Create and conduct barrier-free online surveys with the QuestionPro survey software

What does accessibility mean?

The term accessibility generally means the design of both the (built) environment and information offerings on the Internet to the extent that they can also be used by people with physical disabilities. The latter also refers to barrier-free Internet, i.e. web offerings that are accessible to all people regardless of their personal limitations.

Create and conduct barrier-free surveys with QuestionPro

With the survey software QuestionPro you can create and conduct barrier-free online surveys. Online surveys created with QuestionPro comply with the accessibility requirements of Section 508 (Section 508) and WCAG2. Section 508 is a United States federal law that requires all electronics and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government to be accessible to persons with disabilities.

And it's that easy to set up 508 compliance to conduct an accessible survey

Navigate to user management, click on “COMPLIANCE”, then on “ACCESSEBILITY”. Enable “SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE”

The questionnaires used for online surveys should be able to be completed by all people with limitations in their natural perception and expression. The QuestionPro survey and analysis system offers numerous features and functions for this purpose. Here we will show you some of them that you are welcome to try out at your leisure as part of a free test.

Features and functions as well as other tips for creating and conducting barrier-free online surveys

✅ Pause and cache survey

You can use QuestionPro to create online surveys that users can temporarily save and access again at a later time. You can find instructions for this in our help database:
→ Cache survey

✅ Text alternative to graphic information

Assign so-called alt texts for images and logos that you embed in your online questionnaire. These alternative texts are important for people with visual impairments, as a screen reader reads them out and thus makes image content accessible. Accessible surveys and questionnaires should be readable.

✅ High contrast survey designs

High-contrast survey designs are particularly important for people with achromatopsia, a color vision disorder in which only contrast can be perceived, but not colors. You can simply choose your design from our numerous standardized survey layouts and you are on the safe side when it comes to barrier-free questionnaires.

✅ Make mandatory fields clear

Use QuestionPro to make mandatory fields, i.e. input fields that must be filled out, clear. This function is preset by QuestionPro. Mandatory fields are marked with a red asterisk; the size of these asterisks can be adjusted using CSS so that they can be seen even more clearly in the barrier-free questionnaire of your survey.

✅ An accessible survey also needs clear navigation through the questionnaire

Title navigation buttons simply and clearly so that a screen reader, if used, can also interpret them. Buttons and font as well as font size can also be individually customized with QuestionPro using CSS and can also be read out.

✅ Insert videos and audio files

For example, you can reach people with reading difficulties by integrating videos or audio files into the online questionnaire in which the questions are read out and the answer options and the answering procedure are explained. This can be done quickly and easily if you want to create your online survey barrier-free with QuestionPro.

✅ Avoid complex matrix questions

Matrix questions arranged in tabular form have the advantage that they can easily represent a complex battery of questions. However, tests have shown that this question type is hardly suitable for screen readers and is therefore out of the question for a barrier-free survey. So offer an alternative question representation using branching, in which matrix questions are broken down into different individual questions. This can be done by asking at the beginning of the questionnaire whether a screen reader is being used to fill out the online questionnaire.

✅ Separate surveys for visually impaired & deaf people…

... as well as for people with reading difficulties. With QuestionPro you can design a barrier-free survey in several variants at the same time. At the beginning of the online survey, offer your survey participants the opportunity to choose whether they would like to fill out a questionnaire that is optimized and accessible for them.

✅ Avoid using images for questionnaire design purposes

You should completely avoid images or graphics that have nothing to do with the actual survey and only serve the layout of the questionnaire, for example as placeholders or spacers. It is better to use the option of adjusting the layout of your barrier-free online questionnaire via CSS.

✅ Section 508 Compliance

Surveys you create using QuestionPro's standard layout presets are Section 508 compliant, considered a standard 508 compliant design,

✅ Avoid animations

You should avoid animations such as flashing or color-changing graphics, flowing text or floating text elements. Such elements have no place in an accessible survey!

Are you missing some functions for creating barrier-free online surveys?

Contact us! Here we have only presented you with a selection of options for creating and conducting barrier-free online surveys that you can implement with QuestionPro.

1:1 live online demo:
Create barrier-free surveys with the web-based survey software QuestionPro

Would you like to find out more about QuestionPro and how you can create accessible online surveys with the popular survey software? We would be happy to show you the features and question types of the QuestionPro survey software in a personal 1:1 live online demo. Arrange an individual appointment now.

Try it for free: Create barrier-free surveys with the professional and web-based survey software QuestionPro

You have any questions or suggestions? We look forward to your inquiry! Simply use the contact formto get in touch. Register now for free and create your first online survey with QuestionPro.

Keywords of this blog post

Accessible surveys | 508 Compliance | visual impairment | Hearing impairment | Survey