ACCESSIBILITY CENTER: TIPS FOR USING THE EBS PORTAL

Setting EBS Portal Accessibility 

An accessibility flag can be activated once logged in. In the header of the portal, it is located under the Options link, then User Preferences.  Once set, the accessibility flag will remain set for future log-ins.  It can also be unchecked if desired.

The accessibility flag will provide additional support for screen readers.

elevateU Online Training

The elevateU online training application also has an accessibility option. Setting the accessibility flag in the EBS Portal will send the user to the accessible version of the elevateU system when clicking that link.

General Tips using a Screen Reader in the EBS Portal

EBS Portal Landing Page

The "SAP Fiori Launchpad" is the main page that contains tiles and links to all applications. Most tiles read as list items within group navigation. Below some tiles are links. It is easiest to find these navigating as though they were buttons (using the "B" key in JAWS).

Applications

  • The vendor recommends exploring applications in browse or reading mode before attempting to interact with them.
  • Toggle to focus mode or forms mode to complete values in individual fields, especially combo boxes.
  • The B key will navigate to the save and cancel buttons.
  • Confirmation messages are also often at the bottom of the page, and can be heard after saving by returning to the top and beginning to read (arrow up and down keys) in browse or reading mode.
  • The F4 key opens up search dialog boxes, drop downs, and calendar pickers in many fields.
  • The F6 key often allows navigation around a page, even if headings are not listed.
  • In some tables...
    • The F2 key opens a dialog box to edit the record for the selected row.
    • The delete key can remove the row.
    • The F7 key allows to enter the row.
    • Use the Control, Alt, and Arrow keys with the Virtual PC Cursor (JAWS) to read the table cell-by-cell.
  • Navigate sections of the screen:
    • Using JAWS
      • R key for landmarks or regions
      • Control and Tab for frames
      • Control and Up or Down keys for containers
    • Using NVDA in Browse Mode, use these keys to navigate through sections of the page:
      • D key for landmarks
      • M key for frames
      • Comma "," key for containers

Rich Text Editor

Several HR Forms use a third party Rich Text Editor which allow fields to contain formatted text. Here are tips for using that feature.

  • Dropdown menus are broken into sections, which read as separate lists in NVDA. At the end of a list in a menu, read further to see if another list follows.
  • Error and information messages can be read in NVDA by:
    • Hitting tab immediately after performing the action, while the cursor is still in the rich text area
    • The tab key take the user to the X (which reads as “Times button”)
    • Toggle to Browse Mode (Insert-Spacebar)
    • Hitting the down arrow twice will read the message.
  • There is a visual indicator for typographical errors which may not be read by screen readers. We recommend writing text in a different product like MS Word and pasting it into the editor.
  • Heading navigation using keystrokes 1-6 does not work inside the editor. However, headings can be set and are read to the user.

An Additional Tip for JAWS

The screen reader will often read technical details of the application. There is no setting in JAWS to avoid this. There are two ways around this:

  • You may try hitting the Escape key, followed by the JAWS key in combination with the up arrow, to read the current item on the screen.
  • You may try tabbing past, then tabbing back to, the desired element to hear it read cleanly.

Other Notes

Proper contrast has been used (where possible), and the use of color-coding has been mostly avoided to assist users with color-blindness. In applications with color-coding, the alternative text or tool tip of the color-coded object indicates the value represented by the color. Legends are also provided, but may not be immediately proximate to the items they define.

There is no reliance on auditory information when using the EBS Portal or the HR/Payroll applications.