This report reflects the findings of a high-level assessment of the SpringerLink platform for its conformance with the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 (WCAG 2.1). There are very few WCAG 2.1 compliance issues with the platform. Those identified are very minor overall and center on the landing page and the advanced search. The evaluation of the PDF document, however, did reveal major accessibility issues. Below are the most critical issues to address to improve system compliance.
Top 3 Issues:
1. PDF Content: There are many issues with the PDF content. Please refer to the Section 508 Guidelines for PDF Content for more information about accessibility requirements for PDF documents. There are also free resources available for Training on PDF Remediation.
2. Compatibility: There are few issues surrounding compatibility, in particular with the use of unique ID’s. These can cause issues with screen reader support, keyboard navigation, and the overall navigability of the site if not addressed. When authoring for ARIA be sure to reference the WAI-ARIA Best Practices from W3.
3. Navigation: The main navigation of the site has some minor issues in the way the list is set up.
Library Accessibility Alliance