Web Accessibility Policy
Last Updated: January 31, 2018
Part 1: HTML Standards
508 Standard: (a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via 'alt', 'longdesc', or in element content).
Passing Criteria: Every image, applet, embedded media, plug-in, etc. that conveys content has equivalent alternative text (alt, longdesc, or in the element context).
The alternative text succinctly describes the content conveyed by the element, without being too verbose (for simple objects) or too vague (for complex objects). Complex graphics (graphs, charts, etc.) are accompanied by equivalent text, either through a description in the body of the page, a link to a description on a separate page, and/or the longdesc attribute.
Images that have a function (images within links, image buttons, and image map areas) have alternative text which describes the associated function. Decorative graphics are CSS background images or have null/empty alt values (alt=""). Images with text alternatives in element content are given empty alt text to avoid redundancy. Transcripts are provided for audio content.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: Although some compliance standards like 'longdesc' have been depreciated in the latest html standards released by the W3C, we have “alt” elements attached to every possible element throughout the site.
508 Standard: (b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.
Passing Criteria:
Video files and live audio broadcasts have synchronized captions.
Content presented through video, but not through audio is provided in an audio description track.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: There are no longer any video files or live audio broadcasts used on the platform.
508 Standard: (c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
Passing Criteria:
Color is not used solely to convey important information.
Sufficient contrast is provided.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: At no point in the site is something portrayed only with color, at times items are emphasized more, but not only with color.
508 Standard: (d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
Passing Criteria:
Style sheets may be used for layout, but the document is still readable and understandable (even if less visually appealing) when the style sheet is turned off.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, but with exception.
Details: For the hosted solution, a student cannot take an exam without the stylesheets loading, because at this point we can no longer ensure the integrity of the exam.
508 Standard: (e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. AND (f) 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.
Passing Criteria:
Client-side image maps are used instead of server-side image maps. Appropriate alternative text is provided for the image as well as each hot spot area.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: No image maps are used.
508 Standard: (g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
Passing Criteria:
Data tables have column and/or row headers appropriately identified (using the <th> element).
Tables used strictly for layout purposes do NOT use the
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: There are a handful of areas that use tables for layout and these tables do not use head elements. Otherwise all significant layout is handled with CSS.
508 Standard: (h) 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.
Passing Criteria:
Data table cells are associated with the appropriate headers using the scope or id/headers attributes.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: At no point do we use elements in this implementation method.
508 Standard: (i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
Passing Criteria:
Each frame is given a title that describes the frame's purpose or content.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, but with exception.
Details: Depending on the LMS integration, parts of being compliant with this standard are beyond our technical control. If the LMS our system is integrated into meets this standard then so do we.
508 Standard: (j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
Passing Criteria:
Each frame is given a title that describes the frame's purpose or content.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: At no point are pages designed to intentionally flicker.
508 Standard: (k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
Passing Criteria:
A text-only version is created only when there is no other way to make the content accessible or when it offers significant advantages over the main version for certain disability types.
The text-only version provides equivalent content and is up-to-date with the main version.
Verificient Compliance: Not possible
Details: Some core functionality (identity check, secure testing environment) is not able to be duplicated with only text. We have made provisions to make sure it is compatible with screen readers.
508 Standard: (l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
Passing Criteria:
Content and functionality provided by scripting is directly accessible to assistive technologies and the keyboard. <noscript> content does not constitute a suitable alternative to inaccessible scripting.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: In these instances all elements are tabbable and have descriptive text that can be read by assistive technologies.
508 Standard: (m) When a web page 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 complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).
Passing Criteria:
A link is provided to a page where the plug-in can be downloaded.
All applets, scripts and plug-ins (including PDF and PowerPoint files, etc.) and the content within them are accessible to assistive technologies, or else an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: The platform no longer uses third-party plugins like Flash, all that is needed is the basic browser.
508 Standard: (n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, 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.
Passing Criteria:
<input>, <textarea> and <select>elements have descriptive labels.
Scripting of form elements does not interfere with assistive technologies or keyboard.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: In these instances all elements are tabbable and have descriptive text that can be read by assistive technologies.
508 Standard: (o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.
Passing Criteria:
A link is provided to skip over navigation menus or other lengthy lists of links. A good heading structure also facilitates navigation.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We do not use large repetitive navigation links.
508 Standard: (p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.
Passing Criteria:
The user has control over the timing of content changes.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, with exception.
Details: This applies to sections of the identity check, in every instance of a timed procedure, the student can repeat the procedure until they are satisfied with the results. In the testing environment, a student cannot control how much time they have to take a test, but this can be configured for special cases by Verificient staff.
Part 2: Scripting and Plug-in Standards
508 Standard: (a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: All functionality can be used with a keyboard.
508 Standard: (b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product developer.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, but with exceptions.
Details: Some functionality is disabled during the exam to ensure the integrity of the testing environment by default, but this can be configured for special cases.
508 Standard: (c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that assistive technology can track focus and focus changes.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We support this, but the exact implementation depends on the user’s browser.
508 Standard: (d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to assistive technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: This is accomplished primarily through descriptive “alt” tags.
508 Standard: (e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application's performance.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We do not employ bitmap images.
508 Standard: (f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: This is accomplished primarily through descriptive “alt” tags.
508 Standard: (g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We do not override system defaults.
508 Standard: (h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: There is one section where we show an animated and it has accompanying text.
508 Standard: (i) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: At no point in the site is something portrayed only with color, at times items are emphasized more, but not only with color.
508 Standard: (j) When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We do not allow users to make these adjustments.
508 Standard: (k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: We do not employ blinking elements.
508 Standard: (l) When electronic forms are used, 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.
Verificient Compliance: Yes, without exception.
Details: Forms can be navigated with tab and have “alt” tags for all fields.