External Assistive Technology Testing

This is a technique for testing:

CEUD 1.2 Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies CEUD 1.2, IBM 2.2: Object information IBM 2.2, 4.1: Text IBM 4.1, VPAT VPAT section 1194.21 (b), (c), (d), (l)

Overview

Many people find the use of assistive technologies can enable and enhance access to software on their computer and without screen readers or keyboard or alternative input access it may be impossible to work with any operating system or application if you are blind or have a severe dexterity or mobility difficulty. AbilityNet have a wiki with an overview of assistive technologies.

Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout Design is a online book that covers many aspects of designing for accessibility. "Accessibility is designing products so that people with disabilities can use them. Accessibility makes user interfaces perceivable, operable, and understandable by people with a wide range of abilities, and people in a wide range of circumstances, environments, and conditions. Thus accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, and organizations that develop accessible products." (Henry, S., 2007)

Method

If you want to be technical about the testing the Microsoft Windows Developer Center has an article called Testing for Accessibility, however it may be easier to try a few freely available assistive technologies with the software you are evaluating such as NVDA screen reader, Lightning Express magnification or Zoom on the Mac plus keyboard only access. Use Windows High contrast mode settings or Mac Display Adjustment from the built in accessibility options to see how these features affect functionality. The questions to ask yourself may be the ones posed by the American Library Association:

  1. Can the software and a user's adaptive [assistive] technology work at the same time?
  2. Can you use adaptive technology to work the software? For example, does a screen reader read all the information displayed on screen? Does a screen magnifier enlarge the display?
  3. Does the software disable or ignore any of the adaptive technology or user enabled accessibility options?
  4. Does the software run with older versions or only the most current version of adaptive technology?

Advice

Testing software with assistive technologies is not easy as one is trying to see if software is accessible for a wide range of user skills and personal preferences.