Summary Table

Criteria

Supporting Features

Remarks and explanations

Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems

 Supports with exceptions

In this section we address features of the SoftChalk Create authoring interface under the heading "Authoring", and we address features of the SoftChalk content web pages that are created using SoftChalk Create under the heading "Output".

Both Authoring and Output are largely supported with some exceptions.

Section 1194.22 Web-based internet information and applications

 Supports

In this section we address features of the SoftChalk content web pages that are created using the SoftChalk Create product. We do not address the SoftChalk "Authoring" interface in this section as it is not a web-based application.

The SoftChalk lesson content web pages, as viewed by a student, are largely accessible to those who are using screen readers and/or those who are limited to using only the keyboard to navigate the content web pages. In part, the accessibility of the content web pages is dependent on choices an author makes when creating the content pages. For example, when embedding a video into a lesson, the content author has the opportunity to provide a video that includes with captioning. However, the SoftChalk Create program does not prevent an author from embedding a video that is not captioned.

In many cases, the SoftChalk Create software supplies default accessibility information – for example, when an equation is created using the built-in equation editor, MathML functionality is embedded in the content page so that a screen reader can "read" the equation.

It is recommended that students who are using a screen reading device and/or are using only the keyboard to navigate the content web pages use one of the following web browsers:

Windows: IE 8 or above, Mozilla/Firefox 10 or higher, Chrome Apple: Safari 1.x or higher, Firefox, Chrome

Some of the accessibility features are not available if viewing the web content pages in older browsers, such as IE 8 and earlier.

Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products

 Not Applicable

Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products

Supports

Section 1194.25Self-Contained, Closed Products

 Not Applicable

Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers

 Not Applicable

Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

Authoring: Supports with Exceptions

Output: Supports

Authoring: SoftChalk Create does not support use of a screen reader to navigate the authoring interface.

Output: The criteria are supported with one exception as outlined in the functional performance criteria.

Section 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support.

 Supports

Accessible documentation is available via PDF or Word Documents and can be downloaded from the SoftChalk website.

Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems

* Refer to ( http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.21.htm ) for details on the guidelines listed below.

Criteria

Supporting Features

Remarks and explanations

(a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually.

Authoring: Supports with exceptions
 
 










Output: Supports with exceptions

Authoring: Most commands and functions in the Softchalk Create 10 interface are keyboard accessible through the application menu interface or by using keyboard shortcuts.

Some of the activity dialogs, such as the HotSpot Image Activity Creation dialog are not operable using the keyboard alone.

Output: All aspects of the web content pages are accessible via the keyboard. One option component of a content page is the inclusion of an interactive activity. Of the 21 interactive activities that can be used in SoftChalk content, 14 of them are keyboard accessible and 7 are not. By keyboard accessible we mean that the student can complete the activity using only the keyboard to access the activity. The 7 exceptions include: HotSpot, Timeline, Identify, Pairs, Align, Sequence and Selection activities.

(b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product developer.

Authoring: Supports




Output: Supports

Authoring: SoftChalk Create does not disable or disrupt activated accessibility features of other products

Output: SoftChalk content pages do not disrupt or disable any operating system accessibility features.

(c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that Assistive Technology can track focus and focus changes.

Authoring: Supports with exceptions








Output: Supports

Authoring: In the SoftChalk Create authoring environment, the current focus for the page is indicated by the cursor location and programmatically by the appearance of menus and dialogs. Assistive Devices are able to detect the cursor location in most but not all dialogs.

Output: SoftChalk content pages indicate the current focus for the page and this information can be detected by assistive devices.

(d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to Assistive Technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text.

Authoring: Supports with exceptions

Output: Supports

Authoring: Identify, role and state information is available for most but not all controls in the SoftChalk 9 interface.

Output: All of the images in the web content pages that represent interface navigation or information are provided with text descriptions.

(e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application's performance.

Authoring:  




Output: Not Applicable

Authoring: SoftChalk does not use bitmap images for controls or other programmatic elements.

Output: SoftChalk does not use bitmap images for controls or other programmatic elements.

(f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes.

Authoring: Not applicable




Output: Not Applicable

Authoring: Does not expose textual information through the operating system functions.

Output: Does not expose textual information through the operating system functions

(g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes.

Authoring: Supports 



Output: Supports

Authoring: Honors user-defined color and contrast settings in Windows.

Output: Honors user-defined color and contrast settings in Windows.

(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user.

Authoring: not applicable



Output: Supports

 Authoring: animation is not used in the authoring interface.

Output: If animation objects are included in a SoftChalk lesson, the author has the ability to include a text description of the animation which is then accessible to the content user.

Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.

Authoring: Supports

Output: Supports

Authoring: SoftChalk 9 does not use color as the only means of conveying information

Output: SoftChalk-generated content does not use color as the only means of conveying information to the learner. 

(j) When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided.

Authoring: Not Applicable





Output:   Supported

Authoring: SoftChalk Create does not permit the user to adjust color and contrast settings in the authoring environment.

Output: SoftChalk content can be "styled" with customizable color and contrast styling of the learning content. All style options have been designed for maximum contrast between foreground and background colors.

(k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

 Authoring: Supports



Output: Supports

Authoring: SoftChalk Create does not use blinking text or objects.

Output: SoftChalk does not provide any tools for creating blinking text or objects

(l) When electronic forms are used, 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.

Authoring: Supports with exceptions








Output:  Supports

Authoring: Most form controls within the SoftChalk Create interface are fully operable using a keyboard-only and provide sufficient information to assistive technology with some exceptions, such as some of the activity dialogs.

Output: In the web content pages, SoftChalk uses html forms to display the quizpopper questions and quizgroups. All of these html forms allow students using Assistive Technology the ability to navigate through and complete those forms, including directions and cues.

Section 1194.22 Web-based Internet information and applications

{} Refer to (* http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm) for details on the guidelines listed below.

Criteria

Supporting Features

Remarks and explanations

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

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk content pages require the completion of alt or longdesc parameters for all non-text elements that are included in a content page. (for example, images and links)

(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.

 Output: Supported

Output: When multimedia elements, such as videos, are included by the author in SoftChalk content, the author has the ability to include a description of the item – which is then made available via an html link associated with the multimedia element in the page. It is also possible to include multimedia, such as video, that includes synchronized captioned text.

(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.

 Output: Supports

 Output: Information conveyed with color is also conveyed without color and by the context of the lesson page

(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.

Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk lessons are readable without the associated style sheet.

(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.

 Output: Not Applicable

Output: Server-side Image maps are not used in SoftChalk lessons

(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.

 Output: Not Applicable

Output:  Client side Image maps are not used in SoftChalk lessons

(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk lessons support the use or row and column headers

(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.

 Output: Not Applicable

Output: Softchalk lessons do not support multiple logical levels or row and columns in tables.

Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation

Output: Not Applicable

Output: Frames are not used in SoftChalk lessons

(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk lessons do not support the use of "flicker" attributes.

(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.

 Output: Supports

Output: Text-only equivalents are provided for certain elements that may be included in a web content page, such as embedded iframes, audio files, and web widgets. The content author has the ability to include a text description of these elements. A web link is associated with these page elements that link to the text description of the element.

(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.

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk web content pages use JavaScript-based annotations, activities, and quiz questions that are accessible via a Screen Reader and are key-board accessible.

(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 Û1194.21(a) through (l).

 Output: Not Applicable

Output: SoftChalk content web pages do not use applets or plug-ins.

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.

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk lessons may use html "forms" for quiz questions and activities. These are accessible via a Screen Reader and are key-board accessible.

(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

 Output: Supports

Output: SoftChalk lessons provide a "skip navigation" feature at the top of each page, for easier page navigation via Assistive Technology. The skip navigation feature can be viewed by keyboard users when they press the tab key at the top of a lesson page.

(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

 Output: Not Applicable

Output: SoftChalk lessons do not support timed responses.

Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products

{} Refer to (* http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.23.htm ) for details on the guidelines listed below.

Criteria

Supporting Features

Remarks and explanations

(a) Telecommunications products or systems which provide a function allowing voice communication and which do not themselves provide a TTY functionality shall provide a standard non-acoustic connection point for TTYs. Microphones shall be capable of being turned on and off to allow the user to intermix speech with TTY use.

  Not Applicable

(b) Telecommunications products which include voice communication functionality shall support all commonly used cross-manufacturer non-proprietary standard TTY signal protocols.

  Not Applicable

(c) Voice mail, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems shall be usable by TTY users with their TTYs.

  Not Applicable

(d) Voice mail, messaging, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems that require a response from a user within a time interval, shall give an alert when the time interval is about to run out, and shall provide sufficient time for the user to indicate more time is required.

  Not Applicable

(e) Where provided, caller identification and similar telecommunications functions shall also be available for users of TTYs, and for users who cannot see displays.

  Not Applicable

(f) For transmitted voice signals, telecommunications products shall provide a gain adjustable up to a minimum of 20 dB. For incremental volume control, at least one intermediate step of 12 dB of gain shall be provided.

  Not Applicable

(g) If the telecommunications product allows a user to adjust the receive volume, a function shall be provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use.

 
 Not Applicable

(h) Where a telecommunications product delivers output by an audio transducer which is normally held up to the ear, a means for effective magnetic wireless coupling to hearing technologies shall be provided

  Not Applicable

Interference to hearing technologies (including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices) shall be reduced to the lowest possible level that allows a user of hearing technologies to utilize the telecommunications product.

 .  Not Applicable

(j) Products that transmit or conduct information or communication, shall pass through cross-manufacturer, non-proprietary, industry-standard codes, translation protocols, formats or other information necessary to provide the information or communication in a usable format. Technologies which use encoding, signal compression, format transformation, or similar techniques shall not remove information needed for access or shall restore it upon delivery.

 .  Not Applicable

(k)(1) Products which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: Controls and Keys shall be tactilely discernible without activating the controls or keys.

 .  Not Applicable

(k)(2) Products which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: Controls and Keys shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate controls and keys shall be 5 lbs. (22.2N) maximum.

 .  Not Applicable

(k)(3) Products which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: If key repeat is supported, the delay before repeat shall be adjustable to at least 2 seconds. Key repeat rate shall be adjustable to 2 seconds per character.

 .  Not Applicable

(k)(4) Products which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: The status of all locking or toggle controls or keys shall be visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound.

 .  Not Applicable

Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products

{} Refer to (* http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.24.htm ) for details on the guidelines listed below.

Criteria

Supporting Features

Remarks and explanations

(a) All analog television displays 13 inches and larger, and computer equipment that includes analog television receiver or display circuitry, shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals. As soon as practicable, but not later than July 1, 2002, widescreen digital television (DTV) displays measuring at least 7.8 inches vertically, DTV sets with conventional displays measuring at least 13 inches vertically, and stand-alone DTV tuners, whether or not they are marketed with display screens, and computer equipment that includes DTV receiver or display circuitry, shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals.

 Not Applicable

SoftChalk Create does not include any display hardware.