Accessibility Statement

Cold Creek Gas Plant Simulator is a free, browser-based training tool for gas plant operators, published by Josh Winter / Winter Howlers. We are committed to making this simulator usable by the widest possible audience and are actively working toward conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

What Works Today

• Color-blind modes. A settings panel toggle provides three display modes: deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia. These modes adjust color throughout the simulator interface.
• Viewport zoom. Browser-level zoom is unrestricted. The simulator does not block pinch-to-zoom or text scaling on mobile or desktop.
• Icon button labels. More than ten icon-only buttons now carry accessible names that describe their function to assistive technology.
• Touch targets. Interactive elements on mobile meet the 44 by 44 pixel minimum recommended for touch input.
• Title screen keyboard navigation. The main menu can be navigated and activated using a keyboard alone.

Known Limitations

The following gaps exist in the current build. We document them here so institutional reviewers have an accurate picture rather than a partial one.

• Mode and facility selection cards. These interactive cards are currently implemented as clickable regions rather than standard buttons. They cannot be reached or activated by keyboard alone.
• Gauge rows and faceplate controls. The core simulator interface, including individual gauges and control panels, requires a mouse or pointer device. Keyboard and screen reader access to these elements is not yet implemented.
• Alarm bar. The alarm notification bar is not yet announced to screen readers when new alarms appear.
• Focus indicators. A consistent, visible focus outline has not yet been applied globally. Some interactive elements do not show a clear focus state when navigated by keyboard.
• Motion and animation. The simulator includes rotating equipment animations and live gauge movement. There is no mechanism yet to reduce or pause these in response to a user's operating system preference for reduced motion.

Standards We Follow

Our target standard is WCAG 2.1 Level AA, published by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative. We are also aware of Section 508 requirements applicable to US federal agencies and their contractors, and our remediation work accounts for those requirements where they differ from WCAG 2.1 AA.

We do not currently claim full conformance with either standard. The limitations listed above are the primary gaps. Remediation is underway and tracked internally as Phase D of our ongoing development roadmap.

What We Are Working On

Phase D accessibility work is in active development and includes the following:

• Converting clickable div regions in mode and facility selection to proper button elements with full keyboard support.
• Adding live region announcements to the alarm bar so screen readers report new alarms as they occur.
• Completing label and input wiring throughout the settings panel.
• Applying a global focus-visible style so keyboard navigation is clearly visible on every interactive element.
• Mapping color-blind mode adjustments to SVG line colors within process diagrams, extending coverage beyond fill colors.

How to Report an Accessibility Issue

If you encounter a barrier that prevents you from using any part of the simulator, please contact us. We treat accessibility reports as bugs and prioritize them accordingly.

Email: hello@winterhowlers.com

In your message, include:

• The specific feature or screen where you encountered the issue.
• The assistive technology or browser you are using, and the version.
• A description of what you expected to happen and what happened instead.

We aim to respond within five business days.

Last Updated

This statement was last updated on May 8, 2026. It applies to the version of Cold Creek Gas Plant Simulator available at gasplantsim.com.