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Accessibility guide

Our commitment​

Pinpoint is committed to ensuring our platform is accessible to all users. We follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines and continuously work to improve accessibility.

Features​

Keyboard navigation​

  • All functions are accessible via keyboard.
  • Clear focus indicators.
  • Logical tab order.
  • Keyboard shortcuts:
    • Tab: Navigate between elements.
    • Enter: Activate buttons/links.
    • Space: Toggle checkboxes/buttons.
    • Esc: Close modals/popups.

Screen reader support​

  • ARIA labels for interactive elements.
  • Meaningful heading structure.
  • Alternative text for images.
  • Clear error messages.
  • Status updates for dynamic content.

Visual design​

  • High contrast color schemes.
  • Resizable text.
  • Clear visual hierarchy.
  • Consistent navigation.
  • No reliance on color alone for information.
  • Toggle animations on/off using the toggle button at the top of the screen.

Descriptive page titles​

  • Unique, descriptive titles for every page
  • Easier navigation, especially with screen readers

Known limitations​

We are actively working to address the following accessibility challenges:

  • Some legacy features may not be fully keyboard accessible.
  • Complex data tables may be challenging for screen readers.
  • Some dynamic content updates may not be announced by screen readers.

Feedback and support​

If you encounter accessibility issues:

  1. Report them through our bug reporting form.
  2. Include details about:
    • Your assistive technology.
    • The specific problem.
    • Steps to reproduce the issue.

Standards compliance​

We strive to meet:

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
  • Section 508 requirements.
  • UMD accessibility guidelines.

Testing​

Currently, our accessibility testing is limited to basic internal testing.

Future Improvements

We recognize the need for more comprehensive accessibility testing and are working to implement:

  • Regular automated accessibility scans.
  • Dedicated accessibility testing environments.
  • User acceptance testing with assistive technology users.
  • Documentation of accessibility compliance.

Contributing to accessibility​

We value input from our user community about accessibility. You can help improve Pinpoint's accessibility by:

  • Submitting accessibility-related feature requests on our features site.
  • Reporting accessibility issues through our bug reporting form.
  • Providing direct feedback to eds@umd.edu.
  • Joining our #pinpoint-stakeholders Slack channel to discuss accessibility improvements (contact nbentley@umd.edu to be added).