Evaluating the Web Accessibility of University Online Registration System: case study Jordan

Abstract

Accessibility of university online services is a major issue for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities. Online registration makes people with disabilities more independent to register courses, add, drop courses, or see courses without depending on others. Yet, many people with disabilities in Jordan face major challenges to register their courses via university websites. In order to understand the issues faces people with disabilities when they use online registration systems in Jordanian universities, this study evaluates the online registration. Students with visual impairment perform certain tasks using online registration websites in two of the largest universities in Jordan. The obtained user's evaluation results are compared against expert's review on the same set of tasks. The results of accessibility evaluation indicate significant weaknesses in understanding and implementing web accessibility guidelines in the online registration websites in both universities. To enable accessibility of selfregistration websites by students with visual and other disabilities in the universities developing a national accessibility plan that includes improving awareness of accessible websites is recommended. In addition, training website developers on the application of WCAG 2.0 is vital