Research Reports

An Accessibility and Usability Evaluation of the 2010 Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Web-Based Training Application

Lawrence Malakhoff

KEY WORDS: accessibility, 2010 LUCA, web-based training, usability, Internet.

ABSTRACT

In preparation for the 2010 Census, Census Bureau Field personnel need to become familiar with procedures for 2010 Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA). One means to accomplish this goal is to provide Field personnel with web-based training they can take from the PC in their office. In order for all users to be able to access the 2010 LUCA web-based training, the application must conform to Federal accessibility regulations. This evaluation was performed in May 2007 using the Job Access With Speech (JAWS) screen-reader, software used by people with visual disabilities. Computer users who have visual and or other disabilities are entitled to have the same access as users who do not currently have any disabilities. The evaluation revealed, for example, that course screens do not have a logical tabbing sequence, and users may miss instructions on how to respond to knowledge check questions because the instruction text is located after the response options. This report uses screen shots to illustrate how compliance with Federal regulations can be accomplished, and it includes recommendations to improve the accessibility and usability of the user interface.

CITATION:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Research Division

Created: September 20, 2007
Last revised: September 20, 2007