Accessibility – Help Page
This page describes accessibility features in SPARKS (Vista Teams) and points to settings, meetings, and feedback.
Navigation: Settings → Accessibility · public statement: route /accessibility in the app
Language / Sprache: Deutsch
Overview
SPARKS targets WCAG 2.1 Level AA, EN 301 549, and European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements. What you experience depends on browser, operating system, plan, and organization policies.
| Topic | Where in SPARKS |
|---|---|
| Readability & contrast | Settings → Appearance (font size, density, light/dark/system) |
| Keyboard & shortcuts | Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts; global search Ctrl+K / Cmd+K |
| Orientation in the app | Skip link “Skip to main content” (visible on keyboard focus); landmarks for navigation and main content |
| UI language | Settings → General → language; <html lang> updates on change (screen readers) |
| Focus & interruptions | Settings → Notifications and Privacy (Do Not Disturb); meetings: push-to-talk / unmute shortcut |
| Live captions in meetings | Settings → Accessibility; start transcription in the meeting (moderator) — see below |
| Chat voice messages | Matrix chat: record voice messages, optional send with transcript; Transcribe received audio — see Chat – Voice messages |
| Statement & feedback | Route /accessibility or link from the Accessibility settings tab |
Limits: In embedded tabs, custom tabs, and Microsoft Teams apps (iframe), accessibility is governed by the third-party site. Immersive View (Together Mode) remains visual (shared canvas); screen readers get a participant list next to the canvas. The admin UI and Outlook add-in are not in the same automated test suite as the main app.
Settings → Accessibility
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Identify me in live captions | When off: your caption lines show a neutral speaker label (“Speaker”), not your name — in the live overlay and transcript. |
| Always show subtitles | When on: live captions are visible when the meeting starts (when captions are available), instead of hidden by default. |
Both settings are stored locally in the browser and apply to meetings on this device.
Plan: Starter / Free vs. paid
| Starter / Free | Paid plans | |
|---|---|---|
| Start live transcription | Only in a demo window (typically the first 10 minutes after connecting to the meeting) | Anytime in the meeting (moderator), if allowed by the server |
| Settings (identify / always show) | Apply only while live captions are actually running | Whenever captions are available |
| After demo ends | Transcription stops; UI notice; settings have no effect without active captions | — |
Organizers can also set event meeting options (allow captions/transcript) — see Event meeting options and Meeting roles.
Meetings
- Toolbar: Keyboard operable; buttons expose screen reader labels.
- Status: Important states (e.g. screen sharing) are announced via a live region.
- Dialogs (participants, whiteboard, waiting room): marked as modal; in the waiting room, keyboard focus stays in the dialog (focus trap) and Leave is available immediately; Escape closes flyouts and restores focus.
- Immersive View: The canvas image is decorative; screen readers hear participant names (you are announced as “You”).
- Video tiles: Labels and loading text in English/German;
<video>with descriptivearia-label. - Live captions: Moderators start/stop transcription. The current line may still change while someone is speaking and then lock in. The Transcript side panel shows finalized lines; only those are stored in call history. Short dropouts often recover on their own — details: Meeting roles, Call log.
Chat (voice messages)
- Record via microphone in the message input; optional Send with transcript (text + audio).
- Received messages: Transcribe under the audio player — helps with hearing impairment or noisy environments.
- Cloud transcription may be restricted by your organization; notices appear in the app for E2EE rooms.
Keyboard in the app shell
- Skip link “Skip to main content” (appears on keyboard focus).
- Sidebar order: Focus an app icon, hold Alt and press Arrow Up/Down.
- Mobile bar: Alt and Arrow Left/Right.
- Planner board: Focus a task (Tab), then Alt and Arrow Left/Right to move it to the neighboring column. Pointer drag-and-drop still works.
Account app (web)
The separate Account UI (sign-up, profile, webinars) includes a skip link, semantic headings, and ≥ 44 px touch targets on mobile.
Operating system & browser
- OS magnifier, high contrast, and filters apply to the whole app.
- Screen readers: Windows Narrator, macOS VoiceOver, Android TalkBack — use a current browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
- Reduced motion: When the OS requests reduced motion, SPARKS reduces its own animations accordingly.
Accessibility statement & feedback
At /accessibility (also linked from Settings):
- Statement on standards (WCAG, EN 301 549, EAA)
- Overview of intended access features
- Feedback form (email to
accessibility@vistameet.eu)
Concrete barrier reports help prioritization — please include browser, OS, and steps to reproduce.
Related pages
- User Manual – Accessibility
- Settings – Accessibility
- Meeting roles (live captions / transcript)
- Event meeting options
- Privacy
Last updated: August 2026. Product behavior may change with updates.