Accessibility is the concept of whether a product or service can be used by everyone—however they encounter it. Accessibility laws exist to aid people with disabilities, but designers should try to accommodate all potential users in many contexts of use anyway.

 

AbsorbCreate has released some features which will allow you to design a course that you can accommodate.

A. Screen-reader and reading order :

 

1. Screen reader compatibility:

• Our player is now compatible with screen-reader NVDA free- screen-reader on the Chrome browser.

• A screen reader uses a Text-To-Speech (TTS) engine to translate on-screen information into speech, which can be heard through earphones or speakers.

2. Screen-reader reading order:

To help you view how the page is going to be read using the screen reader, we all you to view the reading order of the objects on the page.

We have created an accessibility menu on the right panel of your course editor with a toggle to allow you to view the reading order when enabled

 

Display reading order:

• Go to the right panel and click on the Accessibility icon

• Enable the toggle “Display Reading Order”

• Numbers are going to be viewed on the page next to each item ( text , image , shape , button , Image) to indicate its reading order

• Note: the toggle is off by default.

3. Edit Reading order:

 

 

Option 1 : Default 

• The default reading order is from top to bottom, left to right.
• To make any changes to the current reading order, please move the items on the screen accordingly to achieve the desired order.

 

Option 2: Custom

To switch the reading order to "Custom", you can select "Custom" from the drop-down 

This way you can switch the reading order of the objects on the screen from the right panel , rather than relocating the object on the slide 

To change the order, drag and drop the hamburger icon and change places.

 

B. Adding Alt-Text :

 

To allow all users to have the same experience, you can add Alt-Text to any of the below or make them as decorative :

• Text

• Button

• Shape

• Icon

• Image

 

1. Add Alt-Text :

• Select the object you want to add an Alt text to

• Click on “…” to view more option

• Click on “Edit Alt-Text”

 

• Once you click on “Edit Alt-text” a model will appear where you can add the text which will be picked up by the screen-reader.

 

 

2. Mark an object as “Decorative”

When you mark an item as decorative, it will be skipped by the screen-reader.

Note: if the object does not have a number indicator showing next to it, then it will be skipped by the screen-reader, otherwise it would read the default object name, the typed text within or the Alt-text

Mark object as decorative :

• Select the object you want to add an Alt text to

• Click on “…” to view more option

• Click on “Edit Alt-Text”

• Enable the toggle “Mark as decorative“

• Once the toggle is enabled, you won’t be able to add text and this object will not be read by the screen-reader.

Note: If an object with interaction is marked as decorative, you will see a warning icon, when hovered over will indicate “Interactions with action should not be set as decorative”

 

 

C. Keyboard Compatibility:

 

Learners can now navigate through your content using their keyboard.

The actionable items will be in focus to allow the learner to take action as needed.

Learners can also enable NVDA to view focus 

 

Keyboard Shortcuts List:

Our player can display a list of keyboard shortcuts, once the learner clicks Ctrl+?

A list of all keyboard shortcuts will appear

 

D. Questions:

 

We now have 2 types of questions which can support accessibility.

• Multiple choice

• True or False

They are both compatible with screen-reader and keyboard navigation.

 

E. Timed pages:

• Timed pages with multiple objects are screen-reader-supported.

• Reading order on a timed page can be ordered based on its “Start Time”

F. Video pages:

 

Video pages are compatible with screen-reader and keyboard navigation

You can also add subtitles to your video page. For more information on how to add subtitles, please click here.

Controls to manage video are all available in the keyboard shortcut list

 

Notes:

 

• Only video pages are compatible with our screen reader.

• Tool Tips are not screen reader compatible

• Inline videos are not supported

• Audio is not screen-reader supported

• Our Themed temples are currently not supporting accessibility. 

 

 

 

General Tips for creating accessible content 

 

For accessibility courses, it is recommended to keep content simple and to the point.

Here are some tips to help you create accessible material

1. Text Font

2. Colours

3. Images

4. Tables

5. Links

6. External Content.

Text Font:

• Use proper heading stills  

• Not larger or bold  

• Avoid small font size  

Colours

• Avoid poor contrast, you could check your colour contrast, our recommendation is to use the below links :

• https://contrastchecker.com/  

• https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/  

 

Images:

1. Do not use Images with Text. Better copy the text  

2. Describe image:  can be added as in alt text or added as Text on the slide for people with  Cognitive disability (also known as intellectual disability)  

• Describe the image based on the page context. Convey the full meaning of the image. 

• Avoid saying "image of" or "picture of". Screen readers automatically announce images as images. 

• Be concise.  

• Write narratives for complex images like infographics.  

• Avoid images of text. If you can't avoid it, copy the text into the alternative description.  

• Say something new. Don't repeat alternative descriptions on the same page. Don't repeat what is already said on the page.  

• Identify images that don't represent relevant content, and mark them as decorative. 

 

Tables :  

 

1. Generally use tables only for data, not for visual layout  

2. When using a table, ensure you have meaningful markup and header  

3. Use simple tables 

4. Avoid : 

   1.  merging cells 

   2.  nesting cells 

   3. Splitting cells  

   4. leaving rows and columns blank  

Using Links:  

 

1. Use descriptive link text: make sure the link text makes sense  

2. Avoid generic text like: Click here, More as link text  

Ex: To register online, complete this online form  

  New client form PDF <hyperlinked > 

1. Avoid URLs as link text, use a title of a video for example  

External Content :  

1. Ensure linked PDFs, word documents are accessible  

Audio /Video Content  

1. Must provide Close caption on video and include filler sounds(can be done now using Create subtitles)  

2. Transcripts: on the slide with text also with names and titles of speakers