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Oncourse CL accessibility information

This page is provided for persons using assistive technology.

On this page:

Note: Suggested screen reader settings for JAWS and Window-Eyes follow each description.

Note: The  -  (hyphen) used in the instructions below signifies to press the keys simultaneously.

Known accessibility issues

Oncourse CL contains a number of accessibility issues yet to be resolved:

  • JavaScript must be enabled for the software to function.

  • Tool headings are often redundant due to separate page title and content frames.

  • Items in drop-down menus in Gradebook, Profile, Preferences, Syllabus, Roster, and Wiki load when pressing the up or down keys. Press Alt-up arrow or Alt-down arrow to scroll through a menu instead.

Click KB Comments at the bottom of any Knowledge Base document to report any additional accessibility problems.

Also, note that it is highly recommended to use JAWS version 8.0 and Window-Eyes version 5.5 or later, as performance will be significantly better.

Download the JAWS upgrade at:

http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/jaws-downloads.asp

Check for Window-Eyes upgrades at:

http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/Upgrades/

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Tips and tricks for navigation

Here are some tips for navigating:

  • To scroll in drop-down lists, press Alt-down arrow to open the combo box. Then, press the up or down arrow to view the choices.

  • After selecting a tool, move the focus to tool content with Alt-c.

  • If you get lost, press Alt-c to return the focus to the top of the tool.

  • Go to the bottom buttons (e.g., Cancel) on a page by pressing Insert-F5 to open the forms list dialog. Then, press Ctrl-End.

  • Use headings (with the letter  h ) to navigate. The worksite and tool sections, as well as page content, are marked with headings.

  • To see all the headings for a page, press Insert-F6 for a list, and then scroll using the up and down arrows.

  • Press Insert-down arrow to repeat the text.

  • If links to tools, content, or worksites do not work, press Insert-F6 to pull up the headings list, and navigate using headings.

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How to configure JAWS and Window-Eyes settings

You can execute most of the recommended settings in Internet Explorer through the Insert-v command, followed by the relevant letter for MSAA commands (such as  h for headings), and then using the up arrow or down arrow.

To access HTML settings within JAWS itself (for example, to change default settings for JAWS):

  1. Go to Utilities by pressing Alt-u .

  2. Select JAWS Configuration Manager by pressing  c .

  3. Select Set Options by pressing  s .

  4. Choose HTML Options by pressing  h .

  5. Press Ctrl-Tab to move between pages.

To access HTML settings within Window-Eyes:

  1. Choose Control panel by pressing Ctrl-\ .

  2. Select the Global Menu by pressing Alt-l .

  3. Choose the Verbosity Menu by pressing  v .

  4. Select MSAA by pressing  m .

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Headings

Use headings to navigate. Links to worksites, tools, and content appear as headings to facilitate navigation. Content within tools is also structured hierarchically using <h1>, <h2>, and <h3> tags.

JAWS and Window-Eyes enable headings announced with level by default.

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Frames

Because frame titles are frequently repeated, it is recommended that you do not have them announced by screen readers unnecessarily. The default setting for JAWS is not to say frame names.

If you wish to set JAWS to "Say Frame Name at Beginning and End" anyway:

  1. While in Internet Explorer, press Insert-v to go to the MSAA menu.

  2. Type  f f , and then  e  to execute.

Window-Eyes enables frame names by default.

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Accesskeys

Accesskeys follow the UK e-commerce standards wherever possible, and are mnemonic otherwise. On a PC, use Alt to invoke accesskeys; on a Macintosh, use Ctrl. Accesskeys are announced in the title tag for each link.

Portal-based accesskeys

  • Accessibility page: Alt-0. (This must be set in Permissions by your institution. It is also available in the Help tool under Accessibility).
  • Help page: Alt-6
  • Skip to content: Alt-c
  • Skip to tools list: Alt-l
  • Skip to worksites: Alt-w

Tool-specific accesskeys

Accesskeys are available for most form-based tools.

  • Delete, remove, or cancel: Alt-x
  • Edit or revise: Alt-e
  • Help: Alt-h
  • Refresh: Alt-u
  • Save: Alt-s
  • View or preview: Alt-v

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Screen refresh

Users control page refreshes. To refresh page content, press F5.

To set JAWS to turn off page refresh:

  1. While in Internet Explorer, press Insert-v to go to the MSAA menu.

  2. Type  r r , and then  e  to execute.

To set Window-Eyes, press Alt-Shift-m until you hear "suspend all".

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Title tags

Title tags aid in comprehension of action buttons and links by providing additional information. To set JAWS to use them:

  1. While in JAWS, go to Utilities by pressing Alt-u .

  2. Go to Configuration Manager by pressing  c .

  3. Select Set Options by pressing Alt-s .

  4. Choose HTML Settings by pressing  h .

  5. Select Graphics Verbosity by pressing Ctrl-Tab Ctrl-Tab.

  6. Press Tab once, and then press the up arrow until you hear "Use title".

  7. Press Enter.

Window-Eyes enables title tags by default.

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Form tags

Forms contain common accessibility elements, including fieldset, legend, label for, and id tags.

Recommended JAWS and Window-Eyes settings

The first column of the table below contains page elements, the second column provides suggested screen reader settings, and the third column contains shortcut keys in Internet Explorer to create settings.

JAWS and Window-Eyes Settings by Element
Element Suggested screen reader setting Shortcut keys in Internet Explorer
Headings Headings with level Press Insert-v . Press  h  and then  e  to execute.
Titles Read title tag Press Insert-v . Press  l l l  and then  e  to execute.
Frames Announcement off Default. Press Insert-v . Press  f  and then  e  to execute.
Tables (JAWS) Recognize data tables only Press Alt-u for Utilities, and then press  c  for Configuration Manager. Select Alt-s for Set Options, and then press  h  for HTML Options. Press Ctrl-Tab to go to Lists and Tables, and then press Alt-y for Detect Table Type.
Tables (Window-Eyes) Recognize data tables only Press Insert-v to to go to Verbosity Settings. Press  t . Press Tab to go to the radio button. Use the up arrow or down arrow until "insert beginning/end message" is selected. Note that this is enabled by default.
Refresh Suppress refreshes Press Insert-v . Press  r r , and then  e  to execute.

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Compliance

The continuing objective of developers is to make the application compliant with Section 508 and WCAG 1.0 Priorities One and Two, and as usable as possible for persons using adaptive technology. Most tools follow W3C accessibility guidelines for headings, forms, tables, links, and images, but do not include non-script alternatives to JavaScript, or user messages for pop-ups or completed actions. Tools following most guidelines include:

  • Announcements
  • Chat Room
  • Discussion
  • Email Archive
  • Home
  • My Workspace--Membership
  • My Workspace--Preferences
  • Calendar
  • Site Setup
  • Web Content
  • Worksite Setup

JSF (Java Server Faces) tools have not been revised to include all accessibility elements. These include the following:

  • Gradebook
  • Profile
  • Preferences
  • Syllabus
  • Roster
  • Wiki
  • Drop Box
  • Assignments
  • Resources

Compatible adaptive technology

Oncourse CL has been tested with JAWS version 8.0 and Window-Eyes version 5.5. Compliance has been evaluated using A-Prompt, WebXACT, and W3C Validator, but is not guaranteed.

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This is document arkn in domains all, oncoursecl, sakai-all, and sakaiht.
Last modified on June 29, 2009.

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