Web Development
Web Developer Guidelines
Visual Design Recommendations

Checkpoint 1.2 - Java

The application supports the Java Accessibility API

WCAG 1.0 Priority 1

WCAG Guideline 8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces.

The Java Accessibility API defines a contract between individual user-interface components that make up a Java application and an assistive technology that is providing access to that Java application. The Java Accessibility API provides the means to expose role, identity, and state of the user interface components to assistive technologies. If a Java application fully supports the Java Accessibility API, then it should be compatible with, and friendly toward, assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, etc.

Requirement

All applications are built using the Java Accessibility API

Recommendation

The Java Accessibility API is one of the technologies implemented by the Java Foundation Classes (JFC or Swing). Applications built using the Java Foundation Classes have access to the Java Accessibility API.

Note: The Java Accessibility API and all the features of the Java Foundation Classes are part of versions 1.2 and later of the Java Development Kit. In particular, the Java Accessibility API ships as part of the core package named javax.accessibility. Because of security restrictions, browsers cannot download packages beginning with java.*. As a result, the Java Foundation Classes are packaged under javax.*. In particular, the Java Accessibility API support for JDK1.2 and later is in the package named javax.accessibility.

Checking Tool

  • Review the source code of the applet/application to ensure Java Accessibility API has been utilized.
  • Access the application using a Java-enabled screen reader.

Information Source

The original source of this information is located on the W3C web site  (www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#gl-own-interface)

 

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