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Re: DHS Trusted Tester test conditions: Headings

for

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Feb 16, 2022 8:58AM

On 16/02/2022 15:41, Claire Forbes wrote:
> Hello! I'm needing some clarity based on DHS Trusted Testing/testing conditions:
>
> [cid:image001.png@01D82321.127E9C50]
> ANDI and WAVE tools are not detecting any headings on any of the pages of a web-based training course, even though they are visually apparent - I marked this as non-compliant (pictured above) and got the below reply from the client that has me scratching my head and confused. Is there any validity to this?
> "...The actual test condition (per DHS 508 standards, is IF the HTML programming code is exposed (on an HTML page), then the <h> tags must be properly coded. However, per DHS, if the HTML code is not exposed, then the test condition is not applicable."
>
> Per the Trusted Tester Test Process document, under item 1.3.1-heading-determinable:
> Evaluate Results:
> If ALL of the following are TRUE, then the content PASSES:
> 1. Each programmatically determinable heading is serving as a visual heading on the page, AND
> 2. Each visual heading is programmatically defined.

This sounds like the client is trying to wiggle out of this on some
semantic point. But you're right.

The test condition for 1.3.1-heading-determinable is:

"Each programmatically determinable heading is a visual heading ***and
each visual heading is programmatically determinable***."

and per
https://section508coordinators.github.io/TrustedTester/structure.html

"Applicability:
This Test Condition DOES NOT APPLY (DNA) to a web page that has no
programmatic headings identified by ANDI ***and has no visual headings***."

(and since in your case there are visual headings, it DOES apply)

The "How to test" steps listed are a bit confusing, because they appear
to suggest that yes, you're only interested in checking the
programmatically identified ones. But then the evaluation part does say:

"Each visual heading is programmatically defined."


Long story short: while the test steps may be worded confusingly, the
test condition is quite clear in that the test is failed if there are
visual headings that are not programmatically defined.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

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