Accessibility Checklist for Web-Based Trainings in TrainTraq

Web-Based Trainings (WBTs) in TrainTraq must comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA standards required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We have established a tiered system of accessibility standards detailed below. The minimum requirement is to achieve Tier 2 compliance.

Tier 1: An accessible alternative version is available, and its availability is communicated in the course description in TrainTraq.
Tier 2: Meets Tier 1 plus the online version (WBT) meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards. We provide a Tier 2 checklist to help developers meet this requirement.
Tier 3: Meets Tier 1 and Tier 2 plus the course has been successfully tested with a screen reader.

Below are resources for course developers to meet the WBT accessibility requirements.

Note: Articulate 360 tools are the most utilized applications for developing WBTs in TrainTraq. The information provided are based on those tools. Courses published in Studio 360 will not meet the minimum requirements.

Tier 2 Checklist Downloads

Two versions of the Tier 2 checklist are provided for developers who wish to document their compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA. Or the Abridged Tier 2 Checklist for Developers is available below.

Checklist A (Full Version) – this checklist includes all WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. It is categorized by items the course developer must address and includes items that are automatically supported by Articulate tools. It can be used to test and document WBT compliance to meet Tier 2.
Checklist B (Categorized by Disability) – this checklist is like Checklist A in that it can be used to test and document WBT compliance to meet Tier 2. However, in this version the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria are categorized by disability, and criteria that support multiple disabilities are listed more than once. Checklist B, which was created in collaboration with the Digital Accessibility Center, can also serve as a resource to help developers understand the reasons for the requirements. Note that items 1-46 must be met to meet Tier 2 since some items are listed more than once.

Abridged Tier 2 Checklist for Developers

For convenience, the checklist below is the abridged version of the aforementioned Checklist A (Full Version). This version provides all the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria that require action from the course developer using either Storyline 360 or Rise 360. It does not include the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria that Storyline 360 or Rise 360 automatically support.

Items 1-31 meet Tier 2 compliance.

Tier 1: Access to Accommodations

Checklist for ensuring access to accommodations for web-based trainings.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
1	1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)	Is there an accessible alternative version available in the event an accommodation is requested? (e.g., a text version in Word, PDF or PowerPoint) Note: Accessible PDFs generally require remediation to be accessible to assistive devices. It is recommended to avoid PDFs if you’re unfamiliar with PDF Accessibility.	Word Accessibility PowerPoint Accessibility Word and PowerPoint Accessibility Evaluation Guide PDF Accessibility
2		Are instructions provided on how to obtain a copy of an accessible alternative version? This must be in the course description in TrainTraq. It is recommended on the first slide of the course.
3		Is there contact information provided for requesting an accommodation? It is required in the course description in TrainTraq. It is recommended to include contact information on the first slide of the course.

Tier 2: WBT Accessibility

Visual Elements

Checklist for ensuring visual elements meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
4	1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)	Does all text (with the exception of logos) in the course and documents have a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or greater no matter the font size?	WebAIM Color Contrast Checker
5	1.4.11 Non-text Contrast	Images and elements such as buttons and icons have a color contrast ratio of 3:1 or higher from the slide background color.	WebAIM Color Contrast Checker
6	1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics 1.4.1 Use of Color	Is meaning conveyed by methods other than color or sensory characteristics alone? For example: a correct answer displayed in green should also include text indicating it is the correct answer instead of, “click the red square” display, “click the Next button”
7	2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold	There are no blinking or flashing images that flash more than three times per second?

Videos and Course Audio

Checklist for ensuring videos and course audio meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
8	1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)	If including videos, do they contain closed captioning?	Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Descriptions YouTube: Translate videos, subtitles, & captions Storyline 360: Closed Captions for Narration and Videos Rise 360: Closed Captions
9	1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)	If applicable, do videos (prerecorded) provide an audio description? For example, the audio track provides important visual details that can’t be seen such as character actions or scene changes.	W3C WAI: Description of Visual Information Rise 360: Make Audio Content Accessible Rise 360: How to Make Audio/Video Content Accessible
10	1.4.2 Audio Control 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide	Can audio/video be played, paused, and resumed by the user?	Storyline 360: Adjusting Video Properties
11	1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)	If the course contains audio, does it have closed captioning?	Storyline 360: Adding Captions

Tables

Checklist for ensuring tables meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
12	1.3.1 Info and Relationships 2.4.6 Headings and Labels	If using data tables, are header cells defined?	Storyline 360: Adding Tables Rise 360: Adding Tables
13	1.1.1 Non-text Content	Do all tables have an alternative description? (e.g., alt text defined, or an alternative text version describing the table.)	Storyline 360: Adding Tables

Links

Checklist for ensuring links meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
14	1.4.1 Use of Color	Are links distinguished by a method other than color (e.g., underlined)? Or link text has at least 3:1 contrast with surrounding text?	Storyline 360: Customize Hyperlink States Link Color Values WebAIM Color Contrast Checker
15	2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)	Do all hyperlinks provide descriptive text and avoid “click here”?	Link Text

Cognition

Checklist for ensuring cognitive accessibility in web-based trainings.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
16	2.2.1 Timing Adjustable	If there are time limits, can they be turned off, adjusted, or extended?
17	3.1.1 Language of Page	Is the primary language of the page specified in the code? Note: Courses in English automatically pass. Courses in a different language should have the course language updated.	Storyline 360: Set the Course Language Rise 360: Set the Course Language
18	3.2.2 On Input 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions	Are instructions provided when learners need to interact with content on the slide?	Rise 360: Make Interactive Content Accessible
19	3.3.1 Error Identification 3.3.3 Error Suggestion	Is feedback provided if a learner has incorrectly completed an interaction? For example, if it is required to complete an interaction before advancing, feedback is provided when the learner attempts to advance without completing the interaction and explains what is required.

Keyboard Navigation

Checklist for ensuring keyboard navigation meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
20	2.1.1 Keyboard 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap	Can you navigate the course successfully with only a keyboard?	Storyline 360: Keyboard Shortcuts Rise 360: Keyboard Navigation
21	2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts	The keyboard shortcuts are not just a single letter, punctuation, number, or symbol character. Note: Storyline 360 and Rise 360 courses automatically support, however, if creating custom keyboard shortcuts in Storyline 360, developers must meet this requirement.
22		Are the keyboard shortcut commands provided in the course?	Storyline 360: Keyboard Shortcuts Rise 360: Keyboard Navigation
23	1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence 2.4.3 Focus Order	Is the tab order of each slide logical?	Storyline 360: Customizing Tab Order
24	3.2.3 Consistent Navigation	If using custom navigation buttons, is the location and tab order consistent?	Storyline 360: Customizing Tab Order

Assistive Technology Support

Checklist for ensuring assistive technology support meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
25	1.3.1 Info and Relationships 2.4.6 Headings and Labels	Are headers defined and follow a hierarchical order?	Storyline 360: Text Styles Rise 360: Block Types
26	2.1.1 Keyboard 4.1.3 Status Messages	All interactions and/or quiz questions do not require the learner to click and drag items across the screen. If they do, there is an alternative activity available. Note: Rise 360 courses should not use sorting activities or microlearning stepped navigation. They are inaccessible.
27	2.5.3 Label in Name 3.2.4 Consistent Identification 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value	If using custom buttons for navigation or completing activities, do the button name and alternative text match and are they consistent throughout the course?	Storyline 360: Adding Alternative Text for Screen Readers
28	1.1.1 Non-text Content 2.5.3 Label in Name 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value	Do all non-decorative images have alternative text?	Alt Text Best Practices Storyline 360: Adding Alt Text
29	1.4.5 Images of Text	There are no images of text. Instead, provide on-screen text.
30	2.4.3 Focus Order	Are decorative elements removed from the focus order?	Storyline 360: Customizing the Focus Order
31	1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) 1.4.4 Resize Text 1.4.10 Reflow 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast	If using the Storyline 360 authoring tool, the modern player is enabled. It is enabled by default and has zoom features. The classic player doesn’t support alt text and doesn’t meet color contrast standards without customization.	Storyline 360: Choosing a Player Style

Tier 3: Testing with a Screen Reader

Checklist for ensuring screen reader compatibility for web-based trainings.
Item	WCAG Criteria	Description	Resource(s)
32		Has the course been successfully tested with a screen reader (e.g., JAWS, NVDA)?	Testing with Screen Readers Using JAWS to evaluate Accessibility Using NVDA to evaluate Accessibility How Storyline 360 Courses Work with Screen Readers How Rise 360 Courses Work with Screen Readers

Additional Resources

Articulate Accessibility Index – accessibility support articles for Storyline 360 and Rise 360 authoring tools.
Articulate Studio and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – Studio 360 courses support up to WCAG 2.0 criteria, and therefore will not meet the minimum requirements.
Rise 360 Accessibility Conformance Report – how course authors can ensure published courses meet WCAG and Section 508 standards by each criterion. The above checklist is based on this document.
Storyline 360 Accessibility Conformance Report – how course authors can ensure published courses meet WCAG and Section 508 standards by each criterion. The above checklist is based on this document.
How to Meet WCAG 2.1 AA (Quick Reference) – a customizable quick reference to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2 requirements (success criteria) and techniques.