Editorial standards
The Pocketbook helps you understand your website and make informed choices. These are the rules we use to decide what is ready to publish.
No unsupported factual claims.
Factual claims must be supported by credible sources, documented original research, or clearly identified observations.
No disguised advertising.
This is an educational resource, not a sales funnel. Explain practical alternatives to paid services.
No unnecessary technical complexity.
Present information in plain English and prioritize actionable guidance.
Make sources traceable
Numbered references appear beside the statements they support. Each reference identifies the source, the supported claim, and when it was verified. We prefer original documentation and authoritative sources. We label opinion, inference, and direct observation clearly. Unverified work stays in draft.
Show the work behind tests
Original observations include the exact page tested, date, tool and version, conditions, measured results, supporting reports or screenshots, and limitations. We distinguish an agency's advertised promise from our observation and verify attribution before naming an organization.
Automated results are part of an accessibility evaluation. They cannot conclusively establish full WCAG conformance or ADA legal compliance. The W3C guidance on evaluation tools explains the need for human evaluation. The Department of Justice's guidance provides legal background and links to current government requirements.
Keep education independent
Joplin Solutions does not sell website-design packages or accept commissions for recommending agencies. We explain practical alternatives, including doing the work yourself. Paying a professional can be worthwhile when the work justifies the price. We disclose relevant relationships and conflicts of interest. A recommendation needs an educational reason, and a chapter must be useful without buying a service.
Use local context honestly
Material about Van Buren, Arkansas; Fort Smith, Arkansas; or Sallisaw, Oklahoma belongs here when the location changes the guidance or supplies a documented example. We do not copy a chapter and swap city names to create extra search pages.
Correct and update
Articles show their original publication and latest content update dates. A correction request should include the chapter URL, the statement in question, and supporting evidence. We review corrections, reverify affected references, and update or withdraw material that no longer meets these standards.