Accessibility Requirements

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Accessibility Requirements

In addition to elements required specifically at Texas A&M, below we have explained the basic requirements from W3C and additional optional/recommended elements.

 

Required

Text Equivalents

All non-text content that is presented to the user must have a text alternative that presents equivalent information (e.g., via "ALT", "LONGDESC", or in element content), except for the situations listed below.Techniques WCAG2 * Controls-Input — If non-text content is a control or accepts user input, then it has a name that describes its purpose. * Media, Test, Sensory — If non-text content is multimedia, live audio-only or live video-only content, a test or exercise that must be presented in non-text format, or primarily intended to create a specific sensory experience, then text alternatives at least identify the non-text content with a descriptive text label. * CAPTCHA — If the purpose of non-text content is to confirm that content is being accessed by a person rather than a computer, then text alternatives that identify and describe the purpose of the non-text content are provided and alternative forms in different modalities are provided to accommodate different disabilities. * Decoration, Formatting, Invisible Objects — If non-text content is pure decoration, or used only for visual formatting, or if it is not presented to users, then it can be ignored by assistive technology.

Equivalent Alternatives for Multimedia

Any prerecorded multimedia presentation that contains visual, speech, or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content must have an equivalent alternative (e.g., captions, an auditory description of the visual track, or a separate text description of the video) Techniques WCAG1 * Captions (Multimedia) — Any prerecorded multimedia, except for multimedia alternatives to text that are clearly labeled as such, containing speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content must provide captions. Techniques WCAG2 * Audio Description or Full-Text Alternative — Any prerecorded multimedia that contains visual information necessary for the comprehension of the content must provide a synchronized audio description of the video (or of the important information of the visual track). If a synchronized alternative is not possible, a full-text alternative for multimedia including any interaction is recommended. Techniques WCAG2 Note: If all of the information in the video track is already provided in the audio track, no audio description is necessary.

Color

Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. Webpages must be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also simultaneously visually evident without color, for example from context or markup. Techniques WCAG1, Techniques WCAG2.

Style Sheets

Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. For example, when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it must still be possible to read the document. Techniques WCAG1.

Server-side Image Maps

Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. Techniques WCAG1.

Client-side Image Maps

Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape. Techniques WCAG1.

Scripts

When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script must be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.

Frames

Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation. For example, in HTML use the "title" attribute on FRAME elements.

Table Headers

Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. For example, in HTML, use TD to identify data cells and TH to identify headers.

Complex Tables

Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. For example, in HTML, use THEAD, TFOOT, and TBODY to group rows, COL and COLGROUP to group columns, and the "axis", "scope", and "headers" attributes, to describe more complex relationships among data.

Forms

When electronic forms are designed to be completed online, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. Techniques WCAG2.

Applets and Plug-ins

When a webpage requires that an applet, plug-in, or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that meets the software provisions of TAC §213.30.

Keyboard

All functionality of the content shall be operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user's movement and not just the endpoints. Techniques WCAG2 Note 1: This exception relates to the underlying function, not the input technique. For example, if using handwriting to enter text, the input technique (handwriting) requires path dependent input, but the underlying function (text input) does not. Note 2: This does not forbid and should not discourage providing mouse input or other input methods in addition to keyboard operation.

Alternate Text-Only Versions

Alternate text-only versions of websites are not recommended. However if, after best efforts, you cannot create an accessible page, provide a link to an alternate text-only page that is accessible, has equivalent information or functionality, and is updated as often as the inaccessible (original) page. Techniques WCAG1.

 

Optional/Recommended

Color Contrast

Text (and images of text) must have a contrast ratio of at least 5:1, except if the text is pure decoration. Larger-scale text or images of text can have a contrast ratio of 3:1. Techniques WCAG2.

Audio Turnoff

If any audio plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, there must be either a mechanism to pause or stop the audio, or a mechanism to control audio volume, which can be set independently of the system volume. Techniques WCAG2.

Dynamic Content

Equivalents for dynamic content must be updated when the dynamic content changes. Techniques WCAG1.

Parsing

Content implemented using markup languages must have elements with complete start and end tags, except as allowed by their specifications, and must be nested according to their specifications. Techniques WCAG2.

User Interface Components

Link Purpose (context)

On webpages, it must be possible to determine the purpose of each link from the link text or the link text together with its programmatically determined link context. Techniques WCAG2.

Meaningful Sequence

When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence must be programmatically determined. The sequential navigation of interactive components must be consistent with that reading sequence. Techniques WCAG2.

Size, Shape, Location

Instructions provided for understanding and operating content must not rely on shape, size, visual location, or orientation of components. Techniques WCAG2.