Test Planning

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US Government Section 508 Standards
Outline

• What is 508 What does it mean for you?
• A Little History.
• The Requirements.
• Questions.

Presented by David Thompson david.thompson_at_superv
alu.com
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US Government Section 508 StandardsWhat is
section 508?

• In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act
• This amendment ensures
  make their electronic and information technology
  accessible to people with disabilities.
• Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled
  employees and members of the public access to
  information that is comparable to the access
  available to others.
• 2 Sections are focused on software
• 1194.21 Software applications and operating
  systems.
• 12 Requirements
• 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet
  information and applications.
• 18 requirements
• This is the focus of todays presentation.
• The standard can be found

Federal agencies
here
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US Government Section 508 Standards What makes
something accessible?

• Microsoft accessibility features found here

• And here

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US Government Section 508 Standards What does
section 508 mean for you?

• Nothing, unless the contract youre working under
  specifies the website / software shall comply
  with the Section 508 standards.
• Everything, if you want the website / software
  youre developing to be more accessible to people
  with disabilities or if you want to increase the
  positive user experience of the website /
  software.
• Practically speaking, this means
• Additional H/W purchases screen reader, an
  electronic tester, multiple computers
• Additional S/W purchases test software to verify
  accessibility features
• Additional testing

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(a)
1194.22 (a) A text equivalent for every non-text
element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt",
"longdesc", or in element content).

• What to do
• For each web page verify
• All Images have alt or longdesc descriptions.

Ugly Dolls OX Mini

• How to do it
• Open the web page and place the mouse pointer
  over all relevant images A textual
  representation of that image should be displayed
  and is appropriate for the image.
• View the source code and search for all the ltIMGgt
  tags an alt or longdesc attribute should be
  present and appropriate for the image
• Perform similar searches for ltAPPLETgt, ltOBJECTgt,
  ltEMBEDgt.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(b)
1194.22 (b) Equivalent alternatives for any
multimedia presentation shall be synchronized
with the presentation.

• What to do
• Check each multimedia presentation for the
  synchronization of captioning and audio
  description.

• How to do it
• Visual Inspection All audio presentation must
  contain text equivalent. All video needs to have
  an audio equivalent.
• For example, many of the segments on NPR Newshour
  site include transcripts.

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US Government Section 508 Standards Color, Were
all affected
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45
56
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(c)
1194.22 (c) Web pages shall be designed so that
all information conveyed with color is also
available without color, for example from context
or markup.

• What to do
• Identify all cases where information is conveyed
  with color, for example, "Fields in red are
  required to be filled out and ensure the meaning
  can be discerned when not using color.

• How to do it
• View the web pages on a black and white monitor
  and ensure the original content and meaning is
  preserved.
• Print the web page out on a black and white
  printer and ensure the original content and
  meaning is preserved.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(c)
Examples
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(d)
1194.22 (d) Documents shall be organized so they
are readable without requiring an associated
style sheet.

• What to do
• Identify if any style sheets are used, (e.g. by
  looking for the ltlinkgt or ltstylegt elements, or
  the attribute style in any element) and ensure
  the web page is readable without the style sheet.

• How to do it
• View the pages using a browser with style sheets
  turned off or inactive and determine if the
  content is adequately readable.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(e)
1194.22 (e) Redundant text links shall be
provided for each active region of a server-side
image map.

• What to do
• Inspect web content source to identify
  server-side image maps and identify the presence
  of appropriate redundant text links for each
  active region of all server-side image maps.

• How to do it
• The two methods to indicate server-side image
  maps are
• the presence of an ismap attribute in the ltimggt
  image element. For example
• ltIMG SRCgraphics/imgtest.gif
• ISMAP
• the presence of input type image within a
  form.
• Place the mouse pointer over images to ensure
  image coordinates are not displayed. A
  server-side image map can be found at this site

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(f)
1194.22 (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.

• What to do
• Inspect web content source to help identify
  server-side image maps that could have been
  represented by client-side image maps.

• How to do it
• Refer to the previous slide to determine how to
  identify server-side image maps.
• Examine the map - could the map region have been
  defined with an available geometric shape?
• An example of a client-side image map can be
  found at this site

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(g)
1194.22 (g) Row and column headers shall be
identified for data tables.

• What to do
• Identify all uses of a data table. Establish
  that the table is a data table which needs column
  and / or row headers for understanding its
  contents.

• How to do it
• Inspect web content source to help identify
  appropriate data table headers. Some tips for
  inspection of HTML to help identify appropriate
  identification of data table headers
• Column headers the first data row of the table
  is composed of ltth scopecolgt elements instead
  of lttdgt elements.
• Row headers the first cell of each data row is a
  ltth scoperowgt element instead of a lttdgt
  element.
• Use screen reader to ensure the table is
  identified correctly.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(h)
1194.22 (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.

• What to do
• See 1194.22h.

Example Spring Summer Autumn Winter Betty 9-5
10-6 8-4 7-3 Wilma 10-6 10-6 9-5 9-5 Fred 1
0-6 10-6 10-6 10-6
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(g /
h)
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Betty 9-5 10-6 8-4 7-
3 Wilma 10-6 10-6 9-5 9-5 Fred 10-6 10-6 10-6 10-6
What does the html look like
lttablegt lttrgt ltthgtnbsplt/thgt ltth scope"col"
gtSpringlt/thgt ltth scope"col" gtSummerlt/thgt ltth
scope"col" gtAutumnlt/thgt ltth scope"col"
gtWinterlt/thgt lt/trgt lttrgt lttd scope"row"
gtBettylt/tdgt lttdgt9-5lt/tdgt lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt
lttdgt8-4lt/tdgtlttdgt7-3lt/tdgt lt/trgt lttrgt lttd
scope"row" gtWilmalt/tdgt lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt
lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt lttdgt9-5lt/tdgt lttdgt9-5lt/tdgt lt/trgt lttrgt
lttd scope"row" gtFredlt/tdgt lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt
lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt lttdgt10-6lt/tdgt lt/trgt lt/
tablegt
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(i)
1194.22 (i) Frames shall be titled with text that
facilitates frame identification and navigation.

• What to do
• Inspect web content source to help identify
  frames and frame identification.

• How to do it
• For each frame check if either of the following
  cases is true
• Is the frame clearly identified through the
  title attribute of the ltframegt or ltiframegt
  element? e.g. ltframe src"nav.html"
  title"Navigational Links"gt
• Is the frame clearly identified by including text
  within the body of each frame that clearly
  identifies the frame?

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(i)
What does the html look like
ltframeset cols"30, 60"gt ltframe
src"navlinks.html" name"navlinks"
title"Navigational Links Frame"gt ltframe
src"geninfo.html" name"contents_page"
title"Contents Frame"gt lt/framegt
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(j)
1194.22 (j) Pages shall be designed to avoid
causing the screen to flicker with a frequency
greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

• What to do
• View the screen for any flicker.

• How to do it
• Visual Inspection - Because 2 Hz is relatively
  slow, it is possible to use visual observation to
  determine whether the blink rate is greater than
  2 Hz. Ideally, the blink rate should not be
  greater than 1 Hz, i.e., one blink per second. If
  no timing device is available, you may
  approximate a one-second interval by speaking the
  words "one thousand one".
• An example of screen flicker of different rates
  can be found Here.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(k)
1194.22 (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.

• What to do
• If any other provision cannot be accomplished
  then a text only link should be provided.

• How to do it
• Check for a text only link. If visible
  pressing the link should display a web page with
  text only. If any other provision cannot be
  validated then the text only link must be
  available. For example
• http//www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public
  /DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId500

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(l)
1194.22 (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.

• What to do
• Identify all uses of scripts to display necessary
  information or create interface elements.

• How to do it
• Identify a script on an HTML document by the
  presence of
• The ltscriptgt element
• Event handler attributes, i.e. attributes whose
  name begins with "on" e.g., "onmouseover"
• JavaScript URLs, i.e. href attributes that use
  the javascript protocol e.g., lta
  href"javascriptdosomething()"gttextlt/agt
• OK
• lta href"javascriptmyFunction()"gtStart
  myFunctionlt/agt
• Not OK
• lta href"javascriptmyFunction()"gtltimg
  src"myFunction.gif"gtlt/agt
• lta href"javascriptmyFunction()"gtltimg
  src"myFunction.gif" alt"picture link for
  starting myFunction"gtlt/agt

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(l)
Example
From http//www.jimthatcher.com/webcoursea.htm
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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(m)
1194.22 (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).

• What to do
• Identify all objects that requires a special
  program to interpret its content. For example,
  pdf files.

• How to do it
• Look for the ltobjectgt, ltappletgt, or ltembedgt
  elements.
• Look for links to files with extensions other
  than .html, .htm. jpeg .gif and .xhtml, or any
  proprietary tags that are not directly handled by
  a browser - some plug-in manufacturers may
  require these.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(n)
1194.22 (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.

• What to do
• View the web page for any types of user entry and
  ensure AT can interpret the contents.

• How to do it
• Inspect the source all items of the form should
  be identified for example, lttitlegt
• Use a screen reader and ensure the form and all
  its objects are correctly identified.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(o)
1194.22 (o) A method shall be provided that
permits users to skip repetitive navigation
links.

• What to do
• View web pages for a standard navigation
  banner, usually found at the top of the page.

• How to do it
• Inspect the source There should be a mechanism
  for bypassing all standard navigation links on
  each page (multiple ways to accomplish).
• Use a screen reader and ensure the repeated links
  are not stated and the navigation banner is
  identified.

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(o)

• This website can be accessed here
  http//warc.calpoly.edu/accessibility/508indepth/r
  epetitive.html
• Notice the Skip to main content text in the
  above right of the page. This is often
  accomplished by created a 1bit pixel that a user
  cannot see but the AT will see.
• On the next slide, well look at the underlying
  html code

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(o)

• ...
• ltbodygt
• ltdiv id"container"
• ltdiv id"skiplink"gtlta href"main-content"
  tabindex"10"gt
• Skip to main contentlt/agtlt/divgt
• ltdiv id"header"gt
• ...
• lt/divgt
• ltdiv id"navcontainer"gt
• ltdiv id"nav"gtlt!-- BeginLibraryItem ...
• ...
• lt!-- EndLibraryItem --gtlt/divgt
• lt/divgt
• lt!-- InstanceBeginEditable name"Left Navigation"
  --gt
• ...
• lt!-- InstanceEndEditable --gt
• ltdiv id"maincontent"gtlta id"main-content"
  name"main-content"gtlt/agt (C/R)
• lt!-- InstanceBeginEditable name"Title Search
  Bar" --gt

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US Government Section 508 Standards 1194.22(p)
1194.22 (p) When a timed response is required,
the user shall be alerted and given sufficient
time to indicate more time is required.

• What to do
• Examine web page for timed responses and ensure
  you are notified before the timeout expires and
  that sufficient time is allowed to prevent the
  timeout.

• How to do it
• Inspect the source If there is no META-Refresh,
  or there are no forms, or if forms are present
  and there is no scripting, then there are no
  timed responses.
• An example can be found here 1194.22(p) Example

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Any Questions?

• Im not sure, but I bet there is a good reason
  for that.
• Donavan is our Web specialist here Im sure he
  can answer that.
• Gee, can anyone answer that question?
• I believe everything you want answered is on the
  next slide

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US Government Section 508 Standards References

• Government Website (standard and supporting
  information)
• http//www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseActionCon
  tentID3
• http//www.accessibilityforum.org/paper_tool.html
• Web Accessibility
• http//www.jimthatcher.com/index.htm
• Section 508 Tutorial (for applications i.e.,
  1194.21)
• http//www.section508.gov/IRSCourse/index.html
• http//www.access-board.gov/sec508/software-tutori
  al.htm
• NASA PowerPoint Site on 508
• http//www.section508.nasa.gov/resources/PPT_WebDe
  sign.ppt
• Website Accessibility from W3C (an alternate
  standard for accessibility)
• http//www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505/
  
• http//www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/full-checklist.html
  (checklist)
• Selecting safe colors for web pages
• http//colorlab.wickline.org/colorblind/colorlab/
  
• http//www.lighthouse.org/accessibility/effective-
  color-contrast/
• http//www.vischeck.com/vischeck/vischeckURL.php
  (checks color combinations)
• Free Web testing products (with limitations)
• http//webxact.watchfire.com/ - WebXact (formally
  Bobby)