KATS Network

KY Accessible Information Technology in Schools (AITIS) Project

School District Section 508 Technical Standards Checklists

Version 1.1, December 30,2004

Note: This checklist is adapted from the federal Section 508 Technical Standards, and checklists created by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (with modifications as needed). Please consult the Federal Section 508 Access Standards.

Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21)

When evaluating software applications, be sure to test them under the same circumstances that students, employees or members of the public with disabilities would be using them. For instance, if you use software on a network environment, test the software on the same network, not in a stand-alone environment.

Software and Operating Systems Checklist
Questions for Software and OS Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a) If software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, are product functions executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually?
(b.i) Does the application avoid disrupting or disabling activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features (where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards)?
(b.ii) Does the application avoid disrupting or disabling 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)?
(c.i) Is a well defined on-screen indication of the current focus (e.g., arrow showing where you are) provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes?
(c.ii) Is the focus programmatically exposed so that assistive technology can track focus and focus changes?
(d.i) Is there sufficient information about a user interface element (including the identity, operation and state of the element) available to assistive technology?
(d.ii) If an image represents a program element, is the information conveyed by the image also available in text?
(e) If bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, is the meaning assigned to those images consistent throughout an application's performance?
(f) Is textual information provided through operating system functions for displaying text? (Minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes.)
(g) Does the application avoid overriding user-selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes?
(h) If animation is displayed, is information displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user?
(i) Does the application avoid using color-coding as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element?
(j) If the product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, is a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels provided?
(k) Does the software avoid using flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz?
(l) If electronic forms are used, does the form 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?

Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22)

Many of these provisions ensure access for people with vision impairments who rely on various assistive products to access computer-based information (e.g., screen readers) which translate what's on a computer screen into automated audible output, and refreshable Braille displays. Certain conventions, such as alternative text tags or text identification of graphics and format devices, like frames, are necessary so that these devices can "read" them for the user in a sensible way. The standards do not prohibit the use of web site graphics, but aim to ensure that such information is also available in an accessible format. Generally, this means use of text labels or descriptors for graphics and certain format elements. This section also addresses the usability of multimedia presentations, image maps, style sheets, scripting languages, applets and plug-ins, and electronic forms.

When evaluating your web sites, be sure to test them under the same circumstances that students, employees or members of the public with disabilities would be using them.

Website Accessibility Checklist
Questions for Web Site Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a) Is there a text equivalent (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content) for every non-text element?
(b) For any multimedia presentations which are not inherently accessible (for instance pure audio or pure video outputs), are there equivalent accessible alternatives and are they synchronized with the presentation?
(c) Is all information conveyed with color also available without color (e.g. from context or markup)?
(d) Are documents organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet?
(e) Are redundant text links provided for each active region of a server-side image map?
(f) Are client-side image maps provided, instead of server-side image maps (except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape)?
(g) Are row and column headers identified for data tables?
(h) Is markup used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers?
(i) Are frames titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation?
(j) Are pages designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz?
(k.i) Is a text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, provided? (This is to ensure that a web site complies when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way.)
(k.ii) Is the content of the text-only page updated whenever the primary page changes?
(l) If pages use scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, is the information provided by the script identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology?
(m) If a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, does the page provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21, the Technical Standards for Software Applications and Operating Systems, (a) through (l)?
(n) If electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, does the form 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?
(o) Is a method provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links, such as a "skip navigation" link with an anchor that takes the user directly to the main content of the page?
(p) If a timed response is required, is the user alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required?

Telecommunications Products (1194.23)

This criteria is to ensure access to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It includes compatibility with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and TTYs (devices that enable people with hearing or speech impairments to communicate over the telephone).

Telecommunications Products Checklist
Questions for Telecommunications Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a.i) Does telecommunications product/ system (which provides functions allowing voice communication but which does not itself provide a TTY functionality) provide a standard non-acoustic connection point for TTYs?
(a.ii) Are any microphones capable of being turned on and off to allow the user to intermix speech with TTY use?
(b) Do telecommunications products (which includes voice communication functionality) support all commonly used cross-manufacturer non-proprietary standard TTY signal protocols?
(c) Are voice mail, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems usable by TTY users with their TTYs?
(d.i) Do voice mail, messaging, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems (that require a response from a user within a time interval) give an alert when the time interval is about to run out?
(d.ii) Do voice mail, messaging, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems (that require a response from a user within a time interval) provide sufficient time for the user to indicate that more time is required?
(e) If provided, are caller identification and similar tele- communications functions also available for users of TTYs and for users who cannot see displays?
(f.i) For transmitted voice signals, do telecommunications products provide a gain adjustable up to a minimum of 20 dB?
(f.ii) For incremental volume control, is at least one intermediate step of 12 dB of gain provided?
(g) If telecommunications product allows a user to adjust the receive volume, is there a function provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use?
(h) If telecommunications product delivers output by an audio transducer which is normally held up to the ear, is there a means provided for effective magnetic wireless coupling to hearing technologies?
(i) Is interference to hearing technologies (including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices) reduced to lowest possible level that allows a user of hearing technologies to use the telecommunications product?
(j.i) Have products that transmit or conduct information or communication, been passed through cross-manufacturer, nonproprietary, industry-standard codes, translation protocols, formats or other information necessary to provide the information or communication in a usable format?
(j.ii) Have technologies which use encoding, signal compression, format transformation, or similar techniques not removed information needed for access or have the capability to restore it upon delivery?
(k)(1) If product has mechanically operated controls or keys, are controls and keys tactilely discernible without activating the controls or keys?
(k)(2.i) If the product has mechanically operated controls or keys, are controls and keys operable with one hand and do not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist?
(k)(2.ii) If product has mechanically operated controls or keys, is force required to activate controls/keys 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum?
(k)(3.i) If the product has mechanically operated controls or keys, and key repeat is supported, is the delay before repeat adjustable to at least 2 seconds?
(k)(3.ii) If the product has mechanically operated controls or keys, and key repeat is supported, is the repeat rate adjustable to 2 seconds per character?
(k)(4) If product has mechanically operated controls or keys, is the status of all locking or toggle controls or keys visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound?

Video or Multimedia Products (1194.24)

Multimedia products include, but are not limited to, video programs, narrated slide production, and computer generated presentations. Provisions address caption decoder circuitry (for any system with a screen larger than 13 inches) and secondary audio channels for television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers. The standards also require captioning and audio description for certain training and informational multimedia productions developed or procured by covered entities.

When evaluating your video and multimedia, be sure to test them under the same circumstances that students, employees or members of the public with disabilities would be using them.

Video and Multimedia Checklist
Questions for Video and Multimedia Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a.i) Are all analog television displays 13 inches and larger, and computer equipment that includes analog television receiver or display circuitry, equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals?
(a.ii) Are widescreen digital television (DTV) displays measuring at least 7.8 inches vertically, DTV sets with conventional displays measuring at least 13 inches vertically, and stand-alone DTV tuners, whether or not they are marketed with display screens, and computer equipment that includes DTV receiver or display circuitry, equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals? (This checkpoint might not be applicable until July 1, 2002.)
(b) Are television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers, equipped with secondary audio program playback circuitry?
(c) Are all training and informational video and multimedia productions (which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content) open or closed captioned?
(d) Are all training and informational video and multimedia productions (which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain visual information necessary for the comprehension of the content) audio described?
(e) Is the display or presentation of alternate text presentation or audio descriptions user-selectable unless permanent?

Self Contained, Closed Products (1194.25)

This section covers products that generally have imbedded software but are often designed in such a way that a user cannot easily attach or install assistive technology. Examples include information kiosks, information transaction machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax machines, and similar types of products. The standards require that access features be built into the system so users do not have to attach an assistive device to it. Other specifications address mechanisms for private listening (handset or a standard headphone jack), touchscreens, auditory output and adjustable volume controls, and location of controls in accessible reach ranges.

Self Contained, Closed Products Checklist
Questions for Self Contained, Closed Products Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a) Are products usable by people with disabilities without requiring them to attach assistive technology to product? (Personal headsets for private listening are not assistive technology.
(b) If a timed response is required, is the user alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required?
(c)(1) If product uses touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, are controls/keys tactilely discernible without activating controls or keys?
(c)(2.i) If the product utilizes touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, are controls and keys operable with one hand and do not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist?
(c)(2.ii) If product uses touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, is force required to activate controls and keys 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum?
(c)(3.i) If product uses touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, and key repeat is supported, is the delay before repeat adjustable to at least 2 seconds?
(c)(3.ii) If product uses touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, and key repeat is supported, is repeat rate adjustable to 2 seconds per character?
(c)(4) If product uses touchscreens or contact-sensitive controls, is status of all locking or toggle controls or keys visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound?
(d) If biometric forms of user identification or control are used, is an alternative form of identification or activation, which does not require the user to possess particular biological characteristics, provided?
(e.i) If products provide auditory output, is the audio signal provided at a standard signal level through an industry standard connector that will allow for private listening?
(e.ii) If products provide auditory output, does the product provide the ability to interrupt, pause, and restart the audio at any time?
(f.i) If the product delivers voice output in a public area, is incremental volume control provided with output amplification up to a level of at least 65 dB?
(f.ii) If the product delivers voice output in a public area, and the ambient noise level of the environment is above 45 dB, is a volume gain of at least 20 dB above the ambient level user selectable?
(f.iii) If the product delivers voice output in a public area, is there a function provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use?
(g) Are other of means besides color coding used to conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element?
(h) If a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, is a range of color selections capable of producing a variety of contrast levels provided?
(i) Is the product designed to avoid screen flickering with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz?
(j)(1) If the product is freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location, and has operable controls, is the position of any operable control (determined with respect to a vertical plane, which is 48 inches in length, centered on the operable control, and at the maximum protrusion of the product) within the 48 inch length?
(j)(2) If product is freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location, and has any operable controls that is 10 inches or less behind the reference plane, is the height 54 inches maximum and 15 inches minimum above the floor?
(j)(3) If the product is freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location, and has operable controls (where any operable control is more than 10 inches and not more than 24 inches behind the reference plane) is the height 46 inches maximum and 15 inches minimum above the floor?
(j)(4) If the product is freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location, and has operable controls, are operable controls within 24 inches behind the reference plane?

Desktop and Portable Computers (1194.26)

This section focuses on keyboards and other mechanically operated controls, touch screens, use of biometric form of identification, and ports and connectors.

When evaluating desktops and portable computers, be sure to test them under the same circumstances that students, employees or members of the public with disabilities would be using them.

Desktop and Portable Computers Checklist
Questions for Desktop and Portable Computers Accessibility	Meet Standard and How	Do Not Meet Standard	Not Applicable and Why
(a)(1) Are all mechanically operated controls and keys tactilely discernible without activating the controls or keys?
(a)(2.i) Are all mechanically operated controls and keys operable with one hand and do not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist?
(a)(2.ii) Is the force required to activate controls and keys 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum?
(a)(3.i) If key repeat is supported, is the delay before repeat adjustable to at least 2 seconds?
(a)(3.ii) If key repeat is supported, is the repeat rate adjustable to 2 seconds per character?
(a)(4) Is the status of all locking or toggle controls or keys visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound?
(b)(2.ii) If the product uses touchscreens or touch-operated controls, is the force required to activate controls and keys 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum?
(b)(3.i) If the product uses touchscreens or touch-operated controls, and key repeat is supported, is the delay before repeat adjustable to at least 2 seconds?
(b)(3.ii) If the product uses touchscreens or touch-operated controls, and key repeat is supported, is the repeat rate adjustable to 2 seconds per character?
(b)(4) If the product uses touchscreens or touch-operated controls, is the status of all locking or toggle controls or keys visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound?
(c) If biometric forms of user identification or control are used, is there an alternative form of identification or activation, which does not require the user to possess particular biological characteristics?
(d) If provided, is at least one of each type of expansion slots, ports and connectors compliant with publicly available industry standards?

Subpart C. Functional Performance Criteria

The performance requirements of this section are intended for overall product evaluation and for technologies or components for which there is no specific requirement under the technical standards in Subpart B. These criteria are designed to ensure that the individual accessible components work together to create an accessible product. They cover operation, including input and control functions, operation of mechanical mechanisms, and access to visual and audible information.

Overview on Functional Performance Criteria:

Vision
1. Be sure there is at least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision is provided, or that support for assistive technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired is provided
Visual acuity
1. Be sure that at least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 is provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or that support for assistive technology used by people who are visually impaired is provided.
Hearing
1. Be sure that at least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user hearing is provided, or that support for assistive technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing is provided.
Audio information
1. Be sure that where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval is provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or that support for assistive hearing devices is provided.
Speech
1. Be sure that at least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech is provided, or that support for assistive technology used by people with disabilities is provided.
Motor skills/ coordination
1. Be sure that at least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength is provided.

Subpart D. Information, Documentation, and Support Documentation Requirements.

The standards also address access to all information, documentation, and support provided to end users of covered technologies. This includes user guides, installation guides for end-user installable devices, and customer support and technical support communications. Such information must be available from vendors in alternate formats upon request at no additional charge for use by your students, employees or members of the public with disabilities. Alternate formats or methods of communication, can include Braille, large print, electronic text, TTY access, and captioning and audio description for video materials.

Product support documentation.
1. Vendors must make product support documentation provided to end-users available in alternate formats upon request for no additional charge.
Accessibility and compatibility features.
1. Vendors must provide end-users access to a description of accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate modes upon request at no additional charge.
Support services.
1. Vendors must accommodate communication needs of end users with disabilities when providing support services for products.

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