Software Appendix D(1)
Question-by-Question Responses to the Software Accessibility Checklist:
Statistics by Level of Customization
| Question 1: Does the software provide keyboard equivalents for all mouse actions, including
buttons, scroll windows, text entry fields, and pop-up windows? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
934 / 1124
(83.1%) |
125 / 1124
(11.1%) |
65 / 1124
(5.8%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
140 / 185
(75.7%) |
20 / 185
(10.8%) |
25 / 185
(13.5%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
106 / 198
(53.5%) |
34 / 198
(17.2%) |
58 / 198
(29.3%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
95 / 169
(56.2%) |
42 / 169
(24.9%) |
32 / 169
(18.9%) |
| Question 2: Does the program provide clear and precise instructions for use of all keyboard
functions as part of the user documentation? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
899 / 1124
(80%) |
150 / 1124
(13.3%) |
75 / 1124
(6.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
136 / 185
(73.5%) |
34 / 185
(18.4%) |
15 / 185
(8.1%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
105 / 198
(53%) |
60 / 198
(30.3%) |
33 / 198
(16.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
108 / 169
(63.9%) |
50 / 169
(29.6%) |
11 / 169
(6.5%) |
| Question 3: Are instructions regarding keyboard use widely available for all users in your
component? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
818 / 1124
(72.8%) |
219 / 1124
(19.5%) |
87 / 1124
(7.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
133 / 185
(71.9%) |
36 / 185
(19.5%) |
16 / 185
(8.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
115 / 198
(58.1%) |
55 / 198
(27.8%) |
28 / 198
(14.1%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
114 / 169
(67.5%) |
43 / 169
(25.4%) |
12 / 169
(7.1%) |
| Question 4: Does the software have a logical tabbing order among fields, text boxes, and focal
points? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
974 / 1124
(86.7%) |
61 / 1124
(5.4%) |
89 / 1124
(7.9%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
165 / 185
(89.2%) |
5 / 185 (2.7%) |
15 / 185
(8.1%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
156 / 198
(78.8%) |
8 / 198 (4%) |
34 / 198
(17.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
149 / 169
(88.2%) |
10 / 169
(5.9%) |
10 / 169
(5.9%) |
| Question 5: When navigating screens and dialog boxes using the keyboard, does the focus
follow a logical tabbing order? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
986 / 1124
(87.7%) |
54 / 1124
(4.8%) |
84 / 1124
(7.5%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
155 / 185
(83.8%) |
11 / 185
(5.9%) |
19 / 185
(10.3%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
157 / 198
(79.3%) |
6 / 198 (3%) |
35 / 198
(17.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
145 / 169
(85.8%) |
14 / 169
(8.3%) |
10 / 169
(5.9%) |
| Question 6: Is there a well-defined focal point that moves with keyboard navigation? (E.g., can
you use the arrow keys to navigate through a list followed by pressing the ENTER key or space
bar to select the desired item?) |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
963 / 1124
(85.7%) |
77 / 1124
(6.9%) |
84 / 1124
(7.5%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
156 / 185
(84.3%) |
13 / 185 (7%) |
16 / 185
(8.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
128 / 198
(64.6%) |
26 / 198
(13.1%) |
44 / 198
(22.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
129 / 169
(76.3%) |
26 / 169
(15.4%) |
14 / 169
(8.3%) |
| Question 7: Are shortcut keys provided for all pull-down menus? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
779 / 1124
(69.3%) |
261 / 1124
(23.2%) |
84 / 1124
(7.5%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
124 / 185 (67%) |
31 / 185
(16.8%) |
30 / 185
(16.2%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
79 / 198
(39.9%) |
45 / 198
(22.7%) |
74 / 198
(37.4%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
76 / 169 (45%) |
37 / 169
(21.9%) |
56 / 169
(33.1%) |
| Question 8: Does the software support existing accessibility features built into the operating
system (e.g., sticky keys, slow keys, repeat keys in Apple Macintosh OS or Microsoft Windows
95)? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
884 / 1124
(78.6%) |
109 / 1124
(9.7%) |
131 / 1124
(11.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
111 / 185 (60%) |
34 / 185
(18.4%) |
40 / 185
(21.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
89 / 198
(44.9%) |
37 / 198
(18.7%) |
72 / 198
(36.4%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
59 / 169
(34.9%) |
56 / 169
(33.1%) |
54 / 169 (32%) |
| Question 9: If timed responses are present, does the software allow the user to modify the
timing parameters of any required timed responses? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
234 / 1124
(20.8%) |
116 / 1124
(10.3%) |
774 / 1124
(68.9%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
31 / 185
(16.8%) |
12 / 185 (6.5%) |
142 / 185
(76.8%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
8 / 198 (4%) |
40 / 198
(20.2%) |
150 / 198
(75.8%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
20 / 169
(11.8%) |
17 / 169
(10.1%) |
132 / 169
(78.1%) |
| Question 10: Are all descriptions or labels for fields positioned immediately to the left or
directly above the control, and do they end in a colon, so that it is easy for screen reading
software to associate the labels with the corresponding fields? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
599 / 1124
(53.3%) |
228 / 1124
(20.3%) |
297 / 1124
(26.4%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
97 / 185
(52.4%) |
47 / 185
(25.4%) |
41 / 185
(22.2%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
94 / 198
(47.5%) |
70 / 198
(35.4%) |
34 / 198
(17.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
98 / 169 (58%) |
57 / 169
(33.7%) |
14 / 169 (8.3%) |
| Question 11: Does every window, object, and control have a clearly named label? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
945 / 1124
(84.1%) |
93 / 1124
(8.3%) |
86 / 1124
(7.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
149 / 185
(80.5%) |
14 / 185
(7.6%) |
22 / 185
(11.9%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
146 / 198
(73.7%) |
14 / 198
(7.1%) |
38 / 198
(19.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
132 / 169
(78.1%) |
18 / 169
(10.7%) |
19 / 169
(11.2%) |
| Question 12: Does the software application use standard controls rather than owner-drawn or
custom controls? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
1016 / 1124
(90.4%) |
47 / 1124
(4.2%) |
61 / 1124
(5.4%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
150 / 185
(81.1%) |
23 / 185
(12.4%) |
12 / 185
(6.5%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
142 / 198
(71.7%) |
28 / 198
(14.1%) |
28 / 198
(14.1%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
119 / 169
(70.4%) |
31 / 169
(18.3%) |
19 / 169
(11.2%) |
| Question 13: Does the software have a user selectable option to display text on icons, i.e., text
only icons or bubble help? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
799 / 1124
(71.1%) |
159 / 1124
(14.1%) |
166 / 1124
(14.8%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
109 / 185
(58.9%) |
35 / 185
(18.9%) |
41 / 185
(22.2%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
39 / 198
(19.7%) |
54 / 198
(27.3%) |
105 / 198
(53%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
55 / 169
(32.5%) |
48 / 169
(28.4%) |
66 / 169
(39.1%) |
| Question 14: Is the use of icons consistent throughout the application? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
983 / 1124
(87.5%) |
46 / 1124
(4.1%) |
95 / 1124
(8.5%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
139 / 185
(75.1%) |
6 / 185 (3.2%) |
40 / 185
(21.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
78 / 198
(39.4%) |
12 / 198
(6.1%) |
108 / 198
(54.5%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
86 / 169
(50.9%) |
12 / 169
(7.1%) |
71 / 169 (42%) |
| Question 15: Are menus with text equivalents provided for all icon functions or icon selections
on menu, tool, and format bars? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
941 / 1124
(83.7%) |
79 / 1124
(7%) |
104 / 1124
(9.3%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
125 / 185
(67.6%) |
19 / 185
(10.3%) |
41 / 185
(22.2%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
58 / 198
(29.3%) |
27 / 198
(13.6%) |
113 / 198
(57.1%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
69 / 169
(40.8%) |
24 / 169
(14.2%) |
76 / 169 (45%) |
| Question 16: If there are audio alerts, are visual cues also provided? Note: Most operating
systems handle this issue in the client/server environment; the question is most relevant in a
dumb terminal environment. |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
650 / 1124
(57.8%) |
102 / 1124
(9.1%) |
372 / 1124
(33.1%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
62 / 185
(33.5%) |
13 / 185 (7%) |
110 / 185
(59.5%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
47 / 198
(23.7%) |
27 / 198
(13.6%) |
124 / 198
(62.6%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
43 / 169
(25.4%) |
25 / 169
(14.8%) |
101 / 169
(59.8%) |
| Question 17: Does the software support the "show sounds" feature where it is built into the
operating system? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
639 / 1124
(56.9%) |
189 / 1124
(16.8%) |
296 / 1124
(26.3%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
48 / 185
(25.9%) |
34 / 185
(18.4%) |
103 / 185
(55.7%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
26 / 198
(13.1%) |
48 / 198
(24.2%) |
124 / 198
(62.6%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
30 / 169
(17.8%) |
34 / 169
(20.1%) |
105 / 169
(62.1%) |
| Question 18: Can the user disable or adjust sound volume? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
776 / 1124
(69%) |
91 / 1124
(8.1%) |
257 / 1124
(22.9%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
74 / 185
(40%) |
23 / 185
(12.4%) |
88 / 185
(47.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
44 / 198
(22.2%) |
37 / 198
(18.7%) |
117 / 198
(59.1%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
42 / 169
(24.9%) |
24 / 169
(14.2%) |
103 / 169
(60.9%) |
| Question 19: If information is provided in an audio format, is it also capable of being displayed
by the user in a visual format? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
397 / 1124
(35.3%) |
161 / 1124
(14.3%) |
566 / 1124
(50.4%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
27 / 185
(14.6%) |
20 / 185
(10.8%) |
138 / 185
(74.6%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
11 / 198 (5.6%) |
23 / 198
(11.6%) |
164 / 198
(82.8%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
20 / 169
(11.8%) |
21 / 169
(12.4%) |
128 / 169
(75.7%) |
| Question 20: Is the software application free of patterned backgrounds used behind text or
important graphics? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
955 / 1124
(85%) |
81 / 1124
(7.2%) |
88 / 1124
(7.8%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
162 / 185
(87.6%) |
13 / 185 (7%) |
10 / 185
(5.4%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
147 / 198
(74.2%) |
10 / 198
(5.1%) |
41 / 198
(20.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
147 / 169
(87%) |
8 / 169 (4.7%) |
14 / 169
(8.3%) |
| Question 21: Can a user override defaults fonts for printing and text displays? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
946 / 1124
(84.2%) |
103 / 1124
(9.2%) |
75 / 1124
(6.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for agency
use |
112 / 185
(60.5%) |
61 / 185 (33%) |
12 / 185
(6.5%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
67 / 198
(33.8%) |
103 / 198
(52%) |
28 / 198
(14.1%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
79 / 169
(46.7%) |
78 / 169
(46.2%) |
12 / 169
(7.1%) |
| Question 22: Can a user adjust or disable flashing, rotating, or moving displays? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
523 / 1124
(46.5%) |
132 / 1124
(11.7%) |
469 / 1124
(41.7%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
50 / 185 (27%) |
22 / 185
(11.9%) |
113 / 185
(61.1%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
9 / 198 (4.5%) |
50 / 198
(25.3%) |
139 / 198
(70.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
29 / 169
(17.2%) |
36 / 169
(21.3%) |
104 / 169
(61.5%) |
| Question 23: Does the software ensure that color-coding is never used as the only means of
conveying information or indicating an action? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
810 / 1124
(72.1%) |
133 / 1124
(11.8%) |
181 / 1124
(16.1%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
112 / 185
(60.5%) |
35 / 185
(18.9%) |
38 / 185
(20.5%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
125 / 198
(63.1%) |
28 / 198
(14.1%) |
45 / 198
(22.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
103 / 169
(60.9%) |
24 / 169
(14.2%) |
42 / 169
(24.9%) |
| Question 24: Does the application support user-defined color settings system-wide? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
890 / 1124
(79.2%) |
121 / 1124
(10.8%) |
113 / 1124
(10.1%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
118 / 185
(63.8%) |
45 / 185
(24.3%) |
22 / 185
(11.9%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
85 / 198
(42.9%) |
71 / 198
(35.9%) |
42 / 198
(21.2%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
81 / 169
(47.9%) |
57 / 169
(33.7%) |
31 / 169
(18.3%) |
| Question 25: Is highlighting also viewable with inverted colors? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
870 / 1124
(77.4%) |
126 / 1124
(11.2%) |
128 / 1124
(11.4%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
109 / 185
(58.9%) |
39 / 185
(21.1%) |
37 / 185 (20%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
90 / 198
(45.5%) |
59 / 198
(29.8%) |
49 / 198
(24.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
86 / 169
(50.9%) |
36 / 169
(21.3%) |
47 / 169
(27.8%) |
| Question 26: If the software application draws its own screen elements, does it pick up the size
settings that the user has selected in the Control Panel? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
784 / 1124
(69.8%) |
120 / 1124
(10.7%) |
220 / 1124
(19.6%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
90 / 185
(48.6%) |
39 / 185
(21.1%) |
56 / 185
(30.3%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
57 / 198
(28.8%) |
41 / 198
(20.7%) |
100 / 198
(50.5%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
41 / 169
(24.3%) |
47 / 169
(27.8%) |
81 / 169
(47.9%) |
| Question 27: Are all manuals and documentation provided in electronic format as well as
ASCII text files, including text descriptions of any charts, graphs, pictures, or graphics of any
nature? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
628 / 1124
(55.9%) |
400 / 1124
(35.6%) |
96 / 1124
(8.5%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
116 / 185
(62.7%) |
54 / 185
(29.2%) |
15 / 185
(8.1%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
76 / 198
(38.4%) |
75 / 198
(37.9%) |
47 / 198
(23.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
76 / 169 (45%) |
83 / 169
(49.1%) |
10 / 169
(5.9%) |
| Question 28: Can a user choose to have any report generated by the software made available in
a "print to ASCII file" format? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not
Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
727 / 1124
(64.7%) |
216 / 1124
(19.2%) |
181 / 1124
(16.1%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
111 / 185
(60%) |
54 / 185
(29.2%) |
20 / 185
(10.8%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
69 / 198
(34.8%) |
90 / 198
(45.5%) |
39 / 198
(19.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
82 / 169
(48.5%) |
70 / 169
(41.4%) |
17 / 169
(10.1%) |
| Question 29: Is special training provided for users with disabilities that will enable them to
become familiar with the software and learn how to use it in conjunction with assistive
technology provided as an accommodation? |
| Customization |
Yes |
No |
Not Applicable |
| Commercial off-the-shelf software (used "as
is") |
583 / 1124
(51.9%) |
337 / 1124
(30%) |
204 / 1124
(18.1%) |
| Commercial software, but modified for
agency use |
97 / 185
(52.4%) |
49 / 185
(26.5%) |
39 / 185
(21.1%) |
| Custom software developed in-house |
61 / 198
(30.8%) |
90 / 198
(45.5%) |
47 / 198
(23.7%) |
| Custom software developed under contract |
53 / 169
(31.4%) |
84 / 169
(49.7%) |
32 / 169
(18.9%) |
1. This document is available on the Department of Justice's section 508 Web site
(www.usdoj.gov/crt/508). People with disabilities may request copies in Braille, large print, or on
computer disk by calling 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).
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