With evasys and evaexam, online surveys and online exams can be designed to be digitally accessible. But what exactly does digital accessibility mean? What role do the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) play, and how do evasys and evaexam support the creation of accessible surveys and exams? This article provides an overview.
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility means that websites, web applications, and digital content can be used independently by as many people as possible, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive, or technical abilities. This includes people with visual or hearing impairments, motor disabilities, or learning difficulties, as well as people who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or keyboard-only navigation.
However, accessibility goes beyond supporting assistive technologies. A clear page structure, sufficient color contrast, understandable forms, logical navigation, and intuitive usability all contribute to making digital experiences accessible to everyone. To ensure accessibility can be evaluated consistently, internationally recognized guidelines have been established: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
What are the WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized guidelines for digital accessibility. Developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), they provide recommendations for designing websites and web applications that are accessible to as many people as possible.
The guidelines are based on four core principles: digital content should be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles translate into practical requirements such as sufficient color contrast, keyboard accessibility, alternative text for images, and compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers.
WCAG 2.2 is the latest published recommendation within the WCAG 2.x family. It builds on the requirements introduced in WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1 by adding new success criteria, including improvements for different input methods and for people with cognitive or motor disabilities. The W3C recommends that new and updated web content follow the latest published version of the WCAG. Earlier versions remain valid W3C Recommendations.
How does evasys support accessible online surveys?
With evasys, online surveys can be designed to meet the accessibility requirements of WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
When an online survey is opened, evasys automatically checks whether both the survey questionnaire and the selected template meet the fundamental requirements for accessible participation. If these requirements are met, a conformance logo is displayed within the survey, along with a corresponding conformance statement.
The assessment always applies to the specific configuration of the individual online survey. For example, if content or features outside the validated scope are used, the conformance logo will not be displayed. This gives survey creators immediate feedback during the creation process, helping them determine whether their survey meets the validated accessibility requirements. This functionality is also described in the current Accessibility Conformance Report.
How does evaexam support accessible online exams?
With evaexam, online exams can also be designed to meet the accessibility requirements of WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
When an online exam is launched, evaexam automatically checks whether both the exam and the selected template meet the fundamental requirements for accessibility. If these requirements are met, a conformance logo is displayed together with a corresponding conformance statement.
As with evasys, the assessment always applies to the specific configuration of the individual online exam. If additional audio or video content or other features outside the validated scope are used, the assessment no longer applies and the conformance logo will not be displayed. This helps exam creators ensure accessibility throughout the exam creation process.
