AccDC : Accelerated Dynamic Content

AccDC is a scalable, cross-browser and cross-platform compatible Dynamic Content Management System that automates the rendering of dynamic content to ensure accessibility for screen reader and keyboard only users.

AccDC is a free development resource for international businesses, organizations, and academic institutions wishing to incorporate Accessible Innovation within future web technologies.

"Accessible Innovation" refers to the creation of new technologies that include Accessibility as a core platform feature of development.

AccDC functions as a rendering engine, which acts as a conduit for the accessible processing of dynamic content.

Developers can now build fully functional, scalable, feature rich, accessible user interface components that are encapsulated as AccDC Objects, which can then be freely distributed to empower the creation of accessible controls, widgets, features, and applications within all future web technologies.

The AccDC Component Library is provided as a collection of customizable functionality templates that can be easily adapted to fit the design and implementation requirements of any application, and are accessible for screen reader and keyboard only users.

AccDC can be used within mobile browsers such as the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices for cross platform compatibility, and can also be used within the web browser components of desktop applications for enterprise distribution.

AccDC generates independent JavaScript objects, called AccDC Objects, that include customizable properties and methods which are used to control the functionality, content, and behavior of each AccDC Object at runtime.

This makes it possible to render any type of user interface component, including wizards, carousels, dialogs, toolbars, tooltips, popups, lightboxes, menus, banners, tab controls, drag and drop controls, toggles, sliders, calendar pickers, or any other type of fully functional accessible user interface component.

AccDC includes integrated ARIA support to enhance intuitive page structuring for screen reader users, as well as a recursive Announce method that can be used to send textual messages to be dynamically announced for screen reader users. Additional ARIA attributes may be dynamically added to enhance advanced controls using AccDC's in-built Flow Control methods.

AccDC renders HTML/XHTML valid markup, HTML5, DOM nodes, JavaScript output, XML node content, JSON object data, and content from remote API callbacks.

AccDC automates accessibility by managing the processes associated with dynamic content rendering, so that the majority of common accessibility issues are automatically addressed when DOM manipulation occurs.

Since AccDC Objects are code structures for encapsulated objects, they can be redistributed as fully functional components that include in-built accessibility for screen reader and keyboard only users, so that accessible user interface components can self-propagate across various web technologies.

When AccDC Objects are opened in the DOM, the specified content is surrounded by a framework of supporting Divs that convey important role and state information for screen reader users. Based on the customizations within the AccDC Object, the content is then inserted into the DOM in an accessible location, supporting accessibility markup is added, display styling is set, behavioral settings are applied, and Flow Control methods are executed.

Additionally, AccDC Objects can be interfaced with other AccDC Objects to perform complex tasks, or nested within one another to preserve parent/child relationships.

AccDC is a closed system, and functions as a standalone API, or may be used in conjunction with any library or framework without conflict.

Since the EPUB3 specification supports the use of JavaScript, AccDC may also be included within EPUB3 compliant eBook publications to automate accessible dynamic behaviors within browser based eBook readers.

View the Core API tab for Getting Started, or the Live Demo tab for interactive demos.

AccDC Bootstrap is an HTML parser that renders advanced, accessible interactive controls using semantic HTML markup.

Bootstrapping refers to the use of semantic HTML markup to configure advanced controls, which are then magically converted into dynamic interactive components when the content finishes loading.

This allows developers to include complex functionality that is fully configurable across thousands of web pages, without having to program individual components using JavaScript.

AccDC Bootstrap is designed to automatically enforce accessibility, while making it possible to populate individual components with any type of content, in any language, using any visual styling.

Curious? Try out AccDC Bootstrap!

AccDC is distributed under the terms of the Open Source Initiative OSI - MIT License.

The latest release of AccDC can be downloaded as a standalone API, or as a jQuery module from GitHub.
(Includes the AccDC API, all functionality templates, and all Core API reference materials.)

The AccDC Component Library is a collection of accessible control types that automate the structural and functional accessibility of each control according to relevant accessibility best practices. The controls can be populated with any type of content, and can be styled to fit any type of user interface layout, in any language, without negatively impacting accessibility. The controls tap into the accessibility features of the AccDC API to render content in an accessible manner, then apply supporting markup and scripting to automatically ensure accessibility for screen reader and keyboard only users. This makes it possible for developers to add fully customizable components, that look and feel exactly as they desire, while ensuring functional accessibility at the same time without the risk of coding misinterpretation by those who are unfamiliar with ATs.

• Accessible Modal, Banner, Tooltip, and Popup controls.
• ARIA Tabs and context sensitive dropdown Menu controls.
• ARIA Tree controls.
• Screen reader accessible Drag and Drop controls.
• Auto Suggestion Search Field controls.
• ARIA Listbox controls that support optional sortability, list item deletion, and dynamic addition of list items.
• ARIA Footnote controls.
• Accessible Live Chat controls.
• Horizontal and vertical ARIA Slider controls.
• ARIA Date Picker controls.
• ARIA Accordion controls.
• Accessible Carousel, Slideshow, and Wizard controls.
• Accessible Dynamic Help Tooltips and Form Field Validation.

Also included within the AccDC download, are the following modules:

• ARIA Radio Button controls.
• ARIA Toggle and Checkbox controls.
• Keyboard accessible Scrollable Div controls.
• Screen reader accessible Progress Bar controls.

1. The three fundamental principles of accessibility for web technologies, and why keyboard accessibility isn't the same thing as screen reader accessibility.
2. Why you should not use ARIA role=tab on header navigation tabs that look like tabs but aren't actually tabs.
3. How to make an ARIA radio button generator that automates accessibility for screen reader and keyboard only users.
4. How to make an ARIA Toggle Generator script that is screen reader and keyboard accessible.
5. The use of role=alert and role=presentation, and the not-so-well known details about them.
6. How to automate keyboard accessible scrollable Div generation.
7. How to make any Progress Bar accessible using AccDC in less than 1KB of code.
8. How to make any web chat application accessible using AccDC
9. How browsers interact with screen readers, and where ARIA fits in the mix.