WSSAT User Guide

The following topics explain different aspects of the Web Standards Self-Assessment Tool (WSSAT) functionality.

Types of WSSAT Users

Assessors

  • prime responsibility: perform assessments of websites against the web standards
  • a website assessment must be established by an Agency Administrator (AA) before an Assessor can be created
  • Assessors can save website assessments but cannot submit them on behalf of their agency - this is done by AAs

Agency Admininstrator (AA)

  • responsible for their agency assessments
  • create and manage their Assessor accounts
  • point of contact and support for Assessors
  • can perform assessments of websites against the web standards
  • can save website assessments and submit them on behalf of their agency 

DIA Administrator

  • creates and manages AA accounts
  • point of contact and support for AAs

Register Agency Administrators (AA) with WSSAT

  1. DIA Administrator emails AA
  2. The Email contains:
    • hyperlink to WSSAT
    • Activation code to access WSSAT
  3. AA selects igovt log on hyperlink to access WSSAT Screenshot of initial WSSAT web page showing igovt logon button.
  4. AA uses an existing igovt log on or creates a new log on to access WSSAT Screenshot of igovt logon page.
  5. After successful igovt log on, AA is directed to WSSAT account activation page. AA enters their:
    • email address
    • activation code (received in email) 
    Screenshot of WSSAT Account Activation page.
  6. AA selects "Continue to the Web Standards Self-Assessment Tool" to activate their account Screenshot of WSSAT Account Activation confimation page.
  7. WSSAT directs AA to create a new User Profile Screenshot of WSSAT Update User Profile page.

Establish a Website Assessment (AAs only)

  1. Under the "Assessments" tab, select "Add a website"Screenshot showing the "Add a website" button under the "Assessments" tab.
  2. Enter details to create a new website profile. Note:
    • URL field requires "http://www.mysite.govt.nz" format
    • "Active" - select "yes" as all assessments are for active websites
    • "Type" - select "Main" if the website is the agencies main website and select "Subsidiary" if the website is another website managed by the agency
    Screenshot of the "New Website Profile" form page.
  3. Save the new website profile

Create Assessors (AAs only)

AAs can only create Assessors after a website assessment has first been established - the Assessor can then be assigned to a website

  1. Select "Website Profile" Screenshot of the main WSSAT interface indicating the "Website Profile" tab.
  2. Select "Invite user" Screenshot of the "Website Profile" tab panel indicating the "Invite user" button.
  3. Enter Assessors' email address and select "Invite" Screenshot of the "Invite User" form.
  4. The new Assessor is then added to the website profile
  5. The new Assessor receives an email with:
    • hyperlink to WSSAT
    • activation code
  6. The new Assessor logs on using igovt authentication
  7. The new Assessor can begin the assessment of the website designated to them by their AA

Start a Website Assessment (AAs and Assessors)

  • Select the "Assessments" tab, then "start" Screenshot of the "Assessments" tab panel for example site "Dog Control" indicating the "Start" button for beginning the assessment.
  • The WSSAT assessment consists of 8 sections:
    • Strategy and Operations
    • Content and Design
    • Legal and Policy
    • Technical
    • WCAG 2.0 Principle 1: Perceivable
    • WCAG 2.0 Principle 2: Operable
    • WCAG 2.0 Principle 3: Understandable
    • WCAG 2.0 Principle 4: Robust
    Screenshot of the first page of assessment questions.
  • Each "No" answer requires a mandatory "Reason Why Not". Provide enough detail in the field so that other Assessors in subsequent years will understand the reasoning Screenshot showing required "Reason Why Not" field when "No" is checked under the "Standard Met?" question.
  • Each standard is provided with a hyperlink that sends the user to more detailed information about how to interpret the standard
    • Use the "back" button in the browser to return to WSSAT - all self-assessment work will be automatically saved
    Example showing link to "Understanding WCAG 2.1.1" for extra guidance.
  • The assessment will be automatically saved when all questions have been completed and explanations have been provided for all non-compliant ("no") answers Screenshot showing "Congratulations" message once the assessment is completed.

Note: Assessors are able to save their assessments BUT only AAs can submit assessments.The onus in on Assessors and AAs to communicate with each other independently of WSSAT to advise on the status of their assessments

Copy a Completed Assessment into a New Assessment (AA only)

An AA can copy the results of a completed assessment into a newly created assessment

  1. Create a new website assessment - this will have a completed website assessment copied into it (refer to "How to Establish a Website Assessment")
  2. Using the "Assessments" tab, select the completed website assessment that is to be copied into the new website assessment
  3. Select the "Copy" button Screenshot showing the "Copy" button in the "Assessments" tab panel for cloning a completed assessment.
  4. Select the website that you wish to copy the assessment results into, then confirm that you want to copy the assessmentScreenshot showing confirmation dialog for copying and applying an assessment to another website.
  5. The new assessment will open with all the answers from the original populated in the assessment - this includes all comments associated with "no" answersScreenshot showing cloned assessment and all answers copied to new website.
  6. The Assessor or AA can then modify the results to reflect the assessment of the new website

Export an Assessment

  1. Using the "Assessments" tab, select the website to which you want to export the assessment data from
  2. Select the "Export" button Screenshot showing the "Export" button in the "Assessments" tab panel for saving a CSV of the assessment questionnaire.
  3. The data will then automatically download to your computer as a CSV file Screenshot from Windows XP showing name of CSV file to be downloaded.
  4. This file can then be opened using MS Excel  Screenshot of CSV file loaded as a spreadsheet in Excel.

Submit an Assessment (AA only)

  1. Using the "Assessments" tab, select the website assessment to be submitted. Note: this is only possible for assessments that are 100% complete
  2. Select the "Submit" button Screenshot of "SUBMIT" button in the "Assessments" tab panel for submitting a completed assessment.
  3. Then "Confirm" the submission. Note: further changes to the assessment will not be able to be made Screenshot showing confirmation dialog for submitting a completed assessment.
  4. WSSAT will generate a new version of the assessment for the next reporting period - this version is editable but may only be submitted once the reporting period is active Screenshot of the "Assessments" tab panel showing new assessment for the next reporting period automatically created after submission.
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