Demystifying accessibility testing

Elections are a lot more than voting systems. On the web, there are forms like online voter registration, apps to find polling places, check wait times, and track ballots. Even in the polling place, there are electronic poll books and other systems not covered by formal guidelines. How do you make sure they are all accessible.

Presentation at the State Certification Testing of Voting Systems National Conference 2015

POUR on the accessibility when you build a system

When you are thinking about how to design or evaluate a tool, start with the POUR principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

  • Perceivable: Can voters see, hear, or feel all everything on the screen? Can they adjust how text and images are presented visually and through audio?
  • Operable: Can voters find use all of the controls, make selections, and fill in all of the form fields?
  • Understandable: Can voters read and understand all information and instructions?
  • Robust: Does the system work on different devices or screen sizes, and with assistive technology like screen readers or alternative keyboards?

When you meet the POUR principles, you are making sure that people can use your system, no matter how they choose to interact with it, or what their capabilities are.

Test in layers

Once a system is built, or when you are choosing a system to use, you need to test it. This can seem daunting, especially when you consider the needs of people with different disabilities. The key is to test in layers, starting with the most basic accessibility errors and ending with having the systems used by real people.

Inspection. The first step is to inspect the system for basic accessibility errors, such as text size and contrast, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images. These tests can be done with free tools without any special technology.

Code inspection. Next, look for robust code that meets W3C standards, has good headings and other structure, and has accessible forms coding. Use it with assistive technology. Check that it is operable and understandable with technology such as screen readers (NVDA, Voice Over, or JAWS), screen magnifiers (browser magnification or ZoomText), and that it works with a keyboard.

Expert review. Ask expert assistive technology users to make sure it works well with a wide range of assistive technology, and that they can complete all basic tasks from start to finish.

Usability testing. Test again with a divers set of  voters with disabilities to be sure it works for a wide range of people, with different levels of technical expertise. Does it work with their own technology (or can they use the access features required)? Can they complete all tasks easily?

Accessibility testing tools

There are a lot of great free tools to help you do accessibility testing. A few of our favorites will help you get started. These are not a comprehensive test for accessibility, but they cover the basic requirements that affect many people.

Text size. Can users adjust the text size? Use the browser controls to change the text size. Does the page redisplay as the text gets larger, wrapping the text so the user doesn’t have to scroll?

Keyboard. Can you use all of the features without a mouse? Try using the site or app with just the keyboard. (Check the help for your favorite browser if you are not sure how to use the keyboard controls). Many types of assistive technology rely on the keyboard interface, so this is a critical first check. You should be able to navigate through the site, select links and buttons, enter information in a form, and access all features just using the keyboard.

Alternative text. Do all images have a short text description. Alternative text (also called “alt text”) lets non-visual users know what images are on the screen and what they show. In most browsers, you can right click on an image and inspect the code, but the easiest way to look for alt text is with one of the quick page checkers or the toolbars listed below.

Forms. Can assistive technology can read and use forms? The toolbars or online tools will check your forms and make sure that they are coded so that the fields are labeled. You also want to make sure that you can move around the form with the keyboard and don’t get “trapped” inside a field.

Color contrast. Does the text stands out from the background? The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines require a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text. The VVSG goes further and requires 10:1 for ballots. Luckily, there are some easy tools on the web that let you compare two color combination in seconds. Each of the tools below has different features to let you find good color combinations. If you don’t like these, Google will show you many other options.

 

Page structure. Are headings marked up correctly? That means in code, not just by changing size or color. The accessibility toolbars are the best way to take a look under the covers of your system. They can show you the heading structure in an outline view, what it looks like without styles, and the reading order.

Learning more

  • One of the best online web accessibility guides is WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind). The site includes clear introductions to web accessibility principles, with good examples.

1 Comment

  1. The year in review: 2015 and beyond | Center for civic design