Platform ADA Compliance Guidelines

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) suggest that Platforms are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust known by the acronym POUR. The guidelines and success criteria for WCAG are organized around these four principles, which lay the foundation necessary for anyone to access and use web content. Anyone who wants to use the web must have content that is:

Perceivable. Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive; this means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented. In other words, the information presented cannot be invisible to all their senses.

Operable. User interface components and navigation must be operable; this means that users must be able to operate the interface. In other words, the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform.

Understandable. Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable; this means that users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface. In other words, the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding.

Robust. Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies; this means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance. In other words, as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible.

If any of these are not true, users with disabilities will not be able to use the web.

To make a Platform more perceivable for people with disabilities, the guidelines recommend:

Providing text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols, or simpler language

Providing alternatives for time-based media

Creating adaptable content that can be presented in different ways (e.g., simpler layout) without losing information or structure –and–

Creating distinguishable content by making it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background

To make a Platform more operable for people with disabilities, the guidelines recommend:

Making all functionality available from a keyboard

Providing users enough time to read and use content

Refraining from designing content in a way that is known to cause seizures –and–

Providing ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are

To make a Platform more understandable for people with disabilities, the guidelines recommend:

Making text content readable and understandable

Making web pages appear and operate in predictable ways –and–

Helping users avoid and correct mistakes

To make a Platform more robust for people with disabilities, the guidelines recommend:

Maximizing compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies