their reports which levels were played in Calm mode, so comparisons stay fair.
Hearing and attention
- Every sound has a visual equivalent. You lose no information with the sound off.
- Vibration can be turned off separately.
- Reduce motion: the game follows your device’s reduced-motion setting, and you can also turn it on in the game. Shaking, growing explosions, particles and floating points are replaced by a short fade.
Known limitations
- Timed modes and screen readers: in Play mode and the daily challenge, tiles keep falling. This is hard to follow with a screen reader. We recommend Calm mode or the turn-based Learn levels, which can be played from start to finish with a screen reader.
- The live demo on the home page is a simplified version of the game. It does not have all accessibility settings. Use the full game at tallyfall.com/play for the complete set of features.
- Fixed board in Play mode: for fairness on leaderboards, the board in Play mode and the daily challenge always has the same size. With large tiles turned on, the side panel shrinks so the board can use the full screen width.
We are working on these points and will update this statement when things change.
Feedback and contact
If something is hard to use, or you need content in another format, write to [email protected]. Please tell us which page or screen you used, which device and, if relevant, which assistive technology. We reply within 2 business days.
About this statement
This statement was prepared on {{EFFECTIVE_DATE}}, based on our own testing.
Effective date: {{EFFECTIVE_DATE}}