Accessibility feature is available only for Standard Form Type.

Before diving into the Enhanced Accessibility feature, let's understand the basics of accessibility.

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing products, services, and environments to be usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Accessibility ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to access and interact with something, removing barriers that might hinder certain individuals, and providing features and functionalities that cater to a diverse range of users with varying needs.

For example, ramps, elevators, and wider doorways in buildings allow individuals with mobility impairments to navigate spaces freely.

What is Web Accessibility?

1. Cognitive: Focusing on making web content understandable and navigable for users with cognitive impairments or limitations.
   
2. Neurological: Recognizing and accommodating users with neurological conditions to enhance their online experience.
   
3. Physical: Adapting web interfaces to cater to individuals with physical disabilities, ensuring they can interact with and navigate digital content.
   
4. Speech: Considering users who rely on speech input or output technologies, making web interactions seamless for them.
   
5. Visual: Implementing features and designs that make online content accessible to users with visual impairments or those using assistive technologies like screen readers.
   
6. Auditory: Ensuring content is accessible to individuals with hearing impairments or those who rely on alternative auditory communication methods.

What is WCAG Compliance?

Why making your Zoho Forms accessible matters?

1. Inclusivity: It promotes equal access to information and services on your website, fostering a more welcoming and inclusive experience for all visitors.
   
2. Wider reach: By removing accessibility barriers, you open your forms to a broader audience, potentially increasing engagement and participation.
   
3. Legal compliance: Many regions have regulations mandating website accessibility, and adhering to these standards can help you avoid legal complications.
   

It's crucial to remember that WCAG compliance is an ongoing process requiring continuous monitoring and improvement. Regularly evaluating your forms and implementing necessary adjustments are essential to ensure they remain accessible to all users.

Principles of web accessibility

1. Color Contrast: Enough contrast between text and background colors for users with visual impairments can be adjusted using our customizable theme builder.
   
2. Images: If images are included within any form field, alternative text descriptions (alt text) for all images can be provided to clearly convey the image content.

1. Keyboard Navigation: Zoho Forms are functional using the keyboard, allowing disabled users to interact with the form effectively. Check out the keyboard shortcuts for different browsers and field types.
2. Error Identification and Correction: Clear error messages for users to identify and correct errors are provided and these can be fully customized in form settings.
   

1. Clear and Simple Language: Simple field labels and error messages that are easy to understand for users with varying cognitive abilities have been incorporated which are fully customizable by the form owner.
   
2. Instructions: Instructions can be incorporated for each form field and it has been suggested in our best practices to provide clear and concise instructions and labels for all form elements.
   
3. Logical Form Structure: It has been suggested to the form owner in our best practices to organize the form layout logically, with a clear flow for users to complete the form.
   

1. Compatibility with assistive technology: Zoho Forms is compatible with commonly used screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Note: Zoho Forms does not offer a native screen reader, but it can be used with third-party screen readers. We recommend using standard screen readers, like Mac's VoiceOver, or Widows' Narrator to safeguard your data. 

1. Ensure that the form's structure and content are optimized for screen readers, allowing users with visual impairments to access and complete the form easily.
2. Ensure that form elements, including labels, and buttons, can be perceived by people with disabilities. 
   
3. Ensure every form field has a clear and concise label associated with it. The label should describe the purpose of the field accurately, placed directly above or next to it.
   
4. Provide clear and easy-to-understand instructions at the beginning of your form and any additional help text within each field. This helps users understand what information is needed and how to fill out the form correctly.
   
5. Ensure that the form's instructions and error messages are clear and easy to understand. Form validation and error handling should be implemented in a way that is intuitive and informative to guide users in correcting any mistakes they make while filling out the form.
   
   
6. Avoid using technical jargon.
   
7. Arrange the form fields in a logical order that makes sense for the user flow. This ensures users can navigate through the form intuitively using the screen reader.
   

1. Build a screen reader friendly form with clear and description labels, meaningful descriptions, and logical structure.
   
2. Prioritize High-Contrast Text and Color Combinations.
   
3. Intuitive Keyboard Navigation

How to make a form accessible in Zoho Forms? - Steps to enable Enhanced Accessibility

You can enable Form Accessibility on both existing and new forms within Zoho Forms.

1. In your form builder, navigate to the Settings tab > Compliance & Audit > Accessibility.
   
   
   
2. Choose Yes for Enhanced Accessibility.
   
3. Click Save.
   

We have conducted manual testing methods, which involved utilizing assistive technologies like VoiceOver, NVDA, and Narrator, using in-browser developer tools.

We started focusing on accessibility as a product principle in Zoho Forms. Zoho Forms strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information regarding Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance within its help documentation. However, we cannot guarantee the information will remain perpetually error-free, as best practices and regulations might evolve over time.

Zoho is firmly committed to accessibility and continuously monitors the accessibility of our products to foster an inclusive experience for all users.

While we cannot assume legal liability for the information contained within this documentation, we encourage users to report any accessibility concerns or discrepancies they encounter while using Zoho Forms. Your feedback is valuable in helping us maintain a high standard of accessibility for everyone.

Please don't hesitate to contact Zoho Forms support if you have any questions or require further assistance.

1. Best Practises for making your forms accessible
   
2. Using Accessibility Controls
   
3. Keyboard accessibility shortcuts for disabled people
   
4. Frequently asked questions about accessibility