Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Web accessibility refers to the removal of barriers that prevent people with disabilities from navigating, understanding, interacting, and contributing to the Internet. Alida has built web accessibility features directly into the application to help you create more WCAG compliant surveys.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide recommendations on how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Where possible, Community conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. When a survey is designed correctly, all participants will have equal access to respond.

Note:
  • Keyboard navigation enhancements only apply to desktop surveys.
  • Some participants may require a screen reader or keyboard navigation to respond to questions. Different combinations of web browsers and accessibility software may affect the survey accessibility regardless of any precautions you may have built into your survey.

Question text

Screen readers have an easier time reading structured text with clear headings. Apply Heading 1 or Heading 2 formatting to question text to optimize accessibility, especially if you have multiple questions on the same page. For more information, see Format text.

Adding an image to questions and answers

By default, you cannot upload an image without supplying alternative text, and you cannot use a blank space as a substitute for alternative text. Use alternative text to describe the image without repeating the question text.

Screen readers cannot read text embedded in an image, such as text in a logo. If your image contains text, you can repeat the text in the alternative text field.

Tip: Keep the following considerations in mind when supplying alternative text for an image:
  • Limit the text to a sentence or a short phrase.
  • Use punctuation.
  • Place the most important information at the beginning.
  • Avoid words such as "image", "icon", or "picture."

For more information see, Add an image to a question and Add an image to an answer.

Choice questions

The following question types have been designed for keyboard navigation and screen readers:

Allocation and Numeric Slider questions

Screen readers will prompt participants to use the text field in Allocation and Numeric Slider questions.

For more information see Create an Allocation question and Create a Numeric Slider question.

Open End questions

Participants can use the Tab key to navigate to the text field in the following question types:

End Survey action

Include an End Survey action with a message notifying participants that they have completed the survey. This gives participants using screen readers a better experience, as it gives them a clear verbal cue that they have reached the end. For more information, see End Survey action.

Guidelines for survey objects that are not accessible

The following table provides guidelines for using questions and page elements that are not accessible:

Survey object Guidelines

Single Choice Grid Cards

Highlighter

When using these question types in your survey, deselect Response required to allow participants with disabilities to skip the question without providing a response.

Media Player When using a Media Player in your survey:
  • Select Load next question when media is completed to allow participants with disabilities to automatically advance to the next question.
  • Deselect Response required in any follow-up questions related to the Media Player.

WCAG resources

For more information about WCAG, see: