Accessibility Features in Specify

Documentation Data Entry
1

The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC) is committed to providing a powerful and inclusive platform for all users. We believe that access to information and software should be universal. That’s why we design and build Specify 7 with accessibility as a core principle. Our goal is to make sure Specify is usable by people with a wide range of abilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies.

Our goal is to substantially conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This document outlines the key accessibility features available in Specify 7 and our ongoing commitment to improvement. Feel free to review our Accessibility Conformance Summary (WCAG 2.1 Level AA).

Keyboard Navigation

You can navigate and operate every part of the Specify 7 interface using only a keyboard. We’ve ensured that all interactive elements like buttons, menus, links, and form fields are reachable and operable without a mouse.

  • Use the Tab key to move forward to the next interactive element and Shift+Tab to move backward.
  • Press Enter to activate buttons or follow links.
  • Use the Spacebar to select checkboxes and radio buttons.
  • Navigate menus, trees, and lists using the arrow keys.

We also manage focus carefully, especially in complex components like dialog boxes and forms, so you won’t get “trapped” and will always have a clear visual indicator of where you are on the page.

Screen Reader Support

Specify 7 is built with semantic HTML and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) best practices. This means that users of screen readers will have a more informative experience.

Specify 7 provides screen readers with the context they need to announce elements correctly, including:

  • Labels for all form fields.
  • Properly structured headings and tables.
  • Accessible names for buttons and links.
  • Alerts for the state of components, such as whether a menu is expanded or collapsed.

Customize Specify for Your Accessibility Needs

User Preferences
User Preferences1920×2288 153 KB

Specify 7 offers a rich set of preferences that allow you to tailor the user interface to your specific visual and operational needs. These settings are designed to enhance readability, reduce motion, and improve the overall user experience, especially for those who use assistive technologies.

You can find these options under User Tools → User Preferences. Here are some of the key customizations available:

Visual and Display Adjustments

These settings help you control the look and feel of the application to improve clarity and reduce eye strain.

  • Themes and Contrast: You can set the application theme to light, dark, or tell it to Use system setting. This is a powerful feature that allows Specify 7 to automatically inherit your operating system’s high-contrast or dark mode settings.
  • Font Customization:
    • Font Size: Adjust the global font size to the exact percentage that is most comfortable for you.
    • Scale Interface: Enable Scale interface to match font size to ensure that UI elements like buttons and menus grow proportionally with the text for a consistent experience.
    • Font Family: You can change the application font to any font installed on your computer, such as OpenDyslexic or others designed for readability.
  • Color Control: You have granular control over the interface colors to meet specific contrast requirements. You can independently set:
    • Accent and Button Colors: Change the colors for primary actions (Save, Danger, etc.) to make them more distinct.
    • Field Backgrounds: Set unique background colors for different field states (Required, Invalid, Disabled), with separate settings for both light and dark themes. This makes it much easier to understand the status of a form at a glance.

Reduce Motion and Visuals

If you are sensitive to animations and transparency, you can create a more static and straightforward visual experience.

  • Reduce Motion: This option disables non-essential animations and transitions throughout the application. You can also set it to Use system setting to respect your operating system’s preference for reduced motion.
  • Reduce Transparency: This setting disables translucent backgrounds on elements like dialogs and table headers to create a high-clarity interface.

Form and Data Interaction

  • Focus Management: The Focus first field option automatically places your cursor in the first field of a form when it opens, saving you a step and making data entry faster.
  • Accessible Date Pickers: We provide options to Use accessible full date picker and Use accessible month picker. These components are specifically designed to be easier to navigate and use with keyboards and screen readers.
  • Right-Justify Numbers: Enabling Right-Justify numeric fields aligns numbers in forms and grids, making them easier to scan and compare.
  • Dialog Behavior: You can customize dialogs to Close on ESC key press and Close on outside click for predictable keyboard and mouse control. You can also have the application remember dialog window positions and sizes.

We Welcome Your Feedback!

If you encounter an accessibility barrier or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know. Your feedback is essential to helping us make Specify 7 better for everyone. You can post in the “Get Help” category on our Speciforum or, for technical issues, send us a message at support@specifysoftware.org.