Identifying Images and User Interface Elements

This section explains how to design applications according to the following WCAG 2.0 standards:

  • 1.1.1 - Non-text Content: All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose, except for the situations listed below: Controls, Input; Time-Based Media; Test; Sensory; CAPTCHA; and Decoration, Formatting, Invisible.

  • 1.3.1 - Info and Relationships: Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.

  • 2.4.6 - Headings and Labels: Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.

  • 3.3.2 - Labels or Instructions: Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.

Ensure that all user interface elements have descriptive labels. PeopleTools provides the ability to add labels to user interface elements, but it does not automatically insert labels. You must add them manually.

User interface elements include functional images, page controls (such as push buttons and edit boxes), grids, group boxes, and scroll areas. Functional images include image buttons and links and images that convey meaningful information, such as status. Meaningful labels are vital for people who are blind or visually impaired so that they can understand the meaning of an image through screen readers. Image labels also clarify the meaning of images for sighted users, because the labels appear as mouse-over text in some browsers. Decorative images, such as invisible spacer files or images that do not serve a functional purpose other than to provide visual interest, should have blank (empty) labels.

Note:

When you assign labels to images in PeopleSoft Application Designer, PeopleTools generates alternate text (<ALT> HTML tags) based on the labels at runtime. These labels are visible to all users as mouse-over text in some browsers, regardless of whether the system administrator makes the accessibility layout features available to users in PeopleTools Security.

Oracle recommends that you use the browser zoom utility, as opposed to the text zoom, to avoid distortion on the page. If the text zoom is used, the text becomes larger, but the corresponding buttons, grids, and so on, do not change, so the page becomes distorted.