The AODA has requirements for web accessibility, as well as requirements for the procurement of self-service kiosks. However, the third review of the AODA recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country.
For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) has adopted European standards for accessibility in information and communication technology (ICT). Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make ICT products and services more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal standards that empower people to find, recognize, and use information and communication technology with closed functionality.
Information and Communication Technology with Closed Functionality
Many ICT products and services have closed functionality that prevents users from:
However, many people with disabilities need new settings, software, or hardware to use ICT. For example, people may change a setting, install new software, or plug in new hardware to use ICT if they have limited:
Therefore, any part of an ICT product or service with closed functionality must already include features allowing people with disabilities to operate it.
Audio and Tactile Outputs
For example, some apps or programs on computers or devices do not work with screen readers. These programs must have at least one (1) mode of access that is non-visual, such as Braille or audio. ICT products and services should have hardware allowing audio output, such as:
- Built-in headsets or handsets
- Loudspeakers
- Wireless connections
Some people who are visually impaired may look at a screen while they use non-visual outputs. Therefore, all information that appears visually on an ICT product’s screen should have an audio or tactile output. For example, images or other non-text information should have alternative text (alt-text) or image descriptions, except decorative content. Furthermore, audio output should be in the same language as the visual content, except:
- Proper names
- Technical terms
- Slang
- Words in languages that a product’s speech synthesizer cannot recognize
- Languages that someone can only select in a visual mode of access
- When someone chooses visual content in one language and audio content in another language
However, products do not need to provide audio output for printed documents.
In addition, audio output should replicate how pieces of information on the screen relate to each other. For example, a pause before and after a phrase indicates that this phrase is a title or heading. However, if an ad appears on the screen, the whole ad should not play in audio output. Instead, the ad should stop playing after three (3) seconds.
Moreover, when someone inputs information while audio output is playing, the output should stop. Similarly, people should be able to pause audio and to repeat any phrase. However, people should not be able to interrupt warnings or messages that impact safety. Furthermore, new content can also interrupt audio output.
Privacy Concerns
If any audio output plays content that a company’s privacy policy designates as private data, people must have a way to hear this output privately, such as through a headset rather than a loudspeaker. Likewise, when someone enters a password or other data displayed in masking characters, such as asterisks (***), the audio output should announce the masking characters, rather than the characters the person has inputted. However, a person can choose to hear the characters they input, if they are listening privately, such as in their home. Moreover, someone can choose to hear private information through a speaker. In both cases, ICT products should provide warnings to ensure that people make informed choices about private information.
Navigation Without Keyboards
People should have access to all these features of audio output with or without access to a keyboard or keypad. Moreover, a device that does not permit people to connect a keyboard must allow people to operate the device in other ways. For example, people should have ways to move focus from one element of the screen to another. Furthermore, people should be able to move focus on and off of an element in the same way.
Enlarging Text
Similarly, when apps or programs do not permit people to enlarge text, at least one (1) mode of access should present text that is already enlarged. The standards list measurements and angles for this text.
Visual Output
Likewise, ICT products and services with audio interfaces must have at least one (1) mode of access that does not involve audio. For example, visual outputs include captions and transcripts.
Speech
In addition, apps or programs that require speech to operate should have at least one (1) mode of access that does not require speech.
Finally, people should be able to use ICT with a personal headset or induction loop.