PowerPoint presentation from ASTD TechKnolwedge 2012 by Diane Elkins of Artisan E-Learning. Presentation provides a comparison of Captivate, Lectora, and Storyline as they relate to creating accessible courseware for those with disabilities using assisitve devices.

1. Evaluating the
Accessibility Options in
Popular Authoring Tools
Diane Elkins
Artisan E-Learning

2. Special Thanks
• Rhonda Willis, CDC
• Josh Miller, 3PlayMedia
• Tanya Seidel, Trivantis
• Jeanette Brooks and Arlyn Asch, Articulate
• Allen Partridge and Sushma Vichwas, Adobe

3. Primary Concerns

Text equivalents for visual elements
Keyboard access
No recognition of color required
Size and contrast


Text equivalents for auditory elements
Keyboard access
Medium to large elements

6. Not LEGAL
Not LEGALDESCRIPTIONS
DESCRIPTIONS
Section 508 Paraphrased
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and
internet information and applications.
a)Text equivalents are provided for non-text elements
b)Alternatives for multimedia are synchronized
c)Information conveyed with color is also available without
color
d)Style sheets are not required
e)For server-side image maps, provide redundant text links.
f)Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-
side image maps…
g)Tables need identifiable row and column headers
h)Tables with multiple headers need identifiers

7. Not LEGAL
Not LEGALDESCRIPTIONS
DESCRIPTIONS
Section 508 Paraphrased
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and
internet information and applications
j)Frames need identifiers
k)No flicker between 3 Hz and 54 Hz.
l)Use a text-only page with equivalent information or
functionality if compliance is not possible
m)Information provided by scripting languages needs to be
identified with text that can be read by assistive technology.
n)Provide links to players, plug-ins, etc.
o)Online forms need to be accessible
p)Allow users to skip repetitive navigation links.
q)Give students extra time for timed responses.

8. Determining Your Requirements
• Legal Requirements
• Legal Ramifications
• Current audience
• Future audience
• Support staff
• Reasonable accommodation
• Instructional design needs

9. Design Considerations
• Instructional Integrity
• Optional vs. Required Course Features
• Preference Settings
• Alternate Paths
• Usability
• Instructions

10. Comparison of
Features

11. Feature Comparison
Feature Captivate Lectora Storyline
Transcript • Static text boxes can be added for
transcript text.
• Static or scrolling text boxes can
be added for transcript text.
• Notes panel displays transcript
text.
• Static text boxes can be added
for transcript text.
Closed/Open
Captions
• Caption text and time stops can be
added in a dialog box. Captions are
displayed in an overlay at the bottom
of the slide.
• Text captions can be added to the
slide and manually timed to audio.
• You can import closed captions
to FLV audio or video using an
XML file.
• Text captions can be added to
the slide and manually timed via
actions.
• Text captions can be added to
the slide and manually timed to
audio.
Alternative
Text
• Object name can be used as alt text.
• You can enter a longer description in a
dialog box.
• Non-content objects can have empty
alt text.
• Object name can be used as alt
text.
• You can use separate text box
for descriptions longer than 128
characters.
• Non-content objects can have
empty alt text.
• Object name can be used as alt
text.
• You can enter a longer
description in a dialog box.
• Non-content objects can have
empty alt text.
Screen Reader
Process
• User must press Ctrl+Home (or
similar) on each slide.
• Objects are read when tabbed to.
• All objects that appear on page
load are announced
automatically.
• Objects that appear after page
load are read when tabbed to.
• Objects are read when tabbed to.
Tab/Screen
Reader Order
• Screen is read from top to bottom and
left to right.
• Third-party widget is available to
adjust tab order.
• Order is determined by order in
object list, which is also the
front-to-back order.
• Screen is read from top to
bottom and left to right.
Tables • There is no native table function.
Tables imported as graphics may not
be accessible.
• Tables with a single row heading
and single column heading can
be made accessible.
• There is no native table function.
Tables imported as graphics may
not be accessible.

12. Feature Comparison
Feature Captivate Lectora Storyline
Screen Reading of
Timed Objects or
Objects Shown via
an Action
• Objects are accessible only while
they appear on the slide.
• Slide objects cannot be played
independently of the audio.
• Objects that appear on page load
are announced automatically.
• All objects are accessible once
they appear when tabbed to.
• Slide objects can be played
independently of the audio.
• Objects are accessible only while
they appear on the slide.
• Slide objects cannot be played
independently of the audio.
Rollover Actions
(Mouse Enter/Exit)
• Rollover actions trigger when
object is tabbed to.
• Rollover actions are not
keyboard accessible.
• Rollover actions are not
keyboard accessible.
Displayed Variables • Screen readers read the name of
the variable instead of the value.
• Screen readers read the value of
the variable.
• Screen readers read the value of
the variable.**
Accessible Question
Types
• Multiple choice
• True/false
• Rating scale
• Multiple choice
• True/false
• Short answer
• Essay
• Fill in the blank
• Likert
• Ordinal
• Multiple choice**
• True/false**
• Matching drop-down**
• Sequence drop-down**
• Likert**
• Fill in the blank
• Numeric
• Short answer
• Essay
Inaccessible
Question Types
• Fill in the blank
• Matching
• Hot spot
• Short answer
• Sequence
• Matching
• Drag and drop
• Hot spot
• Likert scale
• Word bank
• Matching drag and drop
• Sequence drag and drop
• Hotspot
Skip Navigation • Not applicable as the entire
project plays on a single HTML
page.*
• Action can be added to the
interface to skip repetitive
elements.
• Items in the navigation bar
(menu bar, etc.) are read on
every page and cannot be
skipped.
Preferences • Variables can be used to track
accessibility preference and
change settings accordingly.
• Variables can be used to track
accessibility preference and
change settings accordingly.
• Variables can be used to track
accessibility preference and
change settings accordingly.

13. Appendix:
The official 508 language

14. Section 508: Official Standard
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications.
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt",
"longdesc", or in element content).
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be
synchronized with the presentation.
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is
also available without color, for example from context or markup.
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an
associated style sheet.
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-
side image map.
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps
except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data
tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and
navigation.

15. Section 508: Official Standard
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications.
(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a
frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be
provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when
compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-
only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
(l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create
interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified
with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be
present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a
link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).
(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall
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.
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation
links.
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given
sufficient time to indicate more time is required.