The purpose of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template is to assist Federal contracting officials in making preliminary assessments regarding the availability of commercial Electronic and Information Technology products and services with features that support accessibility. It is assumed that offerers will provide additional contact information to facilitate more detailed inquiries.
The first table of the Template provides a summary view of the section 508 Standards. The subsequent tables provide more detailed views of each subsection. There are three columns in each table. Column one of the Summary Table describes the subsections of subparts B and C of the Standards. The second column describes the supporting features of the product or refers you to the corresponding detailed table, “e.g., equivalent facilitation.” The third column contains any additional remarks and explanations regarding the product. In the subsequent tables, the first column contains the lettered paragraphs of the subsections. The second column describes the supporting features of the product with regard to that paragraph. The third column contains any additional remarks and explanations regarding the product.
Date: May 9, 2011
Name of product: Adobe® Illustrator® CS5.1
Contact for more information: access@adobe.com
Summary Table
| Guideline | Applicable | Compliance |
|---|---|---|
Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems |
Applicable |
Supports with exceptions |
Section 1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Systems |
Applicable |
Supports with exceptions |
Section 1194.23 – Telecommunications Products |
Not Applicable |
— |
Section 1194.24 – Video and Multimedia Products |
Not Applicable |
— |
Section 1194.25 – Self-Contained, Closed Products |
Not Applicable |
— |
Section 1194.26 – Desktop and Portable Computers |
Not Applicable |
— |
Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria |
Applicable |
Supports with exceptions |
Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation, Support |
Applicable |
Supports |
| Criteria | Supporting Features | Remarks and explanations |
|---|---|---|
(a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually. |
Supports with exceptions |
Customizable keyboard navigation is provided for all menu commands, as well as for selecting tools in Illustrator CS5.1. However, some functions, like drawing and interacting with objects on the canvas, are not accessible via keyboard commands. These include:
|
(b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product developer. |
Supports |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not interfere with or deactivate accessibility features of the operating system. |
(c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that Assistive Technology can track focus and focus changes. |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 provides an onscreen indication of the current focus that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. Focus is programmatically exposed for most controls. Some controls, such as tabs in panels, provide a weak visual indication of focus. Focus is not programmatically exposed in some instances, such as the File Info. dialog box and the list box in the Adobe PDF Presets dialog box. Focus information is not available for objects on the canvas. |
(d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to Assistive Technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text. |
Supports with exceptions |
Many controls and features in the Illustrator CS5.1 interface provide identity, role and state information, however there are some exceptions, including:
|
(e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application's performance. |
Supports |
|
(f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes. |
Supports with exceptions |
Textual information is available to assistive technology in Illustrator CS5.1 with the following exceptions:
|
(g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes. |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 supports Windows High Contrast Mode in most dialog boxes and application menus but there is limited support in panels. |
(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not use animation in the user interface. |
(i) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. |
Supports |
The Illustrator CS5.1 user interface does not use color as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. |
(j) When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided. |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 allows users to customize the brightness of the user interface, the background of a document, and the selection guide colors to a wide range of colors supported by the system. However, there may not be sufficient options to allow a range of contrast levels. |
(k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements in the user interface. |
(l) When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using Assistive Technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. |
Supports with exceptions |
Most dialog boxes in the Illustrator CS5.1 interface can be completed using assistive technology but there is limited access to controls in panels. The File Info. dialog box contains controls that do not provide identity, role or state information to assistive technology. Some panels, such as the Control panel do not provide identity information for controls. Most panels have limited keyboard accessibility. |
| Criteria | Supporting Features | Remarks and explanations |
|---|---|---|
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 allows authors to assign alternate text descriptions to images. However, image maps may need to be edited after export if there is more than one linked area. It is not possible to add text equivalents to non-text elements in PDF documents saved from Illustrator CS5.1. |
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 is not a multimedia authoring tool. |
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. |
Supports |
Illustrator CS5.1 provides an authoring environment that allows for arbitrary uses of color and background for layout and design. Authors can create web pages that meet this requirement using Illustrator CS5.1. |
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. |
Supports |
It is possible to create HTML documents that do not require associated style sheets with Illustrator CS5.1. |
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create server-side image maps. |
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape. |
Supports |
Illustrator CS5.1 enables authors to create client-side image maps. |
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create data tables. |
(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create data tables. |
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create frames. |
(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. |
Supports |
Illustrator CS5.1 supports the creation of animations that conform to this requirement. Authors may need to verify their animations are consistent with the standard. |
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes. |
Not applicable |
|
(l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by Assistive Technology. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create scripts. Scripting can be added to SVG documents, but the scripts are not created in Illustrator CS5.1. |
(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with Section 1194.21(a) through (l). |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 can author PDF, Flash and SVG content. These formats require web browser plug-ins and client applications for viewing. These client applications are available for free download from Adobe.com. If necessary, web masters are encouraged to provide links to these client applications. |
(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using Assistive Technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not allow for the creation of electronic forms. |
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. |
Supports |
Illustrator CS5.1 allows for the creation of links. |
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required. |
Not applicable |
Illustrator CS5.1 does not create content that uses timed responses. |
Note to 1194.22: The Board interprets paragraphs (a) through (k) of this section as consistent with the following priority 1 Checkpoints of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG 1.0) (May 5 1999) published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium: Paragraph (a) - 1.1, (b) - 1.4, (c) - 2.1, (d) - 6.1, (e) - 1.2, (f) - 9.1, (g) - 5.1, (h) - 5.2, (i) - 12.1, (j) - 7.1, (k) - 11.4.
| Criteria | Supporting Features | Remarks and explanations |
|---|---|---|
(a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided. |
Does not support |
Retrieving information about graphics in an Illustrator CS5.1 document and editing objects on the canvas is not supported for screen readers. There is limited access to some panels, controls in panels and some dialog boxes using screen readers. |
(b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided. |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 supports screen magnifiers. However, focus is not programmatically exposed in some cases, such as the File Info. dialog box. |
(c) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user hearing shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be provided |
Supports |
|
(d) Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided. |
Supports |
|
(e) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided. |
Supports |
|
(f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided. |
Supports with exceptions |
Illustrator CS5.1 supports accessibility features of the operating system such as Sticky Keys, which may be used during some editing operations that may require use of keyboard modifiers and mouse selections. However some operations, such as constraining shape tools, require mouse and keyboard combinations that may not be possible for some users. |
| Criteria | Supporting Features | Remarks and explanations |
|---|---|---|
(a) Product support documentation provided to end-users shall be made available in alternate formats upon request, at no additional charge. |
Supports |
Adobe provides electronic versions of all product support documentation. |
(b) End-users shall have access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate methods upon request, at no additional charge. |
Supports |
Adobe provides information on accessibility features in the documentation. Electronic versions of all product support documentation are provided. |
(c) Support services for products shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities. |
Supports |
Product support for Adobe products is available in a variety of formats and from a number of online sources available from Adobe Systems. |
