The EmployeeCenter Desktop solution is compliant with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which conform to the UK Equality Act 2010 (EQA - which replaced DDA).
EmployeeCenter delivers UI components with built-in accessibility support. These automate many of the most common accessibility practices, such as providing text equivalents and promoting keyboard access.
EmployeeCenter also supports MSAA. Several of the most popular screen readers support MSAA and will render EmployeeCenter content, including JAWS from Freedom Scientific and Window-Eyes from GW Micro.
Screen Reader System requirements
To access EmployeeCenter content using a screen reader, users need to have Flash Player 6 or later installed (minimum for EmployeeCenter is Flash 10.2).
Users also need a screen reader with the Flash Player implementation of MSAA. Flash Player 11 and up includes Window-Eyes from GW Micro, JAWS from Freedom Scientific, and NVDA from NVAccess. More information about the Window-Eyes, JAWS, and NVDA screen readers and demo versions for each are available on the GW Micro, Freedom Scientific, and NVDA Project websites.
Finally, screen reader users will need to access EmployeeCenter using the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox browsers.
Mobile Accessibility
The EmployeeCenter Mobile solution is partially compliant with the same guidelines, found here: http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-accessibility-mapping/.
On mobile, some accessibility features, like screen zoom and a physical keyboard are supported. However, other items, like support for large fonts or increased contrast ratios, are not yet supported. For specific requirements on mobile accessibility, don't hesitate to get in touch with your Applaud representative for confirmation on support within our Mobile apps.
Accessibility coverage on mobile is expected to significantly increase in future releases made during 2016 onwards.
EQA Legislative compliance for Mobile accessibility
With regard to services relating to the provision of information, Section 20(6) EQA says:
"The steps which it is reasonable for [an information service provider] to have to take include steps for ensuring that in the circumstances concerned the information is provided in an accessible format."
The Code notes:
"The duty to make reasonable adjustments requires service providers to take positive steps to ensure that disabled people can access services. This goes beyond simply avoiding discrimination. It requires service providers to anticipate the needs of potential disabled customers for reasonable adjustments."
Thus, it it is noted that when measured against the UK EQA legislation, mobile accessibility is only critical if the use of the mobile application is mandatory for a disabled user and there is no other 'accessible' option (such as access to a desktop PC).
Non-Compliance within Applaud
In the case that a customer finds one or more aspects of Applaud software that are non-compliant with legislative requirements. In that case, Applaud will fix issues and deliver within the next available software update. The customer must have a valid technical maintenance agreement to receive such updates.