[Etag] Fw: HCX Mobile Accessibility update

[Monica Olsson]

Greetings ETAG,

Sharing with you as promised. The following email and attachment are what I sent to the Disability Support Services Council regarding HCX Mobile Accessibility. Tim, you specifically mentioned wanting this information, so please let me know that you've received it.




[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]

Monica M. Olsson (she/her/hers)

Policy Associate – Accessible IT Coordinator

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

molsson at sbctc.edu<mailto:molsson at sbctc.edu> • o: 360-704-3922 • c: 206-914-7187

sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

________________________________
From: Monica Olsson <molsson at sbctc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 3:01 PM
To: Disability Services CTC <dssc at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Monica Olsson <molsson at sbctc.edu>; Jasurda, Megan <MJasurda at clark.edu>
Subject: HCX Mobile Accessibility update


Dear DSSC,


This email is to provide you with an accessibility update and plan of action regarding Highpoint’s HCX mobile.


First, let’s make sure we all understand what HCX Mobile is. This is a product developed and purchased from a company called Highpoint. It is important to note that Highpoint is not the same company as Oracle and that HCX Mobile is a separate product from ctcLink.


HCX Mobile is a series of web pages that users can interact with on an Internet browser on a computer, or through an app on their phone. HCX Mobile provides many of the functions and tasks that students would typically complete in the CS module of ctcLink.


Previously, we referred to HCX Mobile as Highpoint Mobile before a recent and major software update. At that time, Highpoint Mobile provided a more accessible user experience for students using assistive technology than the CS module inside ctcLink provided.


Unfortunately, accessibility testing performed by CATO (Committee of Accessible Technology Oversight) in December 2021 revealed significant issues that prevent CATO from considering HCX Mobile to be an equally effective accessible alternative to the ctcLink CS module.


Attached is the testing summary that was shared with SBCTC IT leadership and STAC (Strategic Technology Advisory Committee) leadership.


Next, I want to emphasize that Highpoint has historically been a collaborative and responsive vendor to the state board. The agency’s IT leadership values their relationship with the company…and this is good news y’all! This means that as we document and report these issues to Highpoint, we trust that they will engage with us in identifying solutions and timelines for these fixes. It is also worth noting that Sandy Main shared that her team is working on a detailed response to CATO. Additionally, Items reported by CATO that have not already been addressed in software updates will be reported to the vendor, HighPoint, through the standard process.


SBCTC is behind in our version of HCX Mobile as we are in a code freeze until the deployment of DG6 colleges into ctcLink. A post-DG6 release schedule will include an update to HCX Mobile along with a plan for routine updates moving forward. I do not have the timeline for that yet.


On January 20th, I received an update from an SBCTC colleague that is helping to document concerns with the vendor. Highpoint plans to begin “review of the semantic elements and roles that are used for springboard links & remove the semantic heading elements from Springboard tile titles. This will be addressed in a future update.” This is in response specifically to the button/link issue and heading level issue that was reported to State Board IT and submitted to Highpoint. That’s good news.


So, what happens next?

  1.  SBCTC IT leadership sends a written response to CATO with support from Monica as needed.

  2.  CATO’s liaison to STAC (Ward Naff) helps ensure that STAC receives and reviews the HCX Mobile accessibility testing summary document.

  3.  SBCTC reports issues to Highpoint.

  4.  SBCTC clarifies and communicates a timeline for future updates to HCX Mobile and a plan for routine updates moving forward.

  5.  Monica will work with SBCTC IT on developing a plan for routine accessibility testing of software updates to HCX mobile and consult with CATO on this plan.


Please let me know if you have questions.




[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]

Monica M. Olsson (she/her/hers)

Policy Associate – Accessible IT Coordinator

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

molsson at sbctc.edu<mailto:molsson at sbctc.edu> • o: 360-704-3922 • c: 206-914-7187

sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

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