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An evaluation of EPiServer’s compliance to the current WCAG and ATAG guidelines elaborated by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C)
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).





The information in this document specifies the extent that EPiServer 4.60 complies with the current WCAG 1.0 and ATAG 1.0 guidelines elaborated by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

For more detailed information on the WCAG and ATAG guidelines, please refer to http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag.php and http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/atag.php.

Note For more information about Web accessibility and EPiServer features that enhance accessibility of the content created, please refer to the white paper “Accessible Web Sites and EPiServer”. For detailed information regarding the accessibility of EPiServer’s sample templates, please refer to the technical note “Accessibility of EPiServer’s Sample Templates” in the EPiServer Knowledge Center (authorization required).

EPiServer’s Compliance to WCAG 1.0

Overview

  • Guideline 1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.
  • Guideline 2. Don't rely on color alone.
  • Guideline 3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.
  • Guideline 4. Clarify natural language usage.
  • Guideline 5. Create tables that transform gracefully.
  • Guideline 6. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully.
  • Guideline 7. Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes.
  • Guideline 8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces.
  • Guideline 9. Design for device-independence.
  • Guideline 10. Use interim solutions.
  • Guideline 11. Use W3C technologies and guidelines.
  • Guideline 12. Provide context and orientation information.
  • Guideline 13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms.
  • Guideline 14. Ensure that documents are clear and simple.

 

Guideline 1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

1.1

Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). This includes: images, graphical representations of text (including symbols), image map regions, animations (e.g., animated GIFs), applets and programmatic objects, ascii art, frames, scripts, images used as list bullets, spacers, graphical buttons, sounds (played with or without user interaction), stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video.

-This is done as a general rule, but with some exceptions.

1

Partial

1.2

Provide redundant text links for each active region of a server-side image map.

1

N/A

1.3

Until user agents can automatically read aloud the text equivalent of a visual track, provide an auditory description of the important information of the visual track of a multimedia presentation.

1

N/A

1.4

For any time-based multimedia presentation (e.g., a movie or animation), synchronize equivalent alternatives (e.g., captions or auditory descriptions of the visual track) with the presentation.

1

N/A

1.5

Until user agents render text equivalents for client-side image map links, provide redundant text links for each active region of a client-side image map.

3

N/A

Guideline 2. Don't rely on color alone.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

2.1

Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.

1

Yes

2.2

Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having color deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen. [Priority 2 for images, Priority 3 for text].

2

Yes

Guideline 3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

3.1

When an appropriate markup language exists, use markup rather than images to convey information.

2

Yes

3.2

Create documents that validate to published formal grammars.

-Documents created by EPiServers sample templates follow formal grammars with some exceptions.
See the technical note “Accessibility of EPiServer's Sample Templates” for more details.

2

Partial

3.3

Use style sheets to control layout and presentation.

-Layout is generally controlled with style sheets, although some Web controls use attributes to modify layout.

2

Partial

3.4

Use relative rather than absolute units in markup language attribute values and style sheet property values.

-Relative units are used for most of the style sheet elements with a few exceptions. The portal templates mainly do not use relative units.

2

Partial

3.5

Use header elements to convey document structure and use them according to specification.

-Header elements are used for some of the templates, but not as a general rule.

2

Partial

3.6

Mark up lists and list items properly.

2

Yes

3.7

Mark up quotations. Do not use quotation markup for formatting effects such as indentation.

2

No

Guideline 4. Clarify natural language usage.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

4.1

Clearly identify changes in the natural language of a document's text and any text equivalents (e.g., captions).

1

No

4.2

Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document where it first occurs.

3

No

4.3

Identify the primary natural language of a document.

3

No

Guideline 5. Create tables that transform gracefully.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

5.1

For data tables, identify row and column headers.

- Column headers are used in some templates, but not as a general rule.

1

Partial

5.2

For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers, use markup to associate data cells and header cells.

-Conformance for normal data tables with up to two logical levels.

1

Partial

5.3

Do not use tables for layout unless the table makes sense when linearized. Otherwise, if the table does not make sense, provide an alternative equivalent (which may be a linearized version).

-As a general rule tables are not used for layout purposes, but there are some exceptions where tables are used when they should not be.

2

Partial

5.4

If a table is used for layout, do not use any structural markup for the purpose of visual formatting.

2

Yes

5.5

Provide summaries for tables.

-Some tables specify a summary, but this is not done in general.

3

Partial

5.6

Provide abbreviations for header labels.

3

No

Guideline 6. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

6.1

Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets. For example, when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it must still be possible to read the document.

1

Yes

6.2

Ensure that equivalents for dynamic content are updated when the dynamic content changes.

1

Yes

6.3

Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If this is not possible, provide equivalent information on an alternative accessible page.

1

No

6.4

For scripts and applets, ensure that event handlers are input device-independent.

-As a general rule event handlers are device-independent. The portal templates, however, use drag-and-drop.

2

Partial

6.5

Ensure that dynamic content is accessible or provide an alternative presentation or page.

2

No

Guideline 7. Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

7.1

Until user agents allow users to control flickering, avoid causing the screen to flicker.

1

Yes

7.2

Until user agents allow users to control blinking, avoid causing content to blink (i.e., change presentation at a regular rate, such as turning on and off).

- Slide show template uses client-side content updates.

2

Partial

7.3

Until user agents allow users to freeze moving content, avoid movement in pages.

2

N/A

7.4

Until user agents provide the ability to stop the refresh, do not create periodically auto-refreshing pages.

2

Yes

7.5

Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, do not use markup to redirect pages automatically. Instead, configure the server to perform redirects.

2

Yes

Guideline 8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

8.1

Make programmatic elements such as scripts and applets directly accessible or compatible with assistive technologies.

1

Not tested

Guideline 9. Design for device-independence.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

9.1

Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.

1

N/A

9.2

Ensure that any element that has its own interface can be operated in a device-independent manner.

2

N/A

9.3

For scripts, specify logical event handlers rather than device-dependent event handlers.

-As a general rule event handlers are device-independent. The portal templates, however, use drag-and-drop.

2

Partial

9.4

Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects.

3

Yes

9.5

Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls.

3

Yes

Guideline 10. Use interim solutions.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

10.1

Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user.

2

No

10.2

Until user agents support explicit associations between labels and form controls, for all form controls with implicitly associated labels, ensure that the label is properly positioned.

2

Yes

10.3

Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render side-by-side text correctly, provide a linear text alternative (on the current page or some other) for all tables that lay out text in parallel, word-wrapped columns.

3

N/A

10.4

Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default, place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas.

3

N/A

10.5

Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render adjacent links distinctly, include non-link, printable characters (surrounded by spaces) between adjacent links.

-This is done for some templates, but not as a general rule.

3

Partial

Guideline 11. Use W3C technologies and guidelines.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

11.1

Use W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task and use the latest versions when supported.

2

Yes

11.2

Avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies.

2

Yes

11.3

Provide information so that users may receive documents according to their preferences (e.g., language, content type, etc.).

3

No

11.4

If, after best efforts, you cannot create an accessible page, provide a link to an alternative page that uses W3C technologies, is accessible, has equivalent information (or functionality), and is updated as often as the inaccessible (original) page.

1

N/A

Guideline 12. Provide context and orientation information.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

12.1

Title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation.

- Frames are not generally used.

1

No

12.2

Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other if it is not obvious by frame titles alone.

- Frames are not generally used.

2

No

12.3

Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate.

2

N/A

12.4

Associate labels explicitly with their controls.

-Some templates specify labels, but not as a general rule.

2

Partial

Guideline 13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

13.1

Clearly identify the target of each link.

2

Yes

13.2

Provide metadata to add semantic information to pages and sites.

2

Yes

13.3

Provide information about the general layout of a site (e.g., a site map or table of contents).

2

Yes

13.4

Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner.

2

Yes

13.5

Provide navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism.

3

Yes

13.6

Group related links, identify the group (for user agents), and, until user agents do so, provide a way to bypass the group.

3

No

13.7

If search functions are provided, enable different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences.

3

Yes

13.8

Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.

3

N/A

13.9

Provide information about document collections (i.e., documents comprising multiple pages.).

3

N/A

13.10

Provide a means to skip over multi-line ASCII art.

3

N/A

Guideline 14. Ensure that documents are clear and simple.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

14.1

Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content.

1

N/A

14.2

Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations where they will facilitate comprehension of the page.

3

Yes

14.3

Create a style of presentation that is consistent across pages.

3

Yes


EPiServer’s Compliance to ATAG 1.0

Overview

  • Guideline 1. Support accessible authoring practices.
  • Guideline 2. Generate standard markup.
  • Guideline 3. Support the creation of accessible content.
  • Guideline 4. Provide ways of checking and correcting inaccessible content.
  • Guideline 5. Integrate accessibility solutions into the overall "look and feel".
  • Guideline 6. Promote accessibility in help and documentation.
  • Guideline 7. Ensure that the authoring tool is accessible to authors with disabilities.

Guideline 1. Support accessible authoring practices.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

1.1

Ensure that the author can produce accessible content in the markup language(s) supported by the tool.

- Generally yes, but with some exceptions. For instance, it is not possible to specify abbreviations or quotes in the Editor.

1

Partial

1.2

Ensure that the tool preserves all accessibility information during authoring, transformations, and conversions.

1

Yes

1.3

Ensure that when the tool automatically generates markup it conforms to the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10].

- EPiServer's Web controls generally generate content that validates to formal grammar. Some of the Web controls use tables for layout, which is not recomended.

Relative

Partial

1.4

Ensure that templates provided by the tool conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10].

- See the technical note “Accessibility of EPiServer's Sample Templates” for more details.

Relative

Partial

Guideline 2. Generate standard markup.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

2.1

Use the latest versions of W3C Recommendations when they are available and appropriate for a task.

2

Yes

2.2

Ensure that the tool automatically generates valid markup.

- Generally yes, but with some exceptions.

1

Partial

2.3

If markup produced by the tool does not conform to W3C specifications, inform the author.

3

No

Guideline 3. Support the creation of accessible content.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

3.1

Prompt the author to provide equivalent alternative information (e.g., captions, auditory descriptions, and collated text transcripts for video).

Relative

No

3.2

Help the author create structured content and separate information from its presentation.

- EPiServer supports some of the recommended technologies.

Relative

Partial

3.3

Ensure that prepackaged content conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10].

- Generally yes, but with some exceptions.

Relative

Partial

3.4

Do not automatically generate equivalent alternatives. Do not reuse previously authored alternatives without author confirmation, except when the function is known with certainty.

1

Yes

3.5

Provide functionality for managing, editing, and reusing alternative equivalents for multimedia objects.

3

No

Guideline 4. Provide ways of checking and correcting inaccessible content.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

4.1

Check for and inform the author of accessibility problems.

Relative

No

4.2

Assist authors in correcting accessibility problems.

Relative

No

4.3

Allow the author to preserve markup not recognized by the tool.

2

No

4.4

Provide the author with a summary of the document's accessibility status.

3

No

4.5

Allow the author to transform presentation markup that is misused to convey structure into structural markup, and to transform presentation markup used for style into style sheets.

3

No

Guideline 5. Integrate accessibility solutions into the overall "look and feel".

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

5.1

Ensure that functionality related to accessible authoring practices is naturally integrated into the overall look and feel of the tool.

2

Yes

5.2

Ensure that accessible authoring practices supporting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10] Priority 1 checkpoints are among the most obvious and easily initiated by the author.

2

Yes

Guideline 6. Promote accessibility in help and documentation.

Checkpoint

Priority

Conformance

6.1

Document all features that promote the production of accessible content.

1

Yes

6.2

Ensure that creating accessible content is a naturally integrated part of the documentation, including examples.

2

Yes

6.3

In a dedicated section, document all features of the tool that promote the production of accessible content.

3