As the Transparent Language Online system updates existing functionality and develops new capabilities, we methodically address the support of accessibility for learners with special needs. Transparent Language Online has not been tested for WCAG 2.0 compliance by third-party experts, although good programming practices and our own on-going internal testing, we are working to support more and more aspects of WCAG 2.0 compliance. Our team is building knowledge of these standards, so that where feasible we can support the broadest possible access to our learning system. Below is a listing of the WCAG 2.0 criteria for software application and web sites with our current assessment of Transparent Language Online status for each criteria. Any documented issues below will be fixed through our development process in the future.
For the breakdown of WCAG 2.1 success criteria, Click here.
Principle 1 – Perceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
| Level | Criteria | Description | Pass/Fail | Support Level | Notes on Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1.1.1 – Non Text Content | Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language. | Pass | 95% |
One issue in Kidspeak only. |
| A | 1.2.1 – Audio-Only and Video-Only | For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such:
|
Pass | 95% | There is no description of the no-dialogue culture videos that a limited number of certain Essentials lessons have. |
| A | 1.2.2 – Captions (Pre-recorded) | Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. | Pass | 95% | One issue in Kidspeak only. |
| A | 1.2.3 – Audio Description or Media Alternative (Pre-recorded) | An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. | Pass | 95% | There are a small number of videos that don’t contain descriptions of actions in the video. |
| AA | 1.2.4 – Captions (Live) | Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media. | Pass | 100% | |
| AA | 1.2.5 – Audio Description | Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. | Pass | 90% | There are a small number of videos that don’t contain descriptions of actions in the video. |
| AAA | 1.2.6 – Sign Language (Pre-recorded) | Sign language interpretation is provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.2.7 – Extended Audio Description (Pre-recorded) | Where pauses in foreground audio are insufficient to allow audio descriptions to convey the sense of the video, extended audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.2.8 – Media Alternative (Pre- recorded) | An alternative for time-based media is provided for all prerecorded synchronized media and for all prerecorded video-only media. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.2.9 – Audio Only (Live) | An alternative for time-based media that presents equivalent information for live audio-only content is provided. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| A | 1.3.1 – Info and Relationships | Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text. | Pass | 90% | Some unlabeled elements found, location within a table is not accessible to screen readers. |
| A | 1.3.2 – Meaningful Sequence | When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined. | Pass | 95% | In most tables, screen readers can’t find column headers, and some tables are even set up as two separate tables (one for the headers and one for the data). To be fixed. |
| A | 1.3.3 – Sensory Characteristics | Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, size, visual location, orientation, or sound | Pass | 90% | Some issues found within Kidspeak and learning activities. |
| A | 1.4.1 – Use of Color | Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. | Pass | 95% | Required fields in the signup form use a red asterisk to mark “required” with no other explanation. |
| A | 1.4.2 – Audio Control | If any audio on a Web page plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, either a mechanism is available to pause or stop the audio, or a mechanism is available to control audio volume independently from the overall system volume level. | Pass | 90% | Issue with lack of special audio control considerations in mobile app for handsfree. |
| AA | 1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum) | The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, except for the following:
|
Pass | 90% | Several exceptions documented which will be fixed by a release in mid 2024. |
| AA | 1.4.4 – Resize Text | Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality. | Pass | 95% | Vocab item comment bubbles and Matching tiles can be hidden at higher text sizes. |
| AA | 1.4.5 – Images of Text | If the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text except for the following:
|
Pass | 99% | One open issue related to Grammar References using images instead of text for Servian language. |
| AAA | 1.4.6 – Contrast (Enhanced) | The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, except for the following:
|
Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.4.7 – Low or No Background Audio | For prerecorded audio-only content that (1) contains primarily speech in the foreground, (2) is not an audio CAPTCHA or audio logo, and (3) is not vocalization intended to be primarily musical expression such as singing or rapping, at least one of the following is true:
|
Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.4.8 – Visual Presentation | For the visual presentation of blocks of text, a mechanism is available to achieve the following:
|
Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 1.4.9 – Images of Text (No Exception) | Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. |
Principle 2 – Operable
User interface components and navigation must be operable.
| Level | Guideline | Description | Pass/Fail | Support Level | Notes On Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2.1.1 – Keyboard | All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user’s movement and not just the endpoints. | Pass | 95% | There are several areas in Transparent Language Online where keyboard operation of an element does not work correctly or lacks some aspect of functionality. These exceptions are almost entirely outside of the learning activities and not within the most commonly used areas of the system. Exceptions to be addressed in updates in mid 2024. |
| A | 2.1.2 – No Keyboard Trap | If keyboard focus can be moved to a component of the page using a keyboard interface, then focus can be moved away from that component using only a keyboard interface, and, if it requires more than unmodified arrow or tab keys or other standard exit methods, the user is advised of the method for moving focus away. | Pass | 95% | No indication of how the user can rearrange the LP with the keyboard. In the Learned Vocab modal, it's not possible to shift + tab out of the Filter Term text box. |
| AAA | 2.1.3 – Keyboard (No Exception) | All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| A | 2.2.1 – Timing Adjustable | For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true:
|
Pass | 95% | One issues that impacts three different activities. Will be fixed. |
| A | 2.2.2 – Pause, Stop, Hide | For moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information, all of the following are true:
|
Pass | 100% | |
| AAA | 2.2.3 – No Timing | Timing is not an essential part of the event or activity presented by the content, except for non-interactive synchronized media and real-time events. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 2.2.4 – Interruptions | Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed by the user, except interruptions involving an emergency. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 2.2.5 – Re-authenticating | When an authenticated session expires, the user can continue the activity without loss of data after re-authenticating. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| A | 2.3.1 – Three Flashes or Below | Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds. | Pass | 100% | |
| AAA | 2.3.2 – Three Flashes | Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| A | 2.4.1 – Bypass Blocks | A mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple Web pages. | Pass | 100% | |
| A | 2.4.2 – Page Titled | Web pages have titles that describe topic or purpose. | Pass | 100% | |
| A | 2.4.3 – Focus Order | If a Web page can be navigated sequentially and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability. | Pass | 95% | The stale vocab (!) icon is not in the same location in tab order as in visual reading order. |
| A | 2.4.4 – Link Purpose (In Context) | The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general. | Pass | 100% | |
| AA | 2.4.5 – Multiple Ways | More than one way is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages except where the Web Page is the result of, or a step in, a process. | Fail | Currently only one way to locate a page within a set of pages in most cases. Working on implementation of a sitemap or table of contents. | |
| AA | 2.4.6 – Headings and Labels | Headings and labels describe topic or purpose. | Pass | 100% | |
| AA | 2.4.7 – Focus Visible | Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible. | Pass | 95% | In several locations in UI, it’s hard to tell whether elements are in focus. |
| AAA | 2.4.8 – Location | Information about the user’s location within a set of Web pages is available. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 2.4.9 – Link Purpose (Link Only) | A mechanism is available to allow the purpose of each link to be identified from link text alone, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 2.4.10 – Section Headings | Section headings are used to organize the content. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. |
Principle 3 – Understandable
Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.
| Level | Guideline | Description | Pass/Fail | Support Level | Notes on Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3.1.1 – Language of Page | The default human language of each Web page can be programmatically determined. | Pass | 100% | |
| AA | 3.1.2 – Language of Parts | The human language of each passage or phrase in the content can be programmatically determined except for proper names, technical terms, words of indeterminate language, and words or phrases that have become part of the vernacular of the immediately surrounding text. | Pass | 95% | My Activity Report UI doesn’t change “lang” to match localization. Featured Resources are neither localized nor permanently tagged as English. Activity names can be different from localization language but don’t have “lang”. |
| AAA | 3.1.3 – Unusual Words | A mechanism is available for identifying specific definitions of words or phrases used in an unusual or restricted way, including idioms and jargon. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 3.1.4 – Abbreviations | A mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning of abbreviations is available. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 3.1.5 – Reading Level | When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 3.1.6 – Pronunciation | A mechanism is available for identifying specific pronunciation of words where meaning of the words, in context, is ambiguous without knowing the pronunciation. | Not applicable | ||
| A | 3.2.1 – On Focus | When any component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context. | Pass | 100% | |
| A | 3.2.2 – On Input | Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context unless the user has been advised of the behavior before using the component. | Pass | 95% | Focus moves into the text field instead of staying on the toggle when you turn Easy Type mode off. |
| AA | 3.2.3 – Consistent Navigation | Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user. | Pass | 100% | |
| AA | 3.2.4 – Consistent Identification | Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently. | Pass | 100% | |
| AAA | 3.2.5 – Change on Request | Changes of context are initiated only by user request or a mechanism is available to turn off such changes. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| A | 3.3.1 – Error Identification | If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text. | Pass | 100% | |
| A | 3.3.2 – Labels or Instructions | Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input. | Pass | 95% | Some fields found without labels or with screen reader incompatible labels. |
| AA | 3.3.3 – Error Suggestion | If an input error is automatically detected and suggestions for correction are known, then the suggestions are provided to the user, unless it would jeopardize the security or purpose of the content. | Pass | 95% | My Activity Report UI doesn’t provide a useful error message for missing/incomplete dates. |
| AA | 3.3.4 – Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | For Web pages that cause legal commitments or financial transactions for the user to occur, that modify or delete user-controllable data in data storage systems, or that submit user test responses, at least one of the following is true:
|
Pass | 95% | Writing activities in assessments don’t have a “confirmation” step for answers like other activities do. |
| AAA | 3.3.5 – Help | Context-sensitive help is available. | Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. | |
| AAA | 3.3.6 – Error Prevention (All) | For Web pages that require the user to submit information, at least one of the following is true:
|
Not applicable | We target AA level compliance. |
Principle 4 – Robust
Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
| Level | Guideline | Description | Pass/Fail | Support Level | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.1.1 – Parsing | In content implemented using markup languages, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and any IDs are unique, except where the specifications allow these features. | Pass | 95% | One issue that affects Kidspeak only. |
| A | 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value | For all user interface components (including but not limited to: form elements, links and components generated by scripts), the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies. | Pass | 99% | Only one missing label currently impacts learning features. |