ProQuest Research Companion

Information

All researchers, regardless of ability, need access to scholarly information. ProQuest is committed to providing all our users with a fully accessible experience for research, teaching and learning.

At ProQuest, we make every effort to ensure that our platforms – including ProQuest Research Companion – can be used by everyone. PQRC is continually designed and developed to meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.

Accessibility features and gaps

Users of ProQuest Research Companion should be able to:

• Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard.
• Go directly to main content areas on the page using skip links.
• Listen to most of the website using a screen reader.
• Read or listen to transcripts of every video on the site

There may be some parts of this website that are not fully accessible:

• The bar graph on the My Assessment page is not fully accessible by keyboard or readable by screen reader.
• Some evaluation exercises use a drag and drop mechanic that is not keyboard accessible and has no alternative.

If you have a disability and need to make your computer, tablet or other device easier to use, AbilityNet is a recommended resource. We also recommend browsing free add-ons offered for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Technical Information about this site’s accessibility

ProQuest Research Companion is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with:

• Level A and Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance level and report

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Access the full Accessibility Compliance Report (VPAT 2.4 and WCAG) for ProQuest Research Companion.

Accessibility of this platform

ProQuest Research Companion is designed for use with a mouse, a keyboard only, screen readers, voice control, and other assistive technologies. Throughout ProQuest Research Companion, form elements and buttons are given accessible labels, so you can use assistive technologies to determine the purpose of various controls. For keyboard users, there is a ‘skip to main content’ link that will allow you to bypass form, header elements, and video controls to easily reach page content.

Keyboard access

Most of ProQuest Research Companion can be navigated with a keyboard alone, but there are a small number of areas that are currently inaccessible or hard to use:

• Keyboard focus does not automatically move to certain menus, including menus for tips videos, video embed codes, and earned badges.
• Some evaluation exercises use a drag and drop mechanic that is not keyboard accessible and has no alternative.
• Within forms that overlay the screen (i.e. modal menus), keyboard focus does not “loop.” That is, it does not stay within the form until dismissed.

Screen reader access

ProQuest Research Companion is designed to be used with screen readers. User interface components are given accessible names, roles, and values that can be determined and read by assistive technologies. A small number of elements are not accessible with screen readers, including the bar chart on the My Assessment page.

Color contrast

All text and interface elements have sufficient contrast with their background colors.

Accessibility Testing

The accessibility of ProQuest Research Companion is a continual effort at ProQuest. Accessibility standards are built into our design, and style guides and included as part of requirements in our software development and quality assurance pipeline.

ProQuest Research Companion code is checked for accessibility using a range of automated and manual checks including but not limited to:

• Color Contrast Analyzer provided by WebAIM
• Deque aXe accessibility testing tool
• High Contrast Chrome extension
• Keyboard-access manual testing and assessment
• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) screen-reader utility

ProQuest Research Companion is tested on the latest versions of Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge, and on devices including Mac and Windows computers, and Android and iOS devices.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Making content accessible is an ongoing effort at ProQuest. We’re committed to working with the community to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ needs. A list of our ongoing efforts include:

• The ProQuest Accessibility Council: a team of stakeholders working to increase accessibility resources and capabilities
• Pursuing partnerships with colleges, universities and other institutions to assist us in reviewing and updating our accessibility standards
• Supporting certifications for our employees
• Consulting with accessibility experts such as Deque
• Accessibility is embedded in our development process. Our acceptance of new features and functionality requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA.

Support and feedback

If you have difficulty accessing specific ProQuest content or features with adaptive technology after trying the workarounds suggested in this statement, you can contact us using the links provided below. Our support services will respond within three days and are available to accommodate the communication needs of end users with disabilities. We will work with you to identify the best option for remediation, subject to content licensing restrictions and technical capability.

Online: ProQuest Technical Support

Phone:
United States & Canada (toll free):
+1 800 889 3358

Outside North America:
+800 4997 4111 or +1 734-707-2513

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This accessibility statement was prepared on September 27, 2024. It was last reviewed on September 27, 2024. The website was last September 27. 2024.

content_copy Copy link Copied