This Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a tool that administrators and decision-makers can use to evaluate PrairieLearn's conformance with the accessibility standards under WCAG 2.1 AA.
At PrairieLearn, we are committed to ensuring accessibility for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Accessibility is a core part of our development process, and new features are subject to both automated and manual accessibility checks. PrairieLearn has been evaluated by PrairieLearn, Inc. according to WCAG 2.1 standards, and we are committed to maintaining and improving accessibility in the future.
(Based on VPAT® Version 2.4Rev)
Name of Product: PrairieLearn
Date: October 2024
Product Description: PrairieLearn is an online assessment and learning system that empowers instructors to create robust educational resources for students.
Contact Information: support@prairielearn.com
Notes: PrairieLearn hosts user-generated content for which we cannot guarantee accessibility. Instructors and those developing content are encouraged to ensure that content they create meets any necessary accessibility requirements.
Evaluation Methods Used: Manual and automated testing by PrairieLearn, Inc. using VoiceOver and keyboard navigation.
Applicable Standards/Guidelines: This report covers the degree of conformance for the following accessibility standard/guidelines:
| Criteria | Conformance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) | Supports | Text alternatives are provided for default content, and user-generated content can include text alternatives where appropriate. |
| 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not include audio-only or video-only content by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any audio or video content they upload. |
| 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not include audio or video content by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any audio or video content they upload. |
| 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not include audio or video content by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any audio or video content they upload. |
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) | Supports | Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined. |
| 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A) | Supports | Correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined. |
| 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics (Level A) | Supports | Instructions for using PrairieLearn do not rely on sensory characteristics. |
| 1.4.1 Use of Color (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not convey information by color alone. |
| 1.4.2 Audio Control (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not include audio content by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any audio used in their content. |
| 2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A) | Partially Supports | Certain inputs that can be used on questions are not operable via the keyboard, including inputs used for drawing. |
| 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap (Level A) | Supports | Some file editors trap focus to support typing tabs, but the user is advised on how to move focus. |
| 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts (Level A 2.1 only) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not utilize keyboard shortcuts. |
| 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not time-out content by default. For assessments with user-defined time limits, the time limits can be modified or extended for individual users. |
| 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not include moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information. |
| 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not contain any flashing content. |
| 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A) | Supports | "Skip to content" links are available on all pages. |
| 2.4.2 Page Titled (Level A) | Supports | Pages include appropriate titles that describe their purpose. |
| 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) | Supports | Focusable elements generally receive focus in top-to-bottom, left-to-right order. |
| 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) | Partially Supports | Certain file download links on instructor or admin pages do not fully identify the purpose of the links. |
| 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures (Level A 2.1 only) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not require navigation by multipoint or path-based gestures. |
| 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation (Level A 2.1 only) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not complete actions on the down-event of the pointer. |
| 2.5.3 Label in Name (Level A 2.1 only) | Supports | The text and accessible name of inputs match. User interface elements that use icons or symbols have appropriate accessible labels. |
| 2.5.4 Motion Actuation (Level A 2.1 only) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not rely on device motion or user motion. |
| 3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn's own UI uses English, which is declared in a lang attribute. User-generated content may be written in languages other than English. |
| 3.2.1 On Focus (Level A) | Supports | A user interface component receiving focus will never initiate a change of context. |
| 3.2.2 On Input (Level A) | Supports | Changing the setting of any user interface component will never automatically cause a change of context. |
| 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A) | Supports | Errors are properly identified and described to users. |
| 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A) | Partially Supports | While inputs that are used in user-generated content support attaching labels, some do not explicitly require a label for backwards-compatibility. |
| 4.1.1 Parsing (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn HTML markup meets all applicable standards and specifications. |
| 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) | Supports | PrairieLearn user interface elements use HTML/ARIA attributes to convey name, role, and value. |
| Criteria | Conformance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2.4 Captions (Live) (Level AA) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not contain live audio content in synchronized media. |
| 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not contain prerecorded video by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any audio or video content they upload. |
| 1.3.4 Orientation (Level AA 2.1 only) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not restrict operation to any specific orientation. |
| 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (Level AA 2.1 only) | Supports | Input field purpose can be programmatically determined. |
| 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA) | Supports | All default user interface elements feature an appropriate contrast ratio. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any custom content they create. |
| 1.4.4 Resize text (Level AA) | Supports | Text can be resized using native browser controls. |
| 1.4.5 Images of Text (Level AA) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not contain images of text by default. Users are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of any images containing text they upload. |
| 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA 2.1 only) | Supports | Some pages such as the instructor questions list and gradebook pages feature data tables and thus require scrolling in two dimensions at small viewport sizes. |
| 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level AA 2.1 only) | Supports | User interface components and graphical objects have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors. |
| 1.4.12 Text Spacing (Level AA 2.1 only) | Supports | Users can change text spacing without loss of content or functionality. |
| 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus (Level AA 2.1 only) | Partially Supports | Custom tooltips cannot be dismissed without removing pointer hover or keyboard focus, and their content will disappear if the pointer is moved over them. |
| 2.4.5 Multiple Ways (Level AA) | Supports | Pages are accessible from consistent navigational elements shown on every page. |
| 2.4.6 Headings and Labels (Level AA) | Supports | All headers and labels are descriptive. |
| 2.4.7 Focus Visible (Level AA) | Supports | The focus indicator is consistently shown for keyboard navigation. |
| 3.1.2 Language of Parts (Level AA) | Supports | PrairieLearn does not contain multi-language content by default. Users can label their own content with the appropriate language. |
| 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation (Level AA) | Supports | Consistent navigation components and patterns are utilized across the application. |
| 3.2.4 Consistent Identification (Level AA) | Supports | User interface components are labeled consistently across the application. |
| 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA) | Supports | Suggestions are shown in response to errors when useful suggestions can be generated. |
| 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) (Level AA) | Supports | Deletion of user-controlled data is always confirmed. Submissions of test data are checked for formatting errors and users are given an opportunity to correct them. |
| 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA 2.1 only) | Partially Supports | Workspace launch progress and real-time external grader results are currently not communicated via status messages. |
The information herein is provided in good faith and does not represent a legally binding claim. Please contact PrairieLearn, Inc. to report any accessibility errors or conformance claim errors for re-evaluation and correction, if necessary.