Accessibility Asked and Answered: What is a Web Accessibility Audit?

By Hiram Kuykendall | March 28, 2023 | | 0

A web accessibility audit evaluates a digital asset for accessibility to people with disabilities. The audit may be for a website, web application, mobile app, desktop application, or any product that contains a user interface. The audit typically involves reviewing the digital assets’ content, design, and code to identify any barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from accessing or using the site. Audit Motivation There are many reasons why[…]

Why Every Product Needs a VPAT

By Sanjay Nasta | February 27, 2023 | | 1

In today’s purchasing market, accessibility is an increasingly important factor for companies looking to sell their products and services to government agencies, universities, and other organizations that care about accessibility. Many organizations now require a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) during the purchasing process to assess the accessibility of a product or service and determine if it meets their accessibility requirements. A VPAT is a document that provides detailed information on the accessibility of a product[…]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Third-Party Auditor for Your VPAT Engagement

By Hiram Kuykendall | March 20, 2023 | | 1

Potential customers frequently ask product developers to provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). It usually doesn’t take long for the developer to realize that the VPAT form is complex and contains language specific to the accessibility industry. This realization leads many developers to seek a third-party auditor’s assistance in auditing their product and creating an accessibility compliance report. This VPAT engagement checklist[…]

Find Your Perfect Match: Tips for Selecting the Right VPAT Vendor Partner

By Sanjay Nasta | February 16, 2023 | | 0

For companies that do not have the resources or expertise to conduct an accessibility assessment and create a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), working with an outside vendor partner can be a viable option. An outside vendor partner can provide expertise and resources to conduct an accessibility assessment and create a comprehensive and accurate VPAT. Choosing the right vendor partner to create your VPAT is critical to the success and[…]

A Credibility Checklist for the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®)

By Hiram Kuykendall | May 25, 2022 | | 0

I frequently receive questions asking how to review an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on one of the four Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT) versions. At Microassist, I teach both a four-hour and eight-hour course on purchasing, which includes interpreting an ACR. As anyone who has attempted to interpret one of these attestations will tell you, the task of interpretation will vary in complexity depending on the type of product,[…]

Accessibility Testing Tool Reality Check

By Hiram Kuykendall | June 21, 2022 | | 1

When talking with customers about accessibility, I frequently get asked: Why can’t automated accessibility testing tools find all errors? This question is understandable, given we have accessibility guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, technical standards such as HTML5 and WAI-ARIA, and a myriad of patterns and practices. First, let’s address the assumption that accessibility testing tools can only catch between 30% to 50% of errors. There is a[…]

Why Accessibility Matters When Buying Technology (and Other Most Asked Questions)

By Sanjay Nasta | September 6, 2022 | | 0

We surveyed our CTO Hiram Kuykendall and accessibility policy expert Kathy Keller on some of the often-asked questions we hear from both purchasers and public sector contractors faced with ensuring accessibility during the technology purchasing process. Why Accessibility Matters Josh and Lauren, who have been blind their entire lives, recount their experiences on how living with disabilities influences their everyday lives. They also discuss the significance of web and app[…]

Digital Accessibility Checklist for Section 503 Focused Reviews

By Dallas Richard | April 28, 2021 | | 15

Last year, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) began acting on Directive (DIR) 2018-04, placing an increased emphasis on disability inclusion in the workplace. In order to accomplish that goal, the agency said it will be conducting “focused reviews” of compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain individuals with disabilities. Focused reviews may[…]

U.S. Senators Introduce Groundbreaking Legislation to Enhance Accessibility and Inclusion in American Democracy for People with Disabilities

By Jack McElaney | February 9, 2024 | | 0

Accessibility in the News — 2/9/2024. U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a comprehensive legislative package aimed at dismantling barriers that impede the participation of individuals with disabilities in American democracy. The proposed measures include the Accessible Voting Act, which seeks to improve voter accessibility and expand ballot-casting options, the Removing Access Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act, which safeguards federal disability[…]

Department of Justice Settles Complaint With Medstar Health Ensuring Equal Access to Medical Care for People with Disabilities

By Jack McElaney | February 2, 2024 | | 0

Accessibility in the News — 2/2/2024. MedStar Health, a prominent healthcare provider in Maryland and Washington, D.C., has agreed to a $440,000 settlement and corrective actions to resolve allegations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Justice Department filed a complaint, asserting that MedStar Health excluded necessary support persons, thereby denying equal access to medical care for individuals with disabilities. The complaint highlights instances where the healthcare provider[…]