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Re: Problem with Terms of Use Acceptance Form: Accessibility Issue or Operator Error?

for

From: Nusbaum, Christopher
Date: Jul 17, 2014 7:59AM

Birkir,

Thank you for this feedback. I will respond to each section individually.

BG: This is an interesting issue.
I assume this is on a website, correct?
CN: Correct. It is an encrypted Web site which can only be accessed after entering a username and password specific to one's MS Exchange profile with the school system, but a Web site nonetheless.
BG: Have you, or can you, try to do the same thing using NVDA?
CN: I have not yet tried this. However, the fact that it doesn't work with JAWS is a problem for our school system, as we use JAWS exclusively as our screen reader of choice. I know, I don't agree with this either, but the decision came from people way above my paygrade. However, I will try to install NVDA on my work computer and see if it works--assuming, of course, that the firewalls they've put in place will let me download it.
BG: Did you try to get to the accept controls using the tabkey?
CN: Yes, but the fact that there was still content in the scrollbar which hadn't been read through still prevented the activation from succeeding.
BG: If using the mouse to scroll to the end of a scrollbar is the only way, that is a clear violation of WCAG success criterion 2.1.1 (device independence).
CN: Where do I find this criteria? I may want to forward it to our devs.
BG: m not sure what fancy web technologies could be used.
But at minimum the terms and conditions could be put on a different page which you would have to activate, and the controls you need would only appear after you navigate to that page.
CN: They are already on a separate page which must be navigated to from the homepage of the Portal.
BG: Basically, I do not think they need to babysit you like this, if you go tu check "I have read and accepted the terms of this license"
checkbox, not having done so becomes your responsibility, not that of the UI designers.
From that perspective, all they would have to do is to trust you and not try to verify that you have read this lovely piece of literature.
CN: <Rant:> I hate to say this, but It's not that simple with the schools. My experience both as a student and an employee here has taught me that the school system does not trust anybody--not students, not teachers, not even IT people. No security or authentication stone is left unturned. If I suggested this to my boss, as much as I like working with her, she would probably tell me about some horrible experience with a former employee or some legal consequence from which they are trying to protect themselves. I agree with you, but I'm not sure my higher-ups would. <Rant end>

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I will look into NVDA and see if it works.

Chris

Christopher A. (Chris) Nusbaum, Intern
Technology Services Department
Assistive Technology Program
Carroll County Public Schools
Phone: (410) 751-3428
Cell: (443) 547-2409
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2014 9:20 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Problem with Terms of Use Acceptance Form: Accessibility Issue or Operator Error?

This is an interesting issue.
I assume this is on a website, correct?
Have you, or can you, try to do the same thing using NVDA?
Did you try to get to the accept controls using the tabkey?
If using the mouse to scroll to the end of a scrollbar is the only way, that is a clear violation of WCAG success criterion 2.1.1 (device independence).
I am not sure what fancy web technologies could be used.
But at minimum the terms and conditions could be put on a different page which you would have to activate, and the controls you need would only appear after you at least navigate to that page.
I mean, that is the best they can do to ensure you read the TOS, after all anybody with a mouse can scroll past the scrollbar and click 'I Accept' without reading the text.
They can also simply ask two random questions from the TOS that you would have to answer correctly in order to be able to continue with the activation.
Basically, I do not think they need to babysit you like this, if you go tu check "I have read and accepted the terms of this license"
checkbox, not having done so becomes your responsibility, not that of the UI designers.
From that perspective, all they would have to do is to trust you and not try to verify that you have read this lovely piece of literature.
Good luck, check this with NVDA and let us know if your experience is any different.
-B


On 7/17/14, Nusbaum, Christopher < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Good Morning Listers,
>
> As many of you are probably aware, I currently work as an intern in my
> local school system's IT department, specializing in supporting and
> maintaining our assistive technology as well as evaluating our
> in-house software for accessibility and providing feedback to the
> developers. I encountered a problem yesterday which I am not sure
> whether I should bring to the developers because I don't know whether
> to deem it an accessibility problem or an operator error.
>
> There is a portion of our in-house Web portal which requires that each
> employee accept an "Acceptable Use Policy," or a Terms of Use
> agreement, before we are granted full access to the Internet. I first
> tried to bypass the agreement by pressing JAWS key + F5 and going
> directly to the accept button. However, something in the software
> recognizes when one has not read through the entire agreement and
> presents an error dialogue which asks the user to read through the
> entire document. When I did this, however, the system still gave me
> the same error. It seems that it relies on the position of the PC
> cursor to determine whether the full document has been read. When I
> down-arrowed through the agreement, the JAWS cursor moved, but the PC
> cursor did not move with it. I had to have one of the sighted techs
> move the PC cursor to the end of the scroll bar with the mouse in
> order for the acceptance to go through. Is there something I'm
> missing? Is there a way to move the PC cursor along w ith the JAWS
> cursor? If not, I would consider this an accessibility concern. What, then, would your suggestion be to our developers to fix it?
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Chris
>
> Christopher A. (Chris) Nusbaum, Intern Technology Services Department
> Assistive Technology Program Carroll County Public Schools
> 125 North Court Street
> Westminster, MD 21157
> Phone: (410) 751-3428
> Cell: (443) 547-2409
> Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
> > > list messages to <EMAIL REMOVED>
>


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