What is Web Accessibility Accreditation?
Shaw Trust Website Accessibility Accreditation Service offers a fully comprehensive web accessibility audit. Designed to be the most comprehensive service available and endorsed by GAWDS (The Guild of Accessible Web Designers), it combines a full technical audit with rigorous disability user testing. Every member of our testing team is an experienced assistive technology user and understands the frustrations of not being able to access websites that don't consider the needs of disabled users.
People with certain disabilities can find it difficult or even impossible to access, navigate, or read the content of a web page if the information isn't presented correctly. For instance,blind or visually impaired computer users often use screen-reader software which can speak the contents of a page with an electronic voice. An inaccessible web page may mean that the user will be unable to hear the contents and so would not be able to make their way around the website, or it may be difficult for them to do so.
Why is it important?
First and foremost because it is a legal requirement for your organisation's website and intranet to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). But perhaps more importantly, it makes good business sense to ensure all your customers can access your goods and services. It is estimated that 10 million adults in the UK have a disability and the combined spending power of disabled adults is £80 billion annually.
What you can do
Have your site tested by the Shaw Trust Web Accreditation team, and you will be left in no doubt about its standard of accessibility, or whether it complies with the law.
As well as using software to test every page of the site, our team will manually check the site using a full range of different adaptive technologies to get an accurate understanding of the site's current level of accessibility.
Automated & Technical Auditing
The first test is an automated process using 'Infocus' by SSB Technologies. This automated software is considered to be one of the most accurate on the market today.
The second process to be performed is a manual check of the above automated test. It is widely known that automation alone will not pick up on many accessibility non-compliances and our Technical Accessibility Specialist - Grant Broome of CDSM Interactive Solutions, manually checks every one of the possible trouble areas. Both of the above tests are then documented by CDSM Interactive Solutions and the audit is ready for the next stage.
User Testing
The combination of automated and manual accessibility testing is advocated by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) as providing the highest level of assurance that a Web site is accessible to all end users regardless of ability. Manual accessibility checking is conducted using a range of adaptive technology (hardware and software designed to facilitate the use of computers by people with disabilities), this includes:
JAWS: http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp a screen reader used by blind people to access Web pages;
ZoomText: www.aisquared.com a screen reader and magnification application used by those with partial sight;
Dragon Naturally Speaking: http://www.scansoft.com/naturallyspeaking/ voice activated software used by those that do not use a conventional input device such as a keyboard or mouse;
Switch access: http://www.keytools.com used by those with severe mobility impairments to input commands to a computer;
Keyboard only: some users with mobility impairments have difficulty making precise movements required by pointing devices such as a mouse; therefore a keyboard is used as the exclusive input device.
Accessibility checks are also made with a number of popular Web browsers and at varying screen size settings. Manual checks are made to assess the suitability of a Web page for those with colour blindness and dyslexia. http://www.texthelp.com
Each site will be tested by experienced users of adaptive technology for access by people who have:
- No vision
- Low vision
- Colour blindness
- Dyslexic
- Deaf
- Mobility impaired
- Learning difficulties
Our team of web consultants will then look at the results and make recommendations for future improvement in order to award the Shaw Trust Web Accreditation "Accessible", or "Accessible +" logo.
Benefits include:
- A complete and detailed understanding of the website's current level of accessibility
- A report detailing how the site can be repaired or improved
- A prestigious award for websites that reach Shaw Trust Web Accreditation standards
Demonstrate your organisation's commitment to equality and accessibility by displaying the Shaw Trust Web Accreditation symbol.
Associated services
User Testing
For those companies who are already confident with their technical compliance, we offer a full user testing programme by disabled users. We are happy for you to visit our User Testing team during testing of your website – this has proven very popular with our clients as they can see at first hand, adaptive technologies and how disability can impair a non-accessible website or application.
Applications Testing
Involves User testing of any internal application in order to ensure that all your staff can access them. Our team of testers use a range of assistive technology including Voice Activated, Magnification, Screen Readers, Switch Access and keyboard only. We have worked alongside bespoke applications' developers to ensure that their software is accessible.
Meet the Team
Whilst your site is being tested by our User Testing Team, we would like to invite you to our Web Lab in Neath, South Wales where you can watch your site undergoing testing. During your visit you will be able to gain first hand experience of the barriers that disabled people may face whilst navigating your site. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like.
If you would like to talk to someone about Shaw Trust Web Accreditation, contact:
Cam Nicholl Tel:01554 834257 / 07973 234489
Email: cam.nicholl@shaw-trust.org.uk
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