Accessibility Enhancements in Anthology Student
Published
At Anthology, we believe that accessibility is essential for creating inclusive, effective educational experiences for all. As part of our ongoing commitment to build and design Student Systems to meet the needs of a diverse range of users, we’ve are proud to highlight some of our recent accessibility improvements in Anthology Student:
Improved Accessibility of Form Elements
Forms are a central part of many digital interactions, but they can be particularly challenging for users with cognitive and motor impairments. To ensure everyone can complete forms with ease, we've reworked the accessibility of our form elements within Anthology Student. The updates include clearer labels, error handling, and user-friendly prompts. These improvements help users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies navigate and complete forms more effectively. Additionally, we've refined the tab order of the interaction to support individuals using keyboard-only navigation, ensuring the form elements are responsive and easy to use for those with limited dexterity.
Figure 1: Updated Student Profile UI includes logical keyboard navigation.
Enhanced Keyboard Navigation
Navigating Anthology Student with a keyboard should be just as intuitive as using a mouse. We've focused on refining the keyboard navigation across the UI to provide users with more fluid and efficient ways to interact with the interface. For users who rely on keyboards or assistive devices, we made enhancement to the global search component making it more accessible via keyboard shortcuts and ARIA labels. We've also added keyboard alternatives for drag-and-drop functionality, reducing the need to physically manipulate the mouse. This not only empowers users with motor disabilities but also allows for a smoother overall experience.
Figure 2: The drag and drop courses are now keyboard accessible, have accessible labels, a visible border and are in logical order.
Logical Keyboard Focus Order
The logical focus progresses in a clear, consistent manner, helping users navigate more easily through the interface without confusion. This update also makes our software more compatible with popular assistive technologies, such as screen readers and speech recognition tools, giving users more independence when navigating the platform.
Figure 3: Buttons in the toolbar menu, as well as reports, have visible focus indicators, are keyboard navigable and have accessible names.
Optimized Layout and Semantic Structure
To create a more accessible environment for users relying on screen readers and other assistive devices, we've optimized Anthology Student’s overall layout and semantic structure. This includes the strategic use of landmarks, headings, and accessible names that help screen reader users better understand the context and structure of the page. By marking up key sections of the page with logical landmarks and clear headings, we've made it easier for users to navigate the content and find important information without unnecessary effort. This also improves the discoverability of key features and functions, making our software more efficient and intuitive for everyone.
Figure 4: Primary navigation receives focus for assistive technology and an accessible name.
At Anthology, we understand that accessibility is not a one-time fix, but an ongoing commitment. The improvements we've made are just the beginning, and we will continue to innovate and refine our platform to ensure it remains usable and accessible for all.
We believe that technology should empower people, and by prioritizing accessibility, we’re creating an environment where everyone—regardless of their individual needs—can interact, learn, and succeed.
Learn more about Anthology’s commitment to empower learning through inclusive design at https://www.anthology.com/our-commitment-to-accessibility.
Carisa Stringer
Vice President of Product Marketing
Anthology
Improved Accessibility of Form Elements
Forms are a central part of many digital interactions, but they can be particularly challenging for users with cognitive and motor impairments. To ensure everyone can complete forms with ease, we've reworked the accessibility of our form elements within Anthology Student. The updates include clearer labels, error handling, and user-friendly prompts. These improvements help users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies navigate and complete forms more effectively. Additionally, we've refined the tab order of the interaction to support individuals using keyboard-only navigation, ensuring the form elements are responsive and easy to use for those with limited dexterity.
Figure 1: Updated Student Profile UI includes logical keyboard navigation.
Enhanced Keyboard Navigation
Navigating Anthology Student with a keyboard should be just as intuitive as using a mouse. We've focused on refining the keyboard navigation across the UI to provide users with more fluid and efficient ways to interact with the interface. For users who rely on keyboards or assistive devices, we made enhancement to the global search component making it more accessible via keyboard shortcuts and ARIA labels. We've also added keyboard alternatives for drag-and-drop functionality, reducing the need to physically manipulate the mouse. This not only empowers users with motor disabilities but also allows for a smoother overall experience.
Figure 2: The drag and drop courses are now keyboard accessible, have accessible labels, a visible border and are in logical order.
Logical Keyboard Focus Order
The logical focus progresses in a clear, consistent manner, helping users navigate more easily through the interface without confusion. This update also makes our software more compatible with popular assistive technologies, such as screen readers and speech recognition tools, giving users more independence when navigating the platform.
Figure 3: Buttons in the toolbar menu, as well as reports, have visible focus indicators, are keyboard navigable and have accessible names.
Optimized Layout and Semantic Structure
To create a more accessible environment for users relying on screen readers and other assistive devices, we've optimized Anthology Student’s overall layout and semantic structure. This includes the strategic use of landmarks, headings, and accessible names that help screen reader users better understand the context and structure of the page. By marking up key sections of the page with logical landmarks and clear headings, we've made it easier for users to navigate the content and find important information without unnecessary effort. This also improves the discoverability of key features and functions, making our software more efficient and intuitive for everyone.
Figure 4: Primary navigation receives focus for assistive technology and an accessible name.
At Anthology, we understand that accessibility is not a one-time fix, but an ongoing commitment. The improvements we've made are just the beginning, and we will continue to innovate and refine our platform to ensure it remains usable and accessible for all.
We believe that technology should empower people, and by prioritizing accessibility, we’re creating an environment where everyone—regardless of their individual needs—can interact, learn, and succeed.
Learn more about Anthology’s commitment to empower learning through inclusive design at https://www.anthology.com/our-commitment-to-accessibility.
Carisa Stringer
Vice President of Product Marketing
Anthology
Blog Product News
12/19/2024 10:59am EST
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