Help & Frequently Asked Questions

What is KindredAccess?

KindredAccess is a connection platform designed specifically for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and their allies. Unlike mainstream dating apps, we're built from the ground up with accessibility and health-awareness in mind.

Is KindredAccess free?

Yes — everything is free during the current alpha period. When we eventually introduce a premium tier, core features (matching, messaging, accessibility settings, blocking, and reporting) will remain free. We also plan to offer a reduced-rate tier for people with disabilities or financial hardship — no documentation required, just ask.

Who can join KindredAccess?

KindredAccess is open to anyone 18 or older who wants to connect with the disability and chronic illness community. This includes:

• People with disabilities (visible or invisible)
• People with chronic illnesses
• Neurodivergent individuals
• Allies and supporters
• Caregivers seeking community

How do I create an account?

Click "Sign Up" on the homepage, enter your email and create a password. You'll receive a verification email—click the link to verify your account, then complete your profile setup.

What should I include in my profile?

A complete profile helps you get better matches. We recommend:

• Photo with description: Upload a clear photo and write a brief description for screen reader users
• About section: Share a bit about yourself, your interests, what you're looking for
• Accessibility needs: Help others understand how to communicate with you
• Connection types: Are you looking for friendship, dating, community, or something else?

Why do I need to add alt text to my photo?

Alt text (image descriptions) helps blind and low-vision users understand your photo through screen readers. It's a core accessibility feature and required on KindredAccess. Describe yourself briefly: "Person with brown hair smiling, sitting outdoors."

What is my availability status?

Your availability status shows your current capacity. The four options are:

• Available: Good to connect, open to messages
• Limited capacity: Can chat, but may be slow to respond
• Resting: Taking a break, will return
• Away: Not currently active on the platform

You can add an optional context note alongside it — something like "recovering from surgery" or "busy with work" — if you want to say more. This helps others understand when you might need patience with responses.

How do compatibility questions work?

Compatibility questions help us match you with people who share your values and lifestyle. Answer questions about communication style, relationship expectations, and daily life. The more you answer, the better your matches!

How does matching work?

When you "like" someone and they "like" you back, you become a match! You can then start chatting. We also show compatibility scores based on your question answers and shared preferences.

What's the difference between Browse and Discover?

• Browse: See all users with custom filters you control
• Discover: See users matched to your preferences with compatibility scores

What does "Open to Remote" mean?

Users who are "Open to Remote" are interested in virtual connections regardless of geographic distance. This is great for people who have limited mobility, live in rural areas, or simply enjoy online friendships.

How do I unmatch with someone?

Go to your Matches page, click on the match, and select "Unmatch." This will remove the connection and delete your chat history with that person.

How do I enable dark mode?

Go to Settings → Accessibility Settings. You can choose from Light, Dark, or High Contrast themes. Your preference is saved and applied automatically.

Can I make the text larger?

Yes! In Accessibility Settings, you can adjust text size from Small to Extra Large. You can also enable dyslexia-friendly fonts and adjust line spacing.

Does KindredAccess work with screen readers?

We build to work with VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS: every interactive element has a label, and we use ARIA live regions to announce dynamic content like new messages. We haven't yet completed a full manual pass with each screen reader — if something doesn't announce correctly, please tell us, and we'll treat it as a priority fix.

How do I use keyboard navigation?

Press Tab to move between elements, Enter or Space to activate buttons, and Escape to close dialogs. All features are keyboard accessible.

How do I control who sees my information?

Each profile section has visibility controls: Everyone, Matches Only, or Hidden. You can hide sensitive information until you've matched with someone.

How do I report someone?

Click the "Report" button on their profile or in chat. Choose a reason (harassment, inappropriate content, fake profile, etc.) and submit. We review all reports and take action.

How do I block someone?

Click "Block" on their profile. Blocked users can't see you or contact you. You can manage blocked users in Settings.

How do I delete my account?

Go to Settings → Delete Account. You'll need to confirm your password and acknowledge that this permanently deletes all your data. You can also export your data first.

Do you sell my data?

No. We never sell your data or use it for advertising. Your sensitive health and identity information is protected. See our Privacy Policy for details.

I didn't receive my verification email

Check your spam/junk folder first. If it's not there, go to the login page and click "Resend verification email." Make sure you entered the correct email address.

I forgot my password

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page. Enter your email and we'll send a reset link. The link expires after 24 hours.

My messages aren't sending

Check your internet connection. If you're still having issues, try refreshing the page. Messages are delivered in real-time via WebSocket, with HTTP fallback for reliability.

The site isn't loading properly

Try clearing your browser cache, disabling browser extensions, or using a different browser. If issues persist, please contact us.

Is this a beta or alpha? What does that mean for me?

KindredAccess is currently in public alpha — open to real users but still under active development. You may encounter bugs, rough edges, or features that change between visits. That's expected and actually helpful: your feedback directly shapes what we build next.

We take your data seriously even in alpha. Your profile, messages, and settings are treated with the same care they'd receive in a finished product.

What happens to my data after the alpha?

Your account and data carry forward. We won't reset profiles or wipe matches when we move out of alpha. If we ever do need to reset data, we'll give at least 2 weeks' notice and offer a data export first.

What if the site goes down or something breaks?

Alpha software sometimes has unexpected issues. If you run into something broken, please use the Feedback link in the menu — that's the fastest way to let us know. For anything urgent, email support@kindredaccess.org.

We don't have an uptime guarantee during alpha, but we aim to resolve issues quickly.

Will KindredAccess always be free?

The core experience — creating a profile, matching, messaging, and all accessibility settings — will always be free. We plan to introduce an optional premium tier for power users (unlimited likes, advanced filters, read receipts). Blocking, reporting, and safety features will never cost anything.

I have a disability and limited income. Will there be a discount?

Yes. We're committed to a reduced-rate tier for people with disabilities, chronic illness, or financial hardship. No documentation needed — just reach out via the feedback form or email and we'll sort it out. Accessibility shouldn't be something only people who can afford it get to use.

What is "spoon theory" and why does KindredAccess use it?

Spoon theory is a metaphor, originally coined by Christine Miserandino, for the limited energy units that many people with chronic illness or disability start each day with. Running out of "spoons" means hitting your limit — unable to do more without real cost to your health.

Spoon language is how much of our community actually thinks and talks about energy, which is why it appears throughout the site and in our Glossary. The availability statuses themselves use plainer wording — Available, Limited capacity, Resting, Away — so that the feature reads clearly whether or not the spoon framing fits you. Use whichever language you prefer in your own profile and context note.

How do I give feedback or report a bug?

Use the Feedback link in the navigation menu (when logged in) or the button at the bottom of this page. You can also email support@kindredaccess.org. We read every submission and respond to most of them.