Advantage ESS contains built-in accessibility features meant to support the Federal Government’s Section 508 requirements as well as the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0. These accessibility features are available for and may be beneficial for all users. However, they were designed specifically to address accessibility issues, and the system supports JAWS® for Windows and Window-Eyes used in conjunction with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
Advantage ESS allows users to utilize screen reading technology in order to navigate the ESS application. When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script is identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
A text equivalent for all non-text elements is provided. For example, all images, applets, etc. that convey content have an equivalent alternate description or text description.
For pages that are not accessible, ESS provides an alternate means to access the same data. For example, while the calendar in the Attendance Card widget is not fully accessible, the report displayed below the calendar is accessible and can be read by screen reading technology.
When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the forms allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
The following features are enabled in Advantage ESS:
In ESS, access keys are absent as there are few common actions.
All form controls have text labels.
Form elements have labels associated with them in the markup.