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Re: Testing for accessibility compliance

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From: Shawn Henry
Date: Apr 27, 2010 3:57PM

Mark Guisinger wrote:
> I'm working for a large company that is beginning to go down the road to making there website accessible. I'm starting to wonder about testing, as I'm not a tester. Do larger companies testing their websites for accessibility have a group of testers reviewing their pages with screen readers (one or more)? Or do they just validate that the code created is to spec? What tools are other companies using to test their websites for accessibility? Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Mark,

Quick answer: Yes. Good accessibility testing includes evaluation with users with disabilities, accessibility testing tools that help evaluate how the website meets WCAG, and accessibility expert review.

Some resources to learn more:

* WCAG Overview http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag
* Database of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools: http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tools/Overview.html
* guidance on Selecting Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/selectingtools.html
* Involving Users in Evaluating Web Accessibility http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/users.html

* Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools Need People http://www.uiaccess.com/evaltools.html
* Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout Design http://www.uiAccess.com/JustAsk
The evaluation chapters start at http://www.uiaccess.com/accessucd/evaluate.html

Hope this helps!

(Note that ideally the goal is that your website is accessible to all, including people with disabilities. I think of "accessibility compliance", or meeting good accessibility standards, as one way to help achieve that, as opposed to compliance in and of itself being the end goal. :)

~Shawn


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Shawn Henry
+1-617-395-7664
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www.uiAccess.com/profile.html
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