Food for thought

USD 8 trillion disposable income in the hands of disabled people and their families, but can they really shop on your online store? Research has demonstrated that none of the world’s top 50 websites meet the digital accessibility guidelines with more than one billion people, or 15% of the global population, reporting a disability affecting their ability to navigate websites.

BarrierBreak provides comprehensive retail accessibility testing solution that evaluates your business needs. Ensure your e-commerce websites & mobile applications conform to WCAG 2.0 & WCAG 2.1, and are Section 508 and ADA compliant. We also help you to create VPAT for your products and services to make it more attractive to government buyers and win more RFPs.

Retail trivia

Online shopping, also known as e-commerce, allows customers to buy goods and services directly from sellers on the website. It allows you to shop from the comfort of your home, at any time of day and any day of the year. On the other hand, sellers sell their products, regardless of whether the product is luxurious or meets the needs of the customer, on such portals. It can be difficult for people with disabilities to know what the product contains.

In 2018, consumers around the world spent a total of $2.8 trillion on online retail sales, a figure that could rise to $4.8 trillion in 2021. If you don’t consider the impact of online retail accessibility or web accessibility on your e-commerce revenue margins, you’re giving away a slice of the pie to retailers who make online retail accessibility their priority.

Let’s dive deeper

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift towards online shopping especially for people with disabilities which requires the focus to shift towards digital accessibility.

Customers with a disability encounter many barriers when navigating retail websites. Despite the need to access digital content, most retailers do not see where their access problems lie.

Many of these obstacles are minor inconveniences, but others make navigating the site difficult or impossible without help. While online shopping has its own advantages, accessibility barriers on many e-commerce websites, makes it difficult for people with disabilities enjoy the same experience as everyone else.

The Compound Effect

Companies that prioritize e-commerce accessibility during the pandemic are more likely to see their websites prioritized by Google than by their competitors.

• E-commerce accessibility leads to the removal of barriers to online shopping for people with disabilities and enhances overall user-experience. Customers make their purchases in the traditional way by viewing what the product looks like and reading the description, and when the e-commerce website is accessible, everyone has access to similar information regardless of their disability but can also make their purchase with confidence.
• The accessibility of your online retail shop will bring you more customers than any other sector of the economy, which is reason enough for you to take an action now! Improving the accessibility of websites is a tangible improvement that thousands, even millions, of people will notice. Improving websites that facilitate access to essential goods for people with disabilities during quarantine can have an immediate positive impact on businesses.  
• Another reason to ensure an accessible e-commerce website is legal requirement. From 2017 to 2018, web accessibility lawsuits and litigations rose by 181 percent. If there are any inaccessible sections on your website, it can be deemed discriminatory against persons with disabilities, which violates the accessibility standards and guidelines such as Section 508, WCAG and ADA.

As online retailers are a for-profit business and disabled and elderly people are targeted markets, it is vital that they work hard to make their websites accessible to this demographic.

Why Online Retail or E-commerce accessibility is important?

Here’s what G3ICT has to say, “Committing to inclusive design not only makes a retailer’s website accessible to customers with disabilities, but also creates a shopping environment that is easier for all customers to use. Streamlined designs load quicker.”

Our team of highly experienced accessibility testing team at BarrierBreak which include testers with disabilities, ensures accessible e-commerce website. We ensure that your retail website is in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG ). Write to sales@barrierbreak.com to help us support you.

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Section 508 standard of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 requires all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government to be accessible to people with disabilities. The Section 508 accessibility standard applies to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government. 

Section 508 compliance does not apply to federal agencies alone but also private companies, financial industries, healthcare, legal, or any other organization that does business with a federal agency. 

Ensure Government opportunities by creating accurate VPAT for your digital products. VPAT indicates a product’s compliance with Section 508 standards. Check out this blog on What is a VPAT? Should I create a VPAT for my product?

BarrierBreak’s Section 508 testing team assists your organization to ensure that your digital solutions adhere to Section 508 accessibility standards. 

The Scope 

Section 508, drafted in 1986 as an amendment to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, was intended to address the needs of disabled workers in the field of electronic information technology at work. It replaced the federal Electronic Information Technology Accessibility and Compliance Act in 1998, which required that all electronic IT products and services provided by Federal agencies be accessible to people with disabilities.

An update of the law which took effect in 2018 aims to align American standards with international accessibility efforts such as the WCAG (Web Content Access Guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium). The original scope of Section 508 was to make federal information available and accessible to users with disabilities.  

Section 508 Refresh 

On January 9, 2017, the Access Board issued a definitive rule updating the accessibility requirements under Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act known as “Section 508 Refresh”. The Section 508 refresh was to ensure that the information and communication technologies (ICTs) covered by the Act are accessible to people with disabilities.

The Social Security Administration has undertaken to make all its electronic information technologies accessible to disabled people by meeting or exceeding requirements of Section 508. The agency is committed to the comprehensive approach to compliance with 508 to ensure that people with disabilities have access comparable to those without disabilities, and its commitment to accessibility includes the content and online services offered on this website. 

If someone with a disability is unable to access a federal agency website, including federal employees with disabilities, Section 508 requires the federal government to provide a means of access. If your website does not comply with the requirements set out in Section 504, you may be subject to legal action or a fine.  

BarrierBreak is aware that compliance with Section 508 and related refurbishment of Section 504 is based on testing standards, not a specific set of accessibility tests. The team has worked closely with customers across the globe to implement evaluation procedures that take into account 508 standards, the W3C Digital Accessibility Guidelines and other applicable, policies, and independent development platforms and testing tools. 

Section 508 Compliance Testing Checklist 

There are some attributes and functions one should check when testing a website for Section 508 compliance. They are as follows: 

• Using Alt-Text for every photo, video, logo and non-text element. These are critical because people with visual impairments or low vision can understand and know what’s contained in them. They may be using Assistive Technology like Jaws Screen Reader to read the text on the website. 
• There should be sufficient contrast between the background color and information on the webpage. This helps people with low vision read the information on the page. 
• Filling out forms shouldn’t be restricted to only mouse. People with disabilities, especially those with motor disabilities should be able to fill such forms using Assistive technology or their keyboards. 
• People using Assistive Technology should be able to skip the long list of navigation and sitelinks and jump straight to the content or page they want to read. 

Our highly experienced team of accessibility testers not only assist in making your website and other ICT solutions accessible and easily navigable but also makes sure it is ADA and Section 508 compliant. 

Write to sales@barrierbreak.com and reach out for further assistance. 

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The Covid-19 Twist

A total of 1.725 billion students globally had been affected by the closure of schools and higher education institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the UNESCO Monitoring Report, 192 countries had implemented nationwide closures, affecting about 99% of the world’s student population.

Due to Covid-19, there was a significant shift to remote learning which led to an increased number of roadblocks for students with disabilities. There were unexpected hurdles that seem to come up each day. A year and a half later, the higher education institutes are still struggling to achieve inclusive design and to make online learning accessible for all.

For this very same reason, our highly experienced team of accessibility testers at BarrierBreak provides EdTech accessibility solutions by ensuring that your digital EdTech assets are inclusive and accessible for all.

The emergence for the need of Accessibility

Title II and Title III of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act oblige educational institutions to make their digital content available to students with disabilities. EdTech Accessibility is an essential prerequisite for people with disabilities and the provision of accessible content benefits all learners. In this way, the curriculum can serve students with different disabilities and students with different socio-economic backgrounds.

With 1.7 billion students in 190 countries and widespread pandemics, digital accessibility for distance learning is non-negotiable. Organizations should not discriminate against learners or deny them the right to a digital learning experience.

K-12 schools and higher education institutions must adapt to this new normal in order for students with disabilities to succeed. Given the increasing use of digital technologies, it is essential that trainers, administrators and product providers ensure that their systems, content and tools are designed and deployed in an accessible manner.

The combination of supportive technology for teachers and students using adequate accessibility can improve access to a variety of students with learning difficulties, including those with cognitive, visual, auditory, neurological and physical disabilities.

Challenges that lie ahead

Socio-economic barriers

Being from a low-income family can have a number of effects on a student’s ability to engage and understand digital materials such as online homework and digital tutorials. Students who do not have Internet access at home or who have limited devices to access the Internet are at a significant disadvantage compared to their peers. Socio-economic barriers are not only taken into account by the type of disability, but also influence students’ access to websites.

Access to digital tools

However, a fair learning environment does not mean that all students are equal with digital tools. When accessibility features are not incorporated into digital materials, it can be difficult or impossible for students to use them due to a range of physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities. Technology and educational technology can create a level playing field and bridge the gap between the environment, pupil demographics, learning styles and access to resources, but not widen it.

Access to learning materials

Reducing the number of hoops students have to jump through to gain access to learning materials can also be an advantage. Students who travel long distances to school, for example, can benefit from audio recordings of texts. Students with limited resources can avoid buying expensive textbooks if they can access content in cheaper or free alternative formats.

Designing online lessons for students with special needs takes no longer than transferring them to an online environment and using them face-to-face. The use of simple, low-cost tools such as voice-over-text capabilities and screen reader programs found on many devices can help personalize education for students with sensory or cognitive problems. The use of accessible technologies with embedded support, such as closed text, word-to-word prediction and adjustable reading levels, can also help teachers differentiate instruction and personalize it to fit the needs of each individual learner.

What’s next?

Implementing the right functions in digital learning tools and learning management systems represents a unique opportunity to create a level playing field. Many EdTech tools on the market lack advanced accessibility features to support disabled students. When translated into a digital learning tool, well-intentioned educators can disadvantage thousands of students with hearing, visual, physical and mental disabilities.

Digital learning technologies with advanced accessibility features can make it easier for disabled students to learn in more traditional classrooms at the same level as their peers. Digital learning enables leadership teams, other leaders, teachers, districts, and schools to educate, respond, and sustain education in a digital environment.

How can we support?

With more than 15 years in accessibility, BarrierBreak is the leader in offshore Digital Accessibility Testing and Consulting. Our highly experienced team of 250+ mainly comprises of disabled accessibility testers. Not only do we make sure your website is accessible, but we also ensure it is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG ). Write to sales@barrierbreak.com to help us with Edtech Accessibility.

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I firmly believe that the developer and the tester need to be independent. It just is pure conflict of interest!

Accessibility testing is an Audit conducted of your website or mobile app. Which audit would you trust more:

1. One where the developer has audited their own work
2. Where an independent auditor checked the deliverable

Personally, I will trust the independent audit and I’m sure that’s due to you too.

So, if you have specified in your Statement of Work or RFP that the website or mobile app has to be accessible and meet Web Content Accessibility Guideline 2.1 Level AA, then I am sure you want to ensure it meets the standards.

Some of the benefits of performing a third party accessibility audit are:

• Accountability – ensuring that the website or mobile app is delivered as per the accessibility guidelines and hold the vendor accountable to the SOW or RFP
• Validation – the audit will help you test that the accessibility requirements are met as per WCAG.
• Managing Risk – ensuring that your website and mobile app is inclusive and accessible. This will also ensure you comply with the relevant laws such as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Above all be a company that is inclusive. Ensure your products and solutions are accessible to people with disabilities.  There are more than a billion people with disabilities in the world and have a disposable income of USD 3 trillion.

So choose right! Evaluate your options of vendors and don’t be limited by your “preferred vendor” list. Find the vendor partner that helps you to meet your accessibility needs.

Be Inclusive and Accessible!

Write to us at sales@barrierbreak.com to know more on how we can support you to be an inclusive organization.

The post Should your Development Vendor be your Accessibility Testing Vendor? appeared first on Leader in Offshore Accessibility Testing | Section 508 Compliance | WCAG Conformance | BarrierBreak.