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Re: Do Section 508 lays criterion for assistive technologies being used for accessibility testing

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Aug 12, 2016 12:29AM

Testing comes up at least once a month on this list.

One theory that many of us hold is that if we, the content creators, follow WCAG or PDF/UA correctly, there shouldn't be a need to test with any assistive technology. Reviewing the code, tag trees, reading orders, etc. should be sufficient to verify that the webpage or document file is compliant.

It's up to the assistive technology manufacturers to ensure that their particular software and hardware is doing their part of the job, which is to interpret the compliant code and render or present it to the user. (And that's what a lot of our postings focus on: JAWS did it this way, NVDA another, and Voice Over another way. Someday, I hope they all do it the same way, or at least present a similar experience to the users.)

And the user is responsible for learning how to use their technology, and we have a hard time anticipating how they will navigate and interpret the content we create. Every human tester with disabilities we've hired has come up with a different twist on the same material.

That being said, it is wise for content creators to run our work through various assistive technologies. That's where we find places where we can improve the experience for everyone and go beyond just compliance.

One more item: In the US, it would be against federal regulations for a federal government agency, such as the US Access Board, to recommend one vendor's product over another, or make one mandatory over another by writing it into the regulations. I consul agencies regarding their contracting language for outsourcing services. This issue just came up at one agency that wanted to require a specific software program. To avoid lawsuits from vendors and manufacturers, they instead are listing at least 2 choices of software that can be used and are detailing the QA items that will determine whether the deliverable is acceptable.

If the Access Board goes and mandates JAWS versus NVDA, for example, I bet there will be a lawsuit quick as a bunny can hop.

--Bevi Chagnon

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Bevi Chagnon | www.PubCom.com
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