However, AI captioning has important limitations, and if your organization is trying to comply with accessibility laws, this approach may not be sufficient. Read more to learn about the different types of captioning and the legal requirements for captions. You’ll also find a quick checklist for captioning best practices.

What are the different types of video captions?

While you may be familiar with subtitles or closed captions, there are actually several different types of captioning, and each has its own benefits:

• AI captions: AI captions are computer-generated, or automated, captions that capture the dialogue in multimedia content. AI captioning tools make adding captions to videos easier for those publishing content, but without human supervision, they are often inaccurate and incomplete.

• Closed captions: This type of captioning is often started with software but requires human oversight to complete. Closed captions capture dialogue as well as important sounds, sound effects, or music within media, all of which have to be added by human captioners. These captions are both more accurate and more complete than AI captions, and because they require human modification, they are the only type of automated captions that meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.

It’s worth noting that, in some countries outside of the U.S., the term “closed captions” is not used. For example, in the U.K., the term “subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (SDH)” is used instead.

• Real-time captions: Another term for Computer Assisted Real-time Translation (CART), real-time captions are human-generated captions produced at the same time audio is accessed. These are most commonly provided during live speech as opposed to within media recordings.

How can I tell the difference between types of captions?

Captions can follow a variety of visual formats, but they’re most frequently rendered in white or yellow text on a black background. Though captions sometimes appear without a background, it’s important to ensure that there’s sufficient color contrast between caption text and the content behind it for accessibility.

To tell the difference between types of captions, review the captions to understand if they include descriptions of surrounding audio. This information is typically provided in brackets: for example, [applause], [laughter], or [music plays] (music can also be shown by a music note symbol or italics). If these descriptions are present, you may be accessing closed captions.

You can also review the captions for accuracy: a regular pattern of errors or incomplete speech generally indicates the captions are generated by AI. Real-time captioning, in contrast, is usually displayed in a private transcript for a specific user. If it is displayed with a video, it will most often appear in all capital letters, which helps the captioners output captions at the speed of speech.

When are captions required?

As an accessibility best practice, all video or audio recordings should include closed captions. In fact, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required that broadcasting companies, cable companies, and satellite services provide closed captioning for all new, non-exempt English language programming since 2006, and for all online videos since 2012.

Additionally, many U.S. and international laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandate the use of closed captioning in publicly available audiovisual content.

To comply with these laws, organizations must satisfy the criteria for captioning outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Recently, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was updated to include WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard for digital accessibility. Section 508 cites WCAG 2.0 AA as the compliance standard. And the presumptive EAA compliance standard, EN 301 549, incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.

These laws impact a wide range of organizations across the public and private sectors. While Title II of the ADA applies to state and local governments and affects their vendors, Section 508 applies to federal government agencies, organizations that receive federal funding, and vendors who do business with these organizations. The EAA covers a wide range of products and services circulating in the European Union (EU) and applies to most companies with EU-based customers.

What are best practices for captioning?

WCAG 2.1 A (and WCAG 2.0 A as the preceding standard) requires that captions be provided for all pre-recorded audio content, with captioning defined as visual and / or text alternatives for both speech and non-speech audio information. Including auditory information outside of speech is critical for making closed captioning conformant with WCAG. Because AI captioning only captures dialogue, it does not meet WCAG criteria without human intervention.

Checking the following four items will help you confirm that your captioning conforms with WCAG and complies with regulations—regardless of the method you use to generate those captions:

• Accurate: Spoken words and non-speech sounds should match and should be captioned accurately.

• Synchronous: Captions must be in sync with the audio of the program. Text should coincide with corresponding spoken words and sounds and be displayed on screen at a speed that users can read.

• Complete: Captions must be present throughout the entirety of a program.

• Properly placed: Closed captions should not block any important on-screen visuals, overlap with one another, or run off the edge of the screen.

Closed captions are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to digital accessibility. At Level Access, we offer the expertise, training, testing, and legal expertise to support you with all facets of digital accessibility—helping you achieve WCAG conformance and meet your compliance goals. Contact us to learn more about our solution.

FAQ

Why do content providers need to add captioning to media?

Content providers need to generate and provide their own captioning for multimedia, even though automated captions are a common user-enabled option in many media delivery platforms. In most cases, AI-generated captions do not meet WCAG success criteria due to being inaccurate, incomplete, or lacking information about non-speech audio content like music or sound effects. Because of this, it is important for organizations to implement captioning themselves—and modify any captioning provided by software so that it contains all the auditory information required for closed captions.

What is the difference between closed captions vs. subtitles?

While the word “subtitles” is often used interchangeably with “closed captions,” subtitles actually aren’t a type of captioning at all. Subtitles refer to language translations of audio, and are designed to help those who can hear but don’t speak a specific language to understand dialogue.

What is one common accessibility barrier for users of closed captions?

Many users of closed captions struggle when captions are included but interfere with other information included in multimedia. For example, closed captioning in presentations may overlap with on-screen text, making it difficult to access both the captions and the information provided. This would also cause the captions to be non-conformant with WCAG based on placement (and possibly contrast). Content creators should think about providing dedicated space for captions within their media, usually at the bottom of the screen.

How do I provide closed captioning for videos?

Even though AI captioning has flaws, it is still a useful tool to begin captioning. The key is to remember that AI captioning needs human assistance to create closed captions. Content providers should read over all captioning to ensure it is accurate and complete, after which they can add in descriptions of non-speech audio that bring automated captions up to WCAG standards.

The post AI vs. Closed Captioning: Understanding Audio Accessibility Compliance appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, Sept. 10, 2024 – Level Access, the leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, proudly announces the successful completion of its SOC 2 Type 2 examination for the Level Access Platform. Following the recent SOC 2 Type 1 examination, this achievement underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of security and confidentiality for its clients.

The SOC 2 Type 2 examination, conducted by the independent CPA firm Schellman & Company, LLC, evaluated the effectiveness of Level Access’s controls over a nine-month period from October 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The examination focused on the security and confidentiality of the Level Access Platform, affirming the company’s dedication to safeguarding client data and ensuring data privacy.

“With the growing complexity of cyber risk, the need for robust security measures has never been more critical,” said Jen Kurtz, Chief Technology Officer. “The successful completion of our SOC 2 Type 2 examination demonstrates our commitment to protecting our clients’ data and reinforces our position as a trusted partner in digital accessibility, providing all Level Access Platform clients a critical layer of assurance.”

Cyber threats continue to increase and highlight the profound risks organizations face without a strong and dynamic cyber risk posture. Level Access’s SOC 2 Type 2 certification offers clients peace of mind knowing that their data is protected by industry-leading security measures designed to minimize the risk of disruption and bolster resilience against even the most unexpected cyber challenges.

“Our pursuit of the SOC 2 Type 2 examination was driven by a commitment to our customers’ security needs,” added Jeremy Sumner, Director of Information Security at Level Access. “This successful examination is a testament to the rigorous controls we have in place, ensuring that the Level Access Platform operates securely, meeting enterprise-level confidentiality needs. And we will continue to enhance our cybersecurity posture to ensure we remain the best option to support organizations in navigating the complexities of procuring a resilient digital accessibility platform.”

The SOC 2 Type 2 examination adds to Level Access’s security credentials, including ISO 27001 certification and FedRAMP Authorization. Collectively, these achievements highlight the company’s dedication to enterprise security, providing tangible proof of the company’s robust security and confidentiality measures.

To learn more about the Level Access Platform, visit www.levelaccess.com.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

The post Level Access Completes Successful SOC 2 Type 2 Examination, Strengthening Commitment to Security and Confidentiality appeared first on Level Access.

In fact, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding the range and application of assistive technology for people with disabilities. Below, we will help organizations prepare to integrate assistive technology considerations into their digital inclusion efforts by reviewing examples of assistive technology. We’ll also provide a checklist for ensuring users of assistive technology tools can interact with your digital content.

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology is an umbrella term for a wide range of tools, including devices, software, and equipment, that enhance learning, working, and daily life for people with disabilities and others with accessibility needs. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates 2.5 billion people worldwide are assistive technology users, with that number projected to reach 3.5 billion by 2050.

Assistive technology takes many forms, from wheelchairs to hearing aids to prostheses. But when it comes to digital accessibility, assistive technology refers to the software and hardware tools that enable people with disabilities to access and interact with web platforms, digital applications, and devices. And in today’s world, most online platforms—desktop and mobile—come with built-in assistive technology.

What are different types of assistive technology?

Several assistive technologies exist to meet the diverse needs of people with disabilities. These tools are crucial for making online content and functionality accessible to users. The most common forms of assistive technology are:

1. Screen readers

Screen reading software converts on-screen text and interactive elements into speech, enabling people with visual disabilities to navigate the web. Screen readers can be independent software (such as NVDA), browser extensions (such as Chrome Vox), or built into operating systems and other software (such as Apple’s iOS Voiceover).

2. Braille displays

A braille display translates digital text and other web elements, such as graphs, into braille, enabling blind or deaf-blind people to interpret web content through touch. Screen readers can also convert on-screen elements into braille format.

3. Screen magnifiers

Screen magnifying tools provide a range of magnification levels for on-screen content and computer pointers, making web interactions easier for people with low or no vision. Some screen magnifiers also provide text-to-speech functions and options to invert colors.

4. Reading assistants

For people with low vision or who have difficulty understanding text content, reading assistants can change the presentation of content and provide other functionality to make it more readable. For example, immersive readers are a type of assistive technology software that can customize fonts, text size, color, spacing, and focus area.

5. Speech recognition software

Speech recognition software allows a user to navigate, type, and interact with a website using their voice. This technology converts spoken words into text, helping people who have difficulty typing navigate the web. In some cases, this software can be used to issue commands to operate a computer. Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon are examples of this software.

6. Keyboard navigation functionality

People with mobility disabilities often have trouble gripping a standard mouse or using a touchpad. Instead, they may navigate through websites with the keyboard only, typically by using the tab key to jump from one item such as a link, header, or list item, to the next. They may also use switches, a type of button device that links to specific keyboard functions to move through and select content.

7. Alternative keyboards

People with mobility or cognitive disabilities may prefer an alternative keyboard, such as a larger keyboard, a one-handed keyboard, a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, or an on-screen keyboard, to help them interact with web content.

8. Eye tracking devices

Like there are alternative keyboards, there are also alternatives to mouses and pointer devices. Some people with mobility disabilities navigate using devices that track eye movement to determine where a person is focusing and what they want to click on.

How do I make sure assistive technology users can interact with digital content?

Assistive technology only works if a website, app, or platform’s content is appropriately coded for accessibility. Proper coding—like implementing semantic HTML—ensures that people who use assistive technology can effectively comprehend digital content. Below are five areas to consider when accounting for the needs of assistive technology users in your digital accessibility efforts.

Use logical reading order.

Whether you’re creating a website, an app, or a PDF, making sure your content can be navigated in the appropriate order is essential for ensuring assistive technology access. Applying tab-through reading order—that is, properly structuring your content with encoded tags—allows many types of assistive technology, from screen readers to switch devices, to move through menus, text, form fields, buttons, and links.

Apply appropriate ARIA labels.

For sighted users, content is often organized through titles, headings, lists, and tables. And to ensure accessibility, content needs to be accompanied by code that provides similar information about a page’s structure to assistive technologies. Accessible Rich Internet Applications, or ARIA, is one way to accomplish this goal. ARIA supports users of assistive technology by indicating the main structural areas of a page, identifying the roles of user interface elements (such as links and buttons), and clarifying the structure of pages.

Incorporate descriptive link text.

It’s common practice to avoid displaying the full text of a link by connecting it to a word or phrase instead. And that word or phrase matters—especially to users of assistive technology. Screen readers will read out the word or phrase and then identify that it is link text instead of reading the full link address. And if the link text is too general—for example, “here” or “learn more”—users may not know where the link will take them. For this reason, it’s important to use descriptive link text that clearly identifies what is contained in the linked resource.

Ensure all images include alternative text (alt text).

Since all assistive technology software can’t explain an image to a user (although AI assistive technology applications are expanding these possibilities as we speak), it’s important that all images, including icons, graphs, infographics, or other visually displayed information, include accurate alt text. When applying alt text, a best practice is to succinctly describe what information is conveyed by that image, or what purpose it serves (For example, is it an icon?), ideally in 125 characters or less.

Provide equal access to multimedia.

While video and audio content can increase engagement with your website or other digital experience, these media formats can present frustrating barriers for individuals with disabilities. To be accessible, video and audio assets should incorporate assistive technology such as captions, transcripts, and visual descriptions (which describe the visual content of multimedia)—that help those with visual or audiological disabilities have equal access to the content. Making sure your multimedia includes captioning or transcripts not only provides access to individual users of assistive technology—it is often required to provide access for other types of assistive technology, such as screen readers and braille displays.

How do I incorporate assistive technology into my broader digital accessibility efforts?

Assistive technologies are more than just functional tools. These innovations have paved the way for increased independence among people with disabilities, empowering every user to engage with the digital world on their own terms. When digital experiences are created with assistive technology in mind, all people, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in the digital world.

To make sure all types of digital assistive technology can interact with your content, it’s best to engage the support of a third-party expert. Level Access takes a holistic approach to digital accessibility, including providing manual and automated testing, subject matter expertise, training, and ongoing monitoring. Engage with our team today to learn more about how we can help you provide a barrier-free experience for assistive technology users and achieve your overall digital accessibility goals.

Contact us

FAQ

How is AI expanding digital accessibility?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expanding both the application of digital assistive technology and the opportunities for daily use. For example, AI is being leveraged to detect objects in environments and provide guidance for blind and low-vision users, provide personalized assistance and task management for those with cognitive disabilities, and even expand physical accessibility through digital solutions, such as with smart home technology.

What is the difference between digital assistive technology hardware and software?

Assistive technology software refers to website coding, digital tools or applications, and digital services that expand access for people with disabilities. One well-known example of digital accessibility software is AI captioning of audio content. In contrast, digital accessibility hardware refers to any physical devices designed to improve digital accessibility. Examples of digital accessibility hardware include adaptive keyboards, switches, and refreshable braille displays.

What are digital assistive technology best practices?

What digital assistive technology is best for a given situation depends on the individual’s needs and the content being accessed. However, for all digital assistive technology to be effective, content providers need to ensure access so that tools can do their job. You can think of accessibility as a handshake between your digital presence and any tools a person might use. This means digital assistive technology best practices start with making sure your content can work with these tools—whether this happens at the code level or by integrating assistive technology into your presentation of content.

The post The Role of Assistive Technology in Digital Inclusion appeared first on Level Access.

What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility is the process of ensuring online experiences meet the needs of all users, including people with disabilities. More specifically, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) describes web accessibility as the practice of eliminating barriers that prevent people with disabilities from perceiving, understanding, navigating, and interacting with the web. Websites that are designed with accessibility in mind empower all visitors to fully engage with online content. By prioritizing accessibility, organizations can create inclusive and equitable digital spaces.

Why is website accessibility important?

The internet is an indispensable resource for everyday tasks like shopping, working, banking, and staying connected with others. When organizations neglect to address web accessibility, individuals with disabilities are more likely to face barriers that make completing these tasks difficult, if not impossible. Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience a significant disability, and many disabilities impact how users interact with the digital world. For example, people who are blind or have low vision may use screen readers to engage with digital content and navigate using the keyboard instead of a mouse. Some individuals with cognitive or motor disabilities may browse the web using dictation software. And people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may catch up on a podcast by reading the transcript rather than listening to audio. There are also temporary and situational disabilities to consider. Think about someone trying to use a website on a mobile device in bright sunlight, a person with a broken arm who can’t use a mouse, or even a new parent holding a baby who needs to navigate with one hand. Designing and building with accessibility in mind is essential for ensuring everyone can use your site, no matter their circumstances.

What are examples of web accessibility considerations?

Web accessibility is an ongoing process, and accounting for every user’s needs may take time. But there are a few adjustments you can start making right away to provide a more inclusive experience for users. Let’s explore eight web accessibility best practices:

1. Alt text for images: Alt text describes images and other visual elements on a website for individuals who can’t physically see them. It’s a critical accessibility consideration for screen reader users, but also helpful for those who choose to disable images to avoid distractions or have spotty internet. Effective alt text is concise, meaningful, and context-appropriate.
2. Keyboard navigation: Many users navigate websites with the keyboard only, and it’s important that all your website’s functionality is available to keyboard users. Users should be able to tab through links, buttons, and forms easily, without getting stuck or missing any content.
3. Captions for videos: Closed captions use on-screen text to communicate spoken dialogue and other relevant audio (such as music and sound effects) in video content. They’re essential for making videos accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing—along with those watching in a noisy setting or a quiet environment like a library.
4. Screen reader compatibility: Screen readers, which convert digital text into audio, rely on well-structured content to work effectively. To provide an accessible experience for screen reader users, website creators must incorporate proper headings, lists, and landmarks so that users can understand the hierarchy of content and easily navigate to relevant sections.
5. Sufficient color contrast: Making sure there is adequate color contrast between text and background elements enhances readability and is critical for ensuring content is accessible for users with color blindness or low vision.
6. Accessible forms: Whether you’re signing up for an online course or making a purchase on an e-commerce site, you’ll probably use a form. To be accessible, forms need clear labels and instructions. They also must be compatible with screen readers, and users should be able to move from one field to the next with the keyboard.
7. Text resizing options: Some users may prefer (or need) to increase text size to read comfortably. Websites should allow for text resizing without disrupting a page’s layout or cutting off content.
8. Descriptive link text: A button that says “click here” doesn’t provide users with much information about what they’re clicking into. Descriptive link text, like “Read more about our services,” gives users a clearer idea of where the link will take them. This is particularly important for screen reader accessibility, as navigating away from an irrelevant page may require more effort for screen reader users.

The benefits of website accessibility

Investing in more inclusive online experiences doesn’t just benefit users—it can also lead to major wins for businesses. The business advantages of web accessibility are wide-ranging, impacting organizations across all industries. In fact, data from our Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report revealed that 85% of respondents consider digital accessibility a competitive advantage for their organization. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

• Reaching a broader audience: Accessible websites can help organizations reach a wider audience, leading to increased traffic, more engagement, and potentially higher sales and conversions.
• Improved search engine optimization (SEO): Search engines favor websites that are accessible. Many elements that improve accessibility, such as image alt text and proper heading structure, also boost SEO. This can result in better search rankings, increasing a site’s visibility and traffic.
• Positive business reputation: Organizations that prioritize accessibility are often perceived as more socially responsible. This can improve public perception and brand loyalty, helping businesses attract—and retain—customers who value inclusivity.
• Improved usability: Principles of accessible design improve the overall user experience for all visitors. Accessibility best practices like clear navigation, readable fonts, and responsive design make a website easier to use, which can decrease bounce rates and increase the time users spend on a site.
• Compliance with accessibility laws: Providing an accessible web experience helps organizations mitigate the financial and reputational risks of non-compliance with web accessibility laws. We’ll explore some of the most notable regulations governing digital accessibility in the following section.

What are web accessibility laws?

Nations around the world have enacted web accessibility laws, and understanding which regulations apply to your business is critical to avoiding lawsuits and penalties. Factors such as your organization’s location, the market you serve, and your business size may all influence how these laws impact you. Here’s a rundown of key laws governing web accessibility:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a U.S civil rights law that aims to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Justice has repeatedly clarified its position that businesses open to the public must ensure their web content and mobile apps are accessible to achieve ADA compliance. Additionally, state and local governments are obligated to meet web accessibility standards under Title II of the ADA.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Sections 508 and 504)

Section 508 mandates that federal agencies ensure their information and communications technology (ICT) is accessible to people with disabilities. This covers websites, software, and other digital tools. Section 504 prevents discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance, including public educational institutions and healthcare providers.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act requires that various products and services, including digital experiences related to banking and e-commerce, be accessible to people with disabilities. This law applies across European Union countries and sets unified accessibility standards for organizations throughout Europe.

Web accessibility standards

Compliance with web accessibility laws typically involves meeting established accessibility standards for digital content. Commonly referenced standards include:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a universally accepted set of guidelines for ensuring web accessibility, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG outlines three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA. Organizations use these guidelines to enhance accessibility and achieve compliance with laws including the ADA and Sections 508 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

EN 301 549

EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard for ICT products and services. Similarly to Section 508 in the United States, it establishes the accessibility requirements for the public procurement of ICT across Europe.

Building a web that works for all

Navigating the complexities of global accessibility regulations and evolving standards can be challenging, which is why partnering with a third-party web accessibility solution provider is highly recommended. A team of experienced professionals can equip you with the technology and guidance you need to comply with legal requirements and provide inclusive experiences for all users. It’s important to find a web accessibility solution that not only helps you understand your current accessibility status, but also enables you to identify gaps in your approach, prioritize the most critical fixes, and embed accessibility into your processes for sustained progress. The right vendor will support you with web accessibility tools and services including:

• Conducting a thorough audit of your website to identify any accessibility errors that need to be remediated.
• Equipping you with monitoring software to continuously check and report on the status of your website’s accessibility, allowing you to swiftly address any new issues that arise.
• Partnering with you to proactively integrate accessibility into the creation of new web content—including providing tooling, training, and strategic support for designers, developers, and other key roles.

Kickstart your accessibility journey today and discover how Level Access can help you put web accessibility principles into practice.

The post Web Accessibility in 2024: Benefits and Best Practices appeared first on Level Access.

Ensuring your organization has an ADA compliant website—as well as other digital assets—not only mitigates your risk of lawsuit, but also enhances your brand image and can help you reach a broader network of customers. So, how can you understand whether your website is meeting ADA guidelines, and how can you start bringing your digital assets into compliance? In this piece, we’ll explore ADA standards for websites, which organizations are required to comply with the ADA, and how compliance benefits businesses. We’ll also provide some quick tips for getting started bringing your site into compliance with the law.

What are the ADA requirements for website accessibility?

Since the ADA was enacted in 1990, before the internet was widely used, the original law did not explicitly mention digital experiences. However, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has clarified that both Title II and Title III of the ADA apply to websites and other digital assets. Time and again, U.S. courts at both the state and federal level have supported this opinion, repeatedly ruling that an inaccessible website is a violation of the ADA.

When it comes to specific requirements, the DOJ has cited conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the benchmark for ADA website compliance. WCAG is a set of technical standards that, when applied, make online content accessible for all users, including people with disabilities who use assistive technologies (AT). These standards help website owners remove common accessibility barriers, including:

• Poor color contrast
• Non-descriptive hyperlinks
• Missing page headings
• Illegible text resizing
• Poor keyboard access

Beyond the ADA, WCAG is consistently referenced as the global gold standard for digital accessibility. Conform with WCAG, and your website is following best practices for compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and other U.S. and international laws.

Get our Must-Have WCAG Checklist.

ADA guidelines apply to both public and private organizations.

Most web accessibility lawsuits in the U.S. reference Title III of the ADA, which applies broadly to any organization in the U.S. that provides a place of “public accommodations.” These lawsuits typically cite accessibility issues on the websites of private-sector businesses. However, public-sector organizations have their own legal obligations regarding digital accessibility. Title II of the ADA includes accessibility requirements for state and local governments, and federal agencies must ensure their digital technology conforms with WCAG under Section 508.

An ADA compliant website brings significant benefits to your business.

While the legal risk of noncompliance is often the first concern for businesses getting started on their accessibility journey, providing an inclusive web experience has numerous benefits for organizations. Below, we’ve outlined some of the key business advantages of ADA website compliance.

• Enhancing brand reputation: Accessibility boosts brand reputation by helping reduce barriers for consumers and demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. An investment in digital accessibility—by way of an ADA compliant website and other digital assets—is a way of showing consumers that your organization is dedicated to meeting the needs of diverse stakeholders.
• Driving innovation: When products and services incorporate accessibility features, they often solve unanticipated problems and lead to more innovative solutions. For example, thinking about accessible design forces designers to ideate different ways for users to interact with a site. This is beneficial for people with and without disabilities.
• Expanding market share: There are more than one billion people around the world living with a disability, which may impact how they interact with and navigate online content. And that number will only grow as the population ages. Additionally, in the U.S. alone, working-aged adults with disabilities control around $490 billion in disposable income annually. By creating accessible digital experiences, organizations can capture this valuable market.

How to get started bringing your website into compliance with the ADA

Now that you understand the value and impact of bringing your organization in line with ADA guidelines, you may be wondering where and how to start. We recommend the following best practices to kickstart your accessibility efforts:

• Hire a reputable independent third party to manually audit your website at regularly scheduled intervals.
• Ensure the audit includes user flow testing performed by professionals, including individuals with disabilities.
• Utilize automated scans to continually monitor your website for accessibility issues that could prevent you from achieving ADA website compliance.
• Incorporate mandatory web accessibility training for all individuals who contribute to your digital operations.
• Invite feedback from users and provide customer assistance for individuals with disabilities.
• Form a web accessibility committee and appoint a coordinator to that committee.
• Adopt an internal digital accessibility policy indicating the specific standards your organization will meet, the processes in place for ensuring conformance with these standards, and the individuals responsible for enforcing these processes.
• Publish an outward-facing accessibility statement communicating your ongoing commitment to digital accessibility, and the steps you’re taking to uphold this commitment.

An innovative solution for ADA website compliance

At first, meeting the ADA’s web accessibility requirements can feel complicated—but you don’t have to do it alone. With over two decades of experience, Level Access has helped hundreds of organizations, across industries, achieve and sustain compliance with the ADA and other global accessibility laws. Our tailored approach combines a unified platform with a wide range of services that scale with your organization’s needs, equipping you with the technology and expert support you need to reach your accessibility goals.

Learn about our legal services.

The post How ADA Requirements for Websites Impact Your Organization appeared first on Level Access.

For lasting success, the goal is for digital accessibility to become something teams want to do—not something they have to do. And this may require a shift in mindset.

So, what opportunities open up when teams’ focus expands beyond compliance obligations or legal risk? And how can accessibility champions ignite this shift? In this article, we’ll unpack why changing the way teams think about accessibility matters, and outline three actions you can take as a champion to start embedding accessibility into your organizational culture.

“When we want to involve more people in digital accessibility, we start by focusing on the ‘why’—why this work is so important. The goal is to reframe the mindset around digital accessibility by helping people understand the human impact of this work. This approach has had a very strong impact on the company, and we’ve found we’ve helped create accessibility champions in every department.”

Kathleen Lawless, UX Design Lead and Accessibility Coordinator, ALDO Group

Why mindset matters

As an accessibility champion, you know that accessibility is about more than just meeting compliance requirements—it’s about providing inclusive, equitable experiences for users. Spreading this awareness across your organization is critical to the long-term success of your digital accessibility program.

When teams address accessibility out of obligation, they often do so with a checklist mentality, treating it as a one-time project rather than an ongoing process. But digital experiences are dynamic, and every update can introduce new accessibility barriers. For this reason, organizations that take a “one-and-done” approach to accessibility tend to find themselves in a costly and inefficient cycle, in which they’re constantly burning development hours fixing bugs in live digital experiences—rather than preventing them in the first place. Eventually, these teams may come to believe that accessibility is too challenging or resource-intensive, and sideline it in favor of competing priorities.

In contrast, when teams across an organization recognize the positive business and moral impacts of accessibility, and approach it with genuine enthusiasm, they’re more likely to proactively embed it in their day-to-day work—driving efficiency and laying the foundation for a sustainable program. And by sharing the responsibility for accessibility, it will become a natural part of your organization’s culture, and you’ll accomplish far more than you could on your own.

Roles and responsibilities for a sustainable digital accessibility program

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Three ways to start shifting the mindset around digital accessibility

Now that we’ve established why it’s critical that teams think differently about accessibility, you may be wondering what concrete actions you can take to facilitate this shift in perspective. Let’s explore three ways to begin deepening teams’ understanding of how accessibility benefits users.

1. Share videos of people with disabilities interacting with digital experiences

Many champions develop a passion for digital accessibility because they have a personal connection to disability. If you have a disability that affects how you experience the digital world, or have a friend or family member that does, you may be all too familiar with the frustration accessibility barriers can create. But others at your organization may be entirely unaware of these challenges. To illustrate the human impact of an experience that is not accessible, versus one that is, start by sharing videos that capture how users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies (AT), interact with digital environments. These videos could include recordings of people with different disabilities navigating websites, using apps, or engaging with various digital services–including the barriers they experience.

2. Set up live AT demonstrations

While videos are a powerful way to help teams grasp how digital accessibility shapes real users’ experiences, live demonstrations of AT can be even more effective at building teams’ understanding of specific technologies. Consider hiring an accessibility expert who uses AT to showcase how different types of technologies, like screen readers, speech recognition software, and specialized input devices, enable people to navigate and interact with digital content—and the challenges that arise when content isn’t accessible. Witnessing these technologies in action can also help your teams better empathize with and think like users when creating new experiences.

3. Conduct user research with people with disabilities

Videos and live AT demonstrations can raise awareness within your organization about how accessibility impacts users in a general sense. However, teams may still not fully understand what’s at stake if your organization’s own digital experiences aren’t accessible.

To demonstrate how digital accessibility directly impacts your existing and potential customers, conduct targeted user research with a focus group of individuals with different disabilities. This may include conducting interviews and surveys to understand these users’ needs and preferences, as well as gathering feedback on the usability of your own product. User research can clearly illustrate how barriers on your website, app, or digital product negatively affect users’ experience, and ultimately limit your user base.

If you’re struggling to get executives and other decision-makers to prioritize digital accessibility, inviting them to these focus groups can be an effective way to secure buy-in.

From “why” to “how”: Implementing accessibility training

Once teams understand the ‘why’ it’s important to commit to digital accessibility, they’ll probably be curious how to incorporate accessibility principles into their daily work. Accessibility training will equip teams with the practical skills they need to actively contribute to digital accessibility at your organization. To drive accountability, work with team leaders to implement mandatory training courses for key roles involved in digital experience creation, such as designers, developers, and content authors.

On-demand, role-specific accessibility training
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Cultivate an accessibility mindset

Forward-thinking teams understand that accessibility isn’t just a box to check for compliance—it’s a long-term process that’s essential for delivering usable, inclusive digital experiences. Facilitating this shift in mindset will help you position your digital accessibility program for sustainable success—and eventually make accessibility one of the core building blocks of your organization’s culture. For more insight on how to grow accessibility into an organization-wide priority, explore our Accessibility Champion’s Playbook.

The post From Obligation to Opportunity: Shifting the Mindset Around Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

In this blog, we’ll briefly explain the differences between WCAG 2.2 and WCAG 2.1 and discuss the benefits of WCAG 2.2 conformance, including its role in regulatory compliance. We’ll also provide a checklist for website owners to work toward meeting the nine new WCAG 2.2 success criteria.

WCAG 2.1 vs. WCAG 2.2: What’s New?

WCAG 2.2 introduces nine new success criteria. These focus on accessibility for web users with low vision, cognitive and learning disabilities, and motor disabilities, including access on touch-screen devices.

How WCAG 2.2 relates to prior WCAG versions

As with WCAG 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1, WCAG 2.2 builds on previous versions. So, while WCAG 2.1 contains 78 success criteria, WCAG 2.2 contains 86 – 77 from 2.1 (removing the one that is now considered obsolete) plus nine new ones.

Also, like previous versions, WCAG 2.2 breaks down testable success criteria into three levels: A, AA, and AAA, with A representing the minimum conformance level and AAA representing the maximum. Meeting a conformance level is also backwards compatible, so achieving Level AA means that experience also conforms with A.

So which level should you strive to achieve? Most global accessibility regulations, such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in the U.S., EN 301 549 in Europe, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in Ontario, Canada, require Level AA conformance. While you might strive to achieve the highest level, AAA, these more advanced accessibility measures are not required by current laws, nor are all success criteria in the AAA level applicable for every digital experience.

The vast majority of website owners should focus on Level AA—the globally accepted and recommended tier of accessibility.

Why conform with WCAG 2.2?

While conformance with WCAG 2.2 may not be required by laws governing your organization, best practice is to strive to achieve WCAG 2.2 AA conformance. By satisfying the nine new success criteria, your organization will better serve users with a broader range of disabilities, ultimately enhancing your audience’s experience. Additionally, maintaining conformance with the most recent version of WCAG demonstrates that your organization remains up to date on digital accessibility best practices, underscoring your commitment to inclusion.

WCAG 2.2 conformance is also a best practice for long-term compliance with U.S. and international laws. These updates guidelines are already being incorporated into regulations: for example, EN 301 549, which is the presumptive standard for European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance, is expected to adopt WCAG 2.2 in 2025. Meanwhile, the digital accessibility requirements for U.K. public-sector organizations are anticipated to incorporate WCAG 2.2 as early as October of 2024. Several U.S. states, including Colorado, have similarly expressed their intent to update the compliance standard for state laws from WCAG 2.1 to 2.2.

Even if your organization is not yet legally obligated to conform with WCAG 2.2, meeting the new success criteria sooner rather than later will ensure you stay ahead of changing regulations.

Expert perspective on digital accessibility legal and regulatory trends

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WCAG 2.2 Checklist

Now that you understand the benefits of WCAG 2.2 conformance, you may be wondering what meeting the updated guidelines involves in practice. It’s worth noting that most of the new criteria are best addressed during design, rather than later in development or testing. The checklist below can help you get a better understanding of the WCAG 2.2 success criteria and how they can advance the accessibility of your website, app, or other digital experience.

• 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured – Minimum (Level AA):When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, at least a portion of it must remain visible and not be hidden by other content you provide.
• 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured – Enhanced (Level AAA):When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, none of the focus indicator may be hidden by your content. This is the AAA level of success criterion 2.4.11 listed previously.
• 2.4.13 Focus Appearance (Level AAA): Focus indicators must have sufficient color contrast between the focused and unfocused states and must be of a sufficient size so as to be clearly visible.
• 2.5.7 Dragging Movements (Level AA): If any part of your website requires a dragging movement, provide an alternative means of dragging, such as tapping or clicking. For example, instead of dragging a map, the interface could offer buttons that move the map in a particular direction.
• 2.5.8 Target Size – Minimum (Level AA): All interactive targets should be at least 24×24 CSS pixels in size. This can include padding within the target. Additionally, there must be sufficient space between targets.
• 3.2.6 Consistent Help (Level A): If you make a help option available, make sure it’s available consistently, and in the same relative place. This will make it easier to locate while navigating your website.
• 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (Level A): In a process, such as registering or completing a form, information that the user has already entered must be made available to them. This helps users by not making them enter information more than once unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication- Minimum (Level AA):. If your site requires a cognitive test, such as memorizing a username and password in order to log in, there needs to be a different way to authenticate that doesn’t require the ability to do that, or a help mechanism needs to be made available to assist with that. For example, a username and password field that allows for entry by a password manager provides assistance, as would allowing for the user to paste into the fields. At this level, a cognitive function test that requires the recognition of an object, like a stop sign, is allowed, as is a test that asks a user to identify a picture or image the user provided to the website.
• 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication – Enhanced (Level AAA): Users shouldn’t be forced to memorize information or necessarily spell correctly. Those and other tasks are considered cognitive tests. If an authentication process has a cognitive function test in a step, the site needs to provide an alternative that doesn’t or provide a help mechanism to complete the test. In addition—and this is a key difference between SC 3.3.8 and 3.3.9—authentication by using object recognition or user-provided content (e.g., a picture uploaded by the user) isn’t permitted at this level.

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Note: WCAG conformance is not the same as legal compliance. However, in the current legal landscape, WCAG conformance is a recommended best practice for avoiding a web accessibility lawsuit. WCAG is globally accepted as the benchmark for meeting the effective communication requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and complying with other U.S. and international laws.

Accessibility is a long game. Stay the course with Level Access.

Achieving digital accessibility is an ongoing, dynamic process. Laws change in response to user needs, and WCAG success criteria evolve as technology evolves, requiring website owners to stay on top of their content. There’s no such thing as a one-and-done solution for web content accessibility.

The good news is that with the right support, WCAG 2.2 AA conformance is absolutely achievable. Explore our solution to learn more about how Level Access can help get your digital offerings in shape to reach a wider audience.

The post WCAG 2.2 AA: Summary and Checklist for Website Owners appeared first on Level Access.

To inspire organization-wide action, you’ll first need support from senior leaders, who can help you obtain the budget and resources to build an effective program. But simply explaining that digital accessibility is the right thing to do may not be enough to secure executive buy-in. You’ll have to make a solid business case that connects accessibility to your organization’s goals.

So, how can you help key stakeholders understand the advantages of digital accessibility? Often, accessibility champions in your position turn to a handful of talking points, including complying with laws, reaching a broader market, and enhancing brand reputation. But committing to accessibility also has numerous other, less widely discussed advantages that can strengthen your case.

In this piece, we’ll explore the many ways that digital accessibility contributes to organizations’ success, covering both classic arguments made by advocates and less frequently mentioned benefits.

Tried-and-true talking points

Many of the same arguments have been used time and time again to make the business case for digital accessibility. While professionals with knowledge of this space may already be familiar with these talking points, there’s a reason accessibility champions continue to turn to them: they’re powerful, particularly for audiences with limited previous exposure to digital accessibility.

Investing in digital accessibility mitigates legal risk

Countries worldwide have enacted laws and regulations requiring the accessibility of digital content. In the U.S., for example, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has clarified that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects the equal rights of people with disabilities to access public accommodations, applies to the websites of private businesses. Non-compliance can result in costly lawsuits and reputational damage. Additionally, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates that a wide range of products and services—including e-commerce and banking—are accessible. The EAA applies to most organizations that do business in, or have customers in, the European Union (EU), and potential penalties include fines as well as the removal of certain products or services from the market.

Accessible products and services expand market share

According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people worldwide have some form of disability. And the disability community has substantial purchasing power: working-aged adults in the U.S. alone control an estimated $490B in disposable income annually. For business-to-consumer (B2C) companies, digital accessibility unlocks a massive market, winning new customers and driving revenue growth. And for business-to-business (B2B) organizations, digital product accessibility increases procurement opportunities: 73% of senior leaders surveyed for our latest State of Digital Accessibility Report say that accessibility is a requirement for digital product procurement most or all of the time.

Digital accessibility strengthens brand reputation

Consumers are more likely to support and engage with brands prioritizing inclusivity. Nearly 70% of consumers say diversity, equity, and inclusion play a substantial role in deciding which brands they support. Perhaps even more striking, 45% will pay more for products from brands that actively promote these values. Committing to digital accessibility is a powerful way to demonstrate that your organization isn’t merely paying lip service to inclusion, but that it’s taking active steps to meet every person’s diverse needs.

Accessibility improves user experience for everyone

Accessible design enhances the experience of all users—not just those with disabilities. Considerations like straightforward navigation, readable fonts, and consistent formatting benefit everyone. In fact, nearly 90% of professionals we surveyed report that digital accessibility has contributed to improvements in user experience. And by providing more streamlined, intuitive user journeys, website owners can extend site visits, increase engagement, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

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Less common arguments

If you’re advocating to stakeholders who are familiar with digital accessibility, the classic arguments we’ve outlined may fail to capture your audience’s attention. They’re probably already aware of these benefits—and may not find them sufficient to justify prioritizing accessibility over competing demands. To help you inject fresh perspective into your pitch, the following section explores key advantages of digital accessibility that leaders at your organization are less likely to have considered.

Proactively committing to accessibility lets you stay in control of your development roadmap

If you’re sued because of digital accessibility issues, you’ll likely have to address these issues within a fixed time frame as part of the settlement terms. This reactive remediation can be time-consuming, costly, and disruptive to your development roadmap, setting your organization back. By proactively investing in accessibility, you can approach this work on your own timeline, avoiding unplanned expenses and delays.

Ensuring web accessibility is a search engine optimization (SEO) best practice

Accessible websites are more likely to have strong SEO performance. Features like alternative (alt) text for images, proper heading structures, and descriptive text links make content more understandable for search engines, improving rankings and organic traffic. Additionally, search engines tend to favor sites that provide a satisfying user experience—and, as previously mentioned, accessible websites are easier to use for everyone.

Accessibility drives innovation

One of the biggest myths surrounding accessibility is that it limits creativity and innovation. To the contrary, throughout history, the pursuit of accessible solutions has led to new technologies and design practices that benefit all users. Consider curb cuts, which were invented to provide access for users of mobility devices, like wheelchairs and scooters. A wide variety of people, including stroller-pushing parents, travellers wheeling luggage, runners, skateboarders, and bike riders, now use curb cuts daily. Additionally, text-to-speech synthesis, originally developed for users who are blind, led to the creation of optical character recognition technology—now used by anyone scanning a receipt or making a mobile check deposit. An investment in accessibility is an investment in innovation.

Inclusive workplaces have more productive employees

While organizations often think about digital accessibility in terms of their public-facing assets, like websites and mobile apps, ensuring that internal systems and resources—like intranets and internal documents—are accessible is integral to fostering an inclusive and productive workplace. When employees don’t lose time navigating accessibility barriers, they can perform to their full potential, and will likely report greater job satisfaction. Additionally, prioritizing workplace accessibility can help attract top talent who value diversity and inclusion.

Five steps to building a compelling case

Once you’ve gathered your talking points, it’s time to make the case for prioritizing digital accessibility to decision makers at your organization. Consider the following best practices to ensure your message resonates with your audience.

1. Research and gather data: Demonstrate that you’ve done your research. Back up your argument with relevant data, such as statistics on the number of people with disabilities in your target market, or the volume of digital accessibility lawsuits impacting organizations like yours.
2. Align with business goals: Discuss how accessibility aligns with your company’s specific mission, values, and strategic goals.
3. Present a clear plan: Outline a step-by-step plan, including a timeline, budget estimates, and critical milestones. Address potential challenges and propose solutions.
4. Highlight success stories: Share case studies of similar organizations that have successfully implemented digital accessibility, referencing data on the specific benefits they’ve received as a result.
5. Emphasize return on investment (ROI): Focus on the long-term financial benefits of accessibility—such as potential revenue growth and reduced legal fees—rather than short-term costs.

Beyond executive buy-in

Building an effective, sustainable accessibility program takes dedication and resources. But by helping decision makers understand the benefits of digital inclusion, you can win the support you need to turn your passion into an organization-wide priority. For more guidance on starting, and scaling, a digital accessibility practice at your organization, request our Accessibility Champion’s Playbook.

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The post Making the Business Case for Digital Accessibility: Key Talking Points for Accessibility Champions appeared first on Level Access.

To better understand the web accessibility compliance landscape, our Legal Intelligence Group conducted a comprehensive review of court dockets and case law for early 2024. The results, published in our first-ever Legal Intelligence Report, offer a deep dive into trends in digital accessibility lawsuits at both the state and federal level. In this piece, we’ll highlight a few of the key findings from our research—and share best practices for organizations to navigate the evolving legal landscape.

Litigation trends: Lawsuit data reveals frequent action, strategic filing, and firm expertise

In the first quarter of 2024, a total of 1,136 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in U.S. state and federal courts. This frequent litigation demonstrates that accessible digital experiences are a priority for plaintiffs—and they aren’t afraid to hold organizations accountable for non-compliance.

No organization is immune from legal risk

Three states—New York, California, and Florida—led the nation in lawsuits filed. While New York and Florida saw the highest volume of federal cases, state-level litigation was concentrated in New York and California. Because many courts in these states have historically sided with plaintiffs, this data suggests plaintiffs are strategically filing in states where they’re more likely to win.

Businesses should be aware that lawsuits can be filed in any country or state where users can access your website, not just where your business is physically located. This is particularly important when it comes to understanding risk under New York and California state laws—which allow for compensatory damages and civil penalties. Any organization that serves online consumers in these states may face these costly consequences for non-compliance, even if the organization is headquartered elsewhere.

Our findings also reinforce that no industry is above the law. While specific industries such as e-commerce and education experienced waves of legal activity, we also uncovered lawsuits targeting cannabis businesses, pet supply shops, and sports team apparel stores. Today, no company is too small, or industry too niche, to avoid legal action if they neglect to prioritize digital accessibility.

How do the ADA requirements apply to digital accessibility?

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Select law firms lead in lawsuits filed

Nearly 60% of the lawsuits filed in Q1 2024 were initiated by just five law firms, with Mizrahi Kroub LLP and Stein Saks, PLLC leading in total case volume. While this concentration of activity can be partly attributed to “settlement mills,” or firms that pursue a large number of cases seeking quick settlements, it’s clear that firms are making accessibility a specialization and focus. Digital accessibility is a priority for both plaintiffs and lawyers, and for non-compliant organizations, the risk of legal action is imminent.

Regulatory updates: New regulations signal intensified scrutiny around compliance

As lawsuit velocity remains high, regulations for digital accessibility are also tightening. In April, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a new rule under ADA Title II, which defined version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) level AA as the compliance standard for web content and mobile apps. Similarly, a new rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in May established WCAG 2.1 AA as the official standard for Section 504 compliance in healthcare and social services.

While both of these regulations apply to organizations operating in the public sector, they signal increased attention to digital accessibility among lawmakers—and may be the precursor to ADA Title III changes impacting private businesses. By proactively making digital accessibility a focus now, businesses can not only mitigate legal risk, but also get ahead of these potential regulatory updates.

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How to minimize the risk of web accessibility litigation for your organization

Amid the steady pace of digital accessibility lawsuits, you may be wondering how to reduce your organization’s risk. By taking the following tangible steps, you can improve the accessibility of your digital experiences and make meaningful progress toward compliance:

• Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA: As a best practice for long-term compliance, aim for level AA conformance with WCAG 2.2. While many regulations still incorporate WCAG 2.1 AA, conforming with the most recent version will help you stay ahead of changes in the legal landscape. By aligning with the most up-to-date standards, you will also ensure your digital experience is usable for the largest number of people.

• Start early: Proactively integrate accessibility into design and development workflows. Addressing accessibility from the beginning of the digital experience creation process reduces the likelihood of accumulating a backlog of issues in the later testing phase, or when an experience is already live, that could render your organization non-compliant.

• Implement accessibility training: Equip teams with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve and maintain compliance by offering general and role-specific accessibility training.

• Enlist expert support: Meeting compliance standards can feel challenging, particularly if you’re new to digital accessibility. Consider partnering with an experienced digital accessibility solution provider for guidance, tools, and support.

Dive deeper into the digital accessibility legal landscape

The data is clear: web accessibility litigation isn’t slowing down. Staying informed about the current landscape is important for understanding, and reducing, your organization’s risk. To gain more in-depth insight on legal data and trends that may impact your organization, access our full Legal Intelligence Report today.

In-depth data and insight on digital accessibility litigation trends

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The post 2024 U.S. Web Accessibility Litigation: Key Trends and Strategies for Mitigating Risk appeared first on Level Access.

“It is our aim to equip every organization with the best solution set for their unique digital accessibility goals, whether they’re managing one website or a portfolio of complex digital products,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “From our perspective, inclusion in this latest Gartner Market Guide, with analysts mentioning our acquisition of UserWay, further validates our comprehensive approach.”

Gartner defines the digital accessibility market as the set of vendors that provide platforms with tools and professional services designed to ensure digital products and content are compatible with assistive technology for people with disabilities. Gartner specifically notes 12 capabilities for buyers to consider, including essential tools for scanning, and reporting and analytics, as well as developer tools, color contrast checkers, code suggestion tools, manual testing and auditing services, monitoring and maintenance capabilities, document accessibility solutions, training and education, and legal support and consultation.

Also listed in the report capabilities are overlay technologies that provide automated remediation—delivering a more accessible layer of code on top of source code—and browser-based personalization tools. These personalization tools are often referred to as a widget or toolbar. Gartner notes that overlay technologies “can serve as a temporary measure or a first step toward making a website more accessible, particularly for small businesses or organizations with limited resources to undertake a complete accessibility overhaul.”

The Level Access solution uniquely delivers on all 12 capabilities, now including automated remediation and user personalization tools.

“In our opinion, Level Access’s repeated inclusion in the Gartner Market Guide underscores our platform’s exceptional value and our organization’s ongoing drive to pushing the boundaries of innovation to meet our customers’ needs,” added Ian Lowe, Chief Marketing Officer at Level Access. “It is our belief that acknowledgment in the Gartner Market Guide continues to recognize our expertise in the digital accessibility space and our unwavering commitment to helping organizations of every size create inclusive digital experiences.”

To access the complete 2024 Gartner Market Guide for Digital Accessibility, visit this link. To learn more about Level Access’s digital accessibility platform, visit www.levelaccess.com.

Report attribution and disclaimers:

Gartner, Market Guide for Digital Accessibility, Brent Stewart, Arun Batchu, Will Grant, 6 May 2024.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

Public Relations Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

The post Level Access Once Again A Recognized Vendor in the 2024 Gartner® Market Guide for Digital Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

Our CEO Tim Springer recently unpacked these developments in our on-demand webinar, “Decoding the Digital Accessibility Landscape: Key Trends and Strategies for Success.” Building off Springer’s insight, in this article, we’ll explore the key factors fueling a greater need for efficient digital accessibility, and provide actionable guidance for maximizing the impact of your efforts in the current environment.

Today, efficiency is integral to accessibility success

Whether addressing accessibility or other organizational priorities, most organizations aspire to work smarter—not harder. And in recent years, a confluence of factors has made it especially critical for professionals managing digital accessibility to focus on efficient progress.

First, regulatory requirements for digital accessibility are becoming stricter in the U.S. and internationally. Recent legislation, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA), will lead to stronger enforcement of accessibility standards, making accessibility even more of a legal and regulatory imperative for organizations across sectors.

Additionally, organizations are increasingly requiring proof of accessibility, in the form of a completed Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT^®), when procuring digital products. In fact, 73% of senior leaders surveyed for our Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report shared that accessibility is a procurement requirement most or all of the time at their organizations. Buyers’ prioritization of accessibility in procurement processes can be partly attributed to stricter accessibility laws (both the ADA Title II requirements and EAA apply to third-party products), as well as increasing recognition of the business benefits of accessible websites, applications, and hardware. For digital product vendors, digital accessibility is now essential for winning new deals and keeping existing clients.

While digital accessibility is increasingly becoming not only a legal obligation, but also a business requirement, many organizations are scaling back the resources they devote to accessibility initiatives due to the challenging economic environment. To navigate these circumstances, accessibility leaders must find creative and strategic ways to achieve their goals with limited budgets.

Strategies for navigating the current digital accessibility landscape from our CEO

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How accessibility teams can accomplish more with less

So, how can accessibility leaders maximize the impact of limited resources, ensuring continued success in today’s complex regulatory, market, and economic landscape? Let’s explore two core shifts teams can make to improve efficiency: leveraging automation, and proactively addressing accessibility throughout the digital experience creation life cycle.

Integrating automation into your accessibility practice

Manually testing digital experiences, and remediating the issues these tests identify, is resource-intensive. By leveraging tools to automate aspects of these processes, organizations can more strategically use their teams’ time, and more swiftly improve users’ experiences. While automation is not a replacement for a comprehensive digital accessibility program, it can make a profound impact if used effectively.

Organizations can take advantage of three types of automation to enhance their accessibility efforts:

1. Testing automation: Testing automation allows organizations to automatically test digital experiences for many of the most common accessibility issues, reducing reliance on manual testing. Test automation solutions typically fall into three categories. In the first category, heuristic automation, accessibility tests are run based on specific rules written by a human. In the second, machine learning is used to train software to identify common accessibility issues. And in the third, known as assisted diagnosis, teams leverage automated testing to surface common errors while manual testers focus on more complicated tasks.
2. Specific issue remediation automation: Thanks to recent technological advancements, AI-powered tools can now provide accurate, scalable fixes for common accessibility issues, including missing or inaccurate alternative (alt) text, form labels, and headers. Just as automated testing may be used to free up manual testers’ time, specific issue remediation automation allows organizations to dedicate development resources to complex issues that automation cannot yet address.
3. General issue remediation automation: This technology takes a broader approach to accessibility remediation by using copilots or chatbots to scan HTML code and rewrite it to incorporate accessibility features. General issue remediation automation is still in its infancy, but it may become a reliable solution in the next five to ten years.

Proactively incorporating accessibility into the experience creation process

While automation can help teams more quickly detect and fix accessibility issues in live experiences, the most efficient and cost-effective way to ensure accessibility is to prevent issues in the first place. In fact, it’s estimated that addressing accessibility proactively, rather than through reactive remediation, can save organizations roughly $100,000 by reducing development hours.

To shift to a more proactive way of work, teams should integrate accessibility throughout the digital experience creation life cycle, beginning in planning and design—an approach known as “agile accessibility.”

Five steps to shifting to agile accessibility

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Agile accessibility may involve:

• Including people with disabilities in user personas, and embedding accessibility requirements into the acceptance criteria for user stories.
• Evaluating new designs for accessibility issues prior to development—and ensuring accessibility requirements for designs are clearly communicated to developers.
• Checking the accessibility of code throughout development by leveraging accessibility-specific software development kits (SDKs) and testing integrations.

Our blog, “Play Your Part: Role-Based Advice for Agile Accessibility,” offers more practical guidance for specific teams to support a proactive, agile approach to accessibility.

Accelerate accessibility with an expert partner

Digital accessibility is no longer a “nice-to-have” for organizations—it’s critical to legal compliance and business growth. But as budgets tighten along with regulations, teams need to refine their toolsets and processes to maximize impact while minimizing time and resources. For a more in-depth exploration of the current regulatory, market, and economic factors impacting digital accessibility, and how to navigate them, access our full on-demand webinar, “Decoding the Digital Accessibility Landscape: Key Trends and Strategies for Success,” with CEO Tim Springer.

Of course, identifying and implementing process efficiencies is easier said than done. A third-party expert can provide you with the tools and support you need to streamline your workflows and upgrade your accessibility tech stack, setting you up for sustainable success in the current landscape.

With more than 25 years of experience in digital accessibility, Level Access has helped thousands of organizations swiftly and reliably meet their accessibility goals. Our approach combines advanced technology, including automated solutions and design and developer tools, with the industry’s deepest bench of industry expertise to support lasting accessibility and compliance. To get started, contact our team today.

The post Do More with Less: Tips for Driving Efficiency in Digital Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

Importantly, the law applies to any organization that provides covered products and services to consumers in the EU, regardless of where that organization is based. So, if your organization conducts business or has customers in the EU, chances are that you’ll need to comply with the EAA.

Don’t have a plan yet for how to bring your digital portfolio into alignment with the law’s requirements? Here are three reasons to get started sooner rather than later.

1. Compliance involves more than fixing accessibility issues.

Often, organizations assume that compliance with digital accessibility laws starts and stops with a one-time audit, followed by the remediation of any issues identified in that audit. Once they’ve achieved conformance with technical digital accessibility standards, they believe their work is done.

In the case of the EU Accessibility Act, the presumed technical standard for compliance is EN 301 549. This European standard currently incorporates version 2.1 A and AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG (it’s currently being updated to adopt WCAG 2.2) and includes additional requirements for hardware and mobile apps. But conforming with EN 301 549 accessibility standards is just one step toward meeting the law’s requirements.

Many national laws adopting the EAA mandate that organizations also implement processes that support a continuous accessibility program—such as regular reporting, ongoing monitoring, and training. These practices ultimately help organizations maintain the accessibility of their digital experiences over time, reducing the risk that updates introduce new barriers for users. And because establishing a sustainable program won’t happen overnight, it’s wise to get started now.

Learn how to prepare for the EAA from compliance experts

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2. You may need to involve third-party vendors.

The EU Accessibility Act’s requirements apply to most digital technology from third-party vendors. So, if your digital experiences include third-party products or content (for example, a chatbot widget or payment processing integration purchased from a vendor), the EAA requires that those products are also accessible.

If a product from one of your current vendors is not accessible, you may need to procure the same product from a vendor that can validate product accessibility. By discussing accessibility with your current vendors sooner rather than later, you can ensure you have the time you need to act accordingly.

Additionally, to maintain EAA compliance, consider making accessibility a requirement for product procurement moving forward. When vetting new vendors, make sure to request a completed Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) demonstrating conformance with EN 301 549. This will reduce your risk of unintentionally jeopardizing your compliance efforts by integrating new third-party technology that does not meet accessibility requirements.

3. Non-compliance with the EU Accessibility Act has consequences.

Neglecting to meet the EU Accessibility Act’s requirements by the enforcement deadline means taking significant financial and operational risks. Individual EU nations are required by the law to monitor compliance across the market, and non-compliant organizations may face penalties ranging from steep fines to the suspension of their right to do business. In fact, according to an Irish law adopting the EAA, non-compliant organizations may even face jail time!

There are also opportunity costs to inaccessibility. It’s estimated that one in four adults in the EU has a disability, and businesses that exclude this community significantly limit their consumer base. Given the consequences of non-compliance, getting—and staying—on track to meet the June 2025 deadline is essential to protecting your business.

Everything you need to know about EAA compliance and enforcement

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Whether you’re new to digital accessibility or scaling an existing program, managing compliance with the EU Accessibility Act and other laws can feel complex. A trusted digital accessibility solution provider can help you clearly understand your obligations, and equip you with the tools, training, and guidance you need to meet them.

Level Access has over 25 years of experience supporting organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to global enterprises, to achieve their accessibility and compliance goals. Our experts will help you swiftly bring your digital portfolio into conformance with EN 301 549 and provide the tools and training necessary to satisfy the full range of EAA requirements. To get started, contact our team today.

The post Three Reasons to Start Prioritizing European Accessibility Act Compliance Now appeared first on Level Access.

To help organizations understand what makes an exemplary digital accessibility program, and confidently benchmark their performance over time, we created the Level Access Digital Accessibility Maturity Model™ (DAMM™). In this article, we’ll explain what the model provides, and how organizations of all sizes, and with all levels of digital accessibility experience, can use it to make sustainable progress and expand their impact.

What is DAMM?

The Level Access Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM) is a clear and concise method for measuring the maturity of digital accessibility programs. Based on the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), DAMM defines a working model to measure the degree of maturity a program has attained in implementing accessibility, using five levels of maturity to rate the current state of a program along seven dimensions.

Figure 1: Visual representation of the five escalating levels of digital accessibility maturity.

DAMM dimensions

The seven dimensions referred to in DAMM are like threads that weave together to form a successful, sustainable accessibility program. Digital accessibility intersects with many facets of an organization and encompasses more than just meeting technical standards. DAMM’s seven dimensions of maturity are:

1. Governance and policy: How well established is accountability for digital accessibility at your organization, through clear ownership, internal commitments, risk management planning, and investment strategies?
2. Communications: How effectively is your organization communicating about digital accessibility initiatives? And are communication channels accessible?
3. Development life cycle: How effectively is digital accessibility integrated into the creation of your organization’s digital products and content, resulting in inclusive experiences?
4. Support: How well does your organization ensure that customer assistance channels (e.g., e-mail, phone, and chat applications) and guidance documentation are accessible and inclusive?
5. Procurement: How effectively is digital accessibility evaluated and addressed in vendor selection, purchasing, and contracts?
6. Knowledge and skills: How well is digital accessibility training implemented and managed across your organization?
7. Culture: How deeply ingrained are accessibility values in your organization’s culture and practices, resulting in a shared understanding of and commitment to digital inclusion?

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Levels of maturity

DAMM describes organizational accessibility maturity and is a different measurement method than accessibility conformance testing on specific digital properties. Our maturity model offers a holistic, program-based view that goes beyond just the product development life cycle and addresses all the operational aspects necessary to support accessibility across an organization. With five defined levels of maturity, DAMM can be used as an assessment tool to determine where an organization is implementing digital accessibility well and where process or policy gaps remain. An organization will likely have different scores across various dimensions that they are working on in parallel.

Level 1 — Initial

The organization is typically performing digital accessibility activities in an ad-hoc, uncontrolled, and reactive manner.

Level 2 — Repeatable

A limited number of repeatable processes are starting to produce increasingly consistent results but are not yet adopted across the entire organization.

Level 3 — Defined

Well-defined processes, increased knowledge, and skills are distributed across the organization with clear roles and responsibilities. The organization is beginning to “shift left” with digital accessibility baked in.

Level 4 — Managed

The organization is actively measuring effectiveness, tracking improvements, and predicting issues before they occur. Digital accessibility is sustainable with inclusive best practices as part of organizational priorities.

Level 5 — Optimizing

The organization is focused on innovation, standards, and continually optimizing digital accessibility organization-wide. They are championing an inclusive culture and participating in external activism to drive change in the industry.

Level Access DAMM Assessment

Wherever you are on your digital accessibility journey, using a maturity model such as DAMM can help you determine your organization’s ability to produce accessible results over the long term. Consider the maturity level of your organization’s accessibility efforts within this context, and contact us or your customer success manager for more information. Our team will guide you through a comprehensive assessment, expert analysis, and tailored recommendations for practical growth.

Supporting sustainable growth

While many accessibility programs share the same goals, there are various pathways to success. Understanding your organization’s priorities and current digital accessibility maturity can help you identify next steps. Trust Level Access as your expert accessibility partner to support your current program and help guide you to achievable digital accessibility growth at a pace you can sustain. Reach out to our team today.

The post The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM): Overview of DAMM appeared first on Level Access.

“At Level Access, we deeply believe that a business can thrive and be a force for good by fostering a positive and inclusive team culture,” said Tim Springer, founder and CEO of Level Access. “These recent accolades serve as a powerful affirmation from our employees and independent researchers, echoing our collective commitment to making a meaningful impact. And they reinforce that by investing in our people, we are investing in the future of digital accessibility.”

Level Access has been honored with the following:

• Recognized as One of the Best Companies for Work-Life Balance in 2024 by Purpose Jobs: Level Access stands out for its unwavering commitment to employee well-being. This distinction highlights the company’s integrated approach to work-life balance, particularly as remote work blurs traditional workplace boundaries. Level Access champions flexible time off, encouraging employees to disconnect and recharge, and offers remote work options that allow staff to manage personal responsibilities alongside professional demands. This holistic focus on well-being underscores Level Access’s dedication to fostering an environment where employee success is supported by genuine care and flexibility.

• Named a 2024 Top Workplaces Winner by Energage and USA Today: Based solely on employee feedback, this recognition places Level Access among the elite companies in the country that demonstrate exceptional workplace environments. The Top Workplaces USA awards highlight organizations that excel in employee engagement and satisfaction across multiple sectors, including midsize and large firms with operations in various markets. This accolade reflects the strong corporate culture at Level Access and showcases its commitment to creating a supportive and positive work environment. This acknowledgment is a testament to Level Access’s dedication to employees and highlights its ability to attract and retain top-tier talent.

• Washington DC’s Best Midsize Places to Work and Best Places to Work Lists for 2024 by Built In: Level Access has been recognized for its commitment to creating a workplace that values diversity of thought and exceptional performance. The company prioritizes developing its workforce to attract and retain top talent. With benefits that include comprehensive health coverage, generous parental leave, fitness reimbursements, and a robust professional development program, Level Access provides a nurturing environment that supports both personal and professional growth.

• Named Among Large Employers on Virginia Business Best Places to Work 2024 List: In a competitive review by Virginia Business and the Pennsylvania-based Best Companies Group, Level Access has been honored for its outstanding workplace environment, securing its position among the top large employers in Virginia. The selection process involved detailed employee and company surveys that evaluated aspects such as leadership, corporate culture, employee satisfaction, and overall engagement. This recognition reflects Level Access’s commitment to fostering an exemplary work environment that supports and enhances employee well-being and professional growth, affirming its status as a key player in Virginia’s business landscape.

“Receiving these excellence in workplace honors underscores our commitment to creating an environment that champions continuous learning and professional development, while always supporting employee well-being,”added Colleen Wood, Chief People Officer at Level Access. “And this balance is the key to succes—ensuring our team members are excited and equipped to collectively drive our mission forward while also excelling in their personal careers.”

This collection of accolades follows Level Access’s recent acquisition of UserWay, a move that brings a wealth of talent into its fold and expands the capabilities of its digital accessibility solution.

These recognitions also reinforce Level Access’s position not just as a leader in digital accessibility, but as a model employer that values innovation, inclusion, and the well-being of its team. As the company continues expanding its reach and impact, it remains committed to creating a fully accessible future for all. To learn more about the workplace culture Level Access supports, including open positions, visit www.levelaccess.com/careers/.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

Public Relations Contact

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anthonyBarnum Public Relations
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The post Level Access Receives Multiple Top Workplace Honors, Validating Investment in Inclusive Culture appeared first on Level Access.

GAAD was founded in 2012 to call attention to the need for digital inclusion in an increasingly online society. Since then, the digital world has dramatically expanded, with digital experiences now mediating much of our day-to-day life. Whether we’re video conferencing with colleagues, booking travel plans, scheduling medical appointments, or streaming the latest TV series, we rely on digital technology. And access to digital experiences has become an even more urgent requirement for equitable participation in society.

Wondering what to think about, talk about, and do on GAAD this year? We asked accessibility experts on our team to share what’s on their minds on this meaningful day, and their recommendations for making an impact.

From Jon Avila, Chief Accessibility Officer:

As we celebrate and reflect on GAAD this month, we should consider the progress we have made and the work to be done. We should recognize that GAAD isn’t just about awareness but also about action. Beyond educating others, GAAD is a great opportunity to volunteer in our communities, create resources, and find new ways to expand access to technology.

And while GAAD may be a single day, we must recognize that technology is constantly evolving and that the work of accessibility and inclusion is ongoing. As our industry changes, we need to ensure that new technology doesn’t leave people with disabilities behind—while never limiting the future of accessibility to what is possible today.

“GAAD isn’t just about awareness, but also about action.”

Jon Avila, Chief Accessibility Officer

From Corbb O’Connor, Director of Accessibility Advocacy:

In past years, I often saw posts from blind friends on Facebook asking for information about how accessible a particular category of apps was with screen readers. Today, I see posts from blind friends about the conversations (sometimes battles) they’re having with the companies that build their favorite banking, gaming, news, and shopping apps, not to mention countless others.

Accessibility is no longer a consideration—it’s an expectation. And it’s driving technological progress for everyone. In the early 2010s, to take a photo of a document with your iPhone and convert it to spoken audio, you needed a specialized, costly app designed specifically for blind people. Those innovations have led to the optical character recognition technology that we now all use.

Still, too many companies are resistant to this progress. So, on GAAD, let’s focus our energies on teaching teams that we, people with disabilities, are already using their apps, that we are a larger-than-expected percentage of their users, and that they have a responsibility to include us in all phases of the software development lifecycle. In 2024, teams should already know that accessibility is a core non-functional requirement for everything they do.

“Accessibility is a core non-functional requirement.”

Corbb O’Connor, Director of Accessibility Advocacy

From Karen Hawkins, Principal of Accessible Design:

GAAD is an opportunity for all of us to assess how inclusive our own day-to-day practices are, to understand opportunities for improvement, and to act on them. It doesn’t matter what you do, what your job title is, or what level of seniority you do or do not have. In today’s world, we all touch digital experiences. We send emails, we post on social media, we write documents, etc. And so, your aim should be to craft every email, social post, and document to be as inclusive as you can make it.

Why? You don’t know the needs of your audience. You don’t know if they prefer large text or a specific color palette (like dark mode), or if they don’t easily recall your organization’s acronyms, for instance. Accessibility isn’t just about making experiences work for assistive technology like keyboards and screen readers; there is more to consider to create truly inclusive experiences.

We all have a responsibility to our colleagues, customers, and communities to ensure that whatever we individually output is as accessible as possible. So today on GAAD, take a moment to reflect upon your own output. I’ll bet you identify at least a few ways you could improve.

“Reflect on your day-to-day work output. I’ll bet you identify areas for improvement.”

Karen Hawkins, Principal of Accessible Design

From Dana Randall, Head of Accessible UI Design:

Of the 42 million Americans that have a severe disability, 96% have disabilities that are unseen or non-apparent. A U.K.study found that around 70% of all disabilities are non-apparent. Regardless of what metric you want to use, the message is the same: not all disabilities are visible or apparent. In fact, many of them fall into this category.

Because of the stigma often associated with disability disclosure, and its potential implications, it’s important to recognize that people with non-apparent disabilities may never disclose their status.

During GAAD, I’m shifting my focus from talks about designing with accessibility in mind to driving more awareness about non-apparent disabilities and neurodiversity. I’m hopeful that by putting a “friendly face” to discussions around topics like neurodiversity, chronic pain, and rare conditions, I can help challenge stereotypes.

I believe that to build a sustainable and scalable accessibility program, accessibility leaders and advocates need to reach beyond fear tactics. Accessibility must evolve from something organizations have to do into something businesses and product leaders want to do. By driving more understanding around the needs of users with all types of disabilities, including those that are non-apparent, we can more effectively, proactively, and meaningfully embed these considerations into how we do our jobs.

“Not all disabilities are visible or apparent.”

Dana Randall, Head of Accessible UI Design

Celebrate GAAD with opportunities for learning, connection, and action

Digital accessibility is an ongoing practice, and your commitment shouldn’t be limited to just one time of year. But GAAD offers a meaningful opportunity to put additional effort into advancing digital accessibility at your organization. If your program’s growth has hit a plateau, it’s the perfect time to identify new paths for progress, like bringing more teams into the fold. And if you’re just getting started, there’s no better moment to get your accessibility practice off the ground.

To help you drive online inclusion forward this GAAD, we’ve put together a hub featuring practical resources, along with webinars and in-person events where you’ll learn from experts and like-minded professionals. Check it out to expand your digital accessibility knowledge, build new skills, and increase your organization’s impact as we work together to create a digital world that’s accessible to everyone.

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The post Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024: A Call to Action from Our Experts appeared first on Level Access.

Managing compliance across a diverse set of jurisdictions can be challenging—and if you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of notable international accessibility laws and standards and offer some quick tips for streamlining the management of a global digital accessibility program.

WCAG: The global standard for digital accessibility

Many international digital accessibility laws have adopted the same standard for compliance: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to help ensure digital content is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. These guidelines are regularly updated to keep pace with the changing technology landscape, and the most recent version, WCAG 2.2, was released in October 2023. Different versions are backwards compatible, so if a website conforms with WCG 2.2, it will also conform with WCAG 2.1.

There are three levels of conformance with WCAG: A, AA, and AAA, where A represents the minimum level of conformance and AAA represents the highest level achievable. WCAG AA is widely considered the benchmark for accessibility, and most laws and standards that incorporate WCAG require this conformance level.

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Major international accessibility laws

The following portion of this blog summarizes international laws governing the accessibility of websites, apps, and other digital experiences, organized by market:

• United States
• Canada
• European Union
• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Norway
• Israel
• Australia
• New Zealand
• India
• Japan
• Korea

While many of these are workplace and anti-discrimination laws that aren’t limited to digital accessibility, they have implications for the digital world.

United States

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA is an anti-discrimination law that offers equal protection to people with disabilities in the U.S. across many areas, from employment to transportation. Title III of the ADA mandates that people with disabilities have equal access to “public accommodations,” a broad category that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has repeatedly clarified includes websites available to the public.

Separately, Title II of the ADA requires that state and local government programs and services—including digital experiences associated with these programs and services—are accessible, and don’t discriminate against users with disabilities. In 2024, rulemaking implementing Title II was updated to clarify that Level A and AA conformance with WCAG version 2.1 is the compliance standard for websites, other web content, and mobile apps (including content from third-party organizations).

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 508 requires that U.S. federal agencies ensure the accessibility of their information and communications technology (ICT), which includes websites, software, and mobile apps as well as digital documents and hardware. The law adopts WCAG 2.0 Level A conformance as the standard for compliance. Notably, public-sector vendors selling ICT to the U.S. federal government must also meet Section 508’s digital accessibility requirements.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 mandates that the U.S. federal government and recipients of federal government aid and assistance, including public schools and universities and healthcare facilities, offer people with disabilities equal access to their programs and services. The law applies to websites and digital content associated with these programs and services.

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA)

The CVAA aims to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to “advanced” communication services, such as digital two-way communication, broadband, video programming, and mobile products and services. The Act includes specific accessibility requirements for these communications technologies, and non-compliance can be costly: organizations may face fines up to $100,000 per violation, with a maximum penalty of one million dollars per day.

Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

The Air Carrier Access Act protects people with disabilities from discrimination by U.S. airports and airlines, including international airlines entering or exiting the U.S. In addition to outlining physical accessibility requirements for air travel, the law mandates that airports and airlines ensure their websites meet WCAG 2.0 level A and AA criteria. The ACAA also includes specific technical accessibility requirements for self-service kiosks.

Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits discrimination based on many factors, including disability, in covered health programs and activities. The law does not specify a technical accessibility standard for compliance.

Canada

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

The AODA requires that all organizations based in Ontario, regardless of size, sector, or industry, adhere to accessibility standards in five key areas—customer service, employment, information and communications, transportation, and public spaces —and outlines specific digital accessibility requirements. To comply with the information and communications area of the law, organizations must ensure their websites, web content, and web-based applications conform with WCAG 2.0 level A and AA criteria, with exceptions for audio descriptions and live captions on video content.

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Accessible Canada Act (ACA)

The ACA provides for the development of accessibility standards and gives the Government of Canada the authority to work with stakeholders and people with disabilities to create new accessibility regulations that will apply to sectors within the federal jurisdiction. The ACA also sets requirements for organizations to follow in order to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Accessibility Reporting Regulations

Under the ACA, the CRTC has implemented various accessibility reporting rules for broadcasting and telecommunications organizations in Canada. These regulations include requirements for broadcasting and telecommunications service providers to establish accessibility feedback processes and publicly report their accessibility progress.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 

This law protects the human rights of all Canadian citizens, including protection from discrimination on the basis of disability.

Canadian Standard on Web Accessibility

The Canadian Standard on Web Accessibility requires all Canadian government websites and web applications to conform to WCAG 2.0 AA. Like Section 504 and 508 in the U.S., the Canadian Standard on Web Accessibility applies to public-facing web pages and web apps provided through federal government agencies.

European Union (EU)

Note: The following international accessibility laws apply to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

European EN 301 549 Standard

EN 301 549 is the European standard for digital accessibility. Similarly to Section 508 in the U.S., this standard sets requirements for the ICT of public-sector organizations in the EU. EN 301 549 criteria cover websites and mobile apps, as well as a wide range of ICT products and services, including telecommunications services. The standard, which currently incorporates WCAG 2.1 A and AA, may be used in procurement and is the presumptive standard of compliance for other EU accessibility regulations.

Directive EU 2016 / 2102 (Web Accessibility Directive)

This Directive requires the websites and mobile apps of all public-sector organizations in the EU to be accessible for people with disabilities. EN 301 549 is the standard for compliance.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act mandates that a range of products and services, including e-commerce websites and many types of digital experiences, are accessible to consumers with disabilities. Notably, the law applies to any organization conducting business in the EU—not just those based in the EU. Enforcement of the Act will begin in June of 2025, and EN 301 549 will be used as the presumptive standard for conformity.

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France

Law 2005-102 and the General Accessibility Reference Framework for Associations (RGAA)

Law 2005-102 is an anti-discrimination law that mandates the accessibility of public online communication, including websites, intranet systems, mobile applications, and software. Compliance is required for all public-sector organizations in France, as well as private-sector organizations with an annual revenue of over 250 million Euros. The standard for compliance with Law 2005-102 is the RGAA, a French digital accessibility standard based on WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA.

Germany

Berlin Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV)

The BITV is a piece of legislation that protects the equal rights of people with disabilities to access information and communications technology. Based on the Gesetz zur Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderungen (BBG), a German law that prohibits discrimination based on disability by federal public entities, the BITV extends the BBG’s accessibility requirements for government buildings and public spaces to the digital world.

The BITV includes specific accessibility guidelines adapted from WCAG 2.0, and compliance is mandatory for all federal public-sector organizations in Germany.

United Kingdom

The Equality Act of 2010

The Equality Act prohibits both public- and private-sector organizations in the U.K. from discriminating against people with disabilities in employment and when providing products, facilities, and services.

Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations

The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations mandate that public-sector organizations in the U.K. ensure their websites and mobile content are accessible to people with disabilities. The regulations adopt EN 301 549 as the standard for compliance.

British National Standard (BSI 8878)

The British Standards Institution, or BSI, published the British National Standard as a Code of Practice for developing processes to plan and create accessible web experiences.

Norway

The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act 

The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act establishes digital accessibility requirements for both public- and private-sector organizations in Norway. While EN 301 549 is the compliance standard for public-sector organizations, private-sector organizations must meet WCAG 2.0 level A and AA criteria with some exceptions.

Israel

Israel Standard (IS) 5568

IS 5568 is Israel’s national standard for web accessibility. It applies to public and private organizations in Israel and incorporates WCAG 2.0 AA.

Australia

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

The DDA prohibits individuals and organizations in Australia from discriminating against people with disabilities in several areas, including education, employment, and the provision of goods and services. Digital accessibility barriers may constitute an act of discrimination under the DDA, and the Australian Human Rights Commission recommends WCAG 2.0 AA conformance as a baseline for compliance.

AS 301 549

Adapted from the EU standard EN 301 549, AS 301 549 establishes specific accessibility requirements for digital products procured by public-sector organizations in Australia under the Digital Services Standard.

New Zealand

New Zealand Human Rights Act

This human rights law protects the rights of all people in New Zealand and prohibits discrimination based on a range of factors including disability.

Web Accessibility Standard 1.1

All public service and non-public service agencies in New Zealand must meet the requirements of Web Accessibility Standard 1.1. This standard incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, with exceptions for complex maps, alternatives for time-based media, live captions, and audio descriptions.

India

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act is an Indian anti-discrimination law that offers various protections to people with disabilities, including equal access to both physical and digital spaces. The law applies to both public and private entities in India and has adopted a version of EN 301 549—EN (IS) 301 549 (parts 1 and 2)—as the compliance standard.

Japan

Japanese Industrial Standard X 8413-3 (JIS X)

JIS X provides specific guidelines, derived from WCAG 2.0, for planning and developing digital content that is accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly. Conformance with these guidelines is mandatory for public-sector organizations and voluntary for private-sector organizations.

Korea

Act On the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities and Remedy Against Infringement on Their Rights

This Act outlaws discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas, including employment, education, and the provision of goods and services. Article 20 of the Act explicitly protects people with disabilities’ equal right to access information, including electronic information, from both public and private organizations.

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Tips for streamlining global accessibility compliance

Achieving and maintaining compliance with the myriad international accessibility laws is no small feat—but with the right processes in place, organizations can efficiently and consistently meet their obligations. Here are a few pieces of advice:

• Conform with the latest version of WCAG: As the global standard for digital accessibility, WCAG serves as the benchmark for compliance with numerous international digital accessibility laws. Because different laws and standards have adopted different versions of WCAG, and versions are backwards compatible, targeting conformance with the most recent version will help you meet many global accessibility requirements simultaneously while staying ahead of future regulatory changes.
• Establish organization-wide accountability for accessibility: When an individual or team is centrally accountable for accessibility across your organization, it’s easier to ensure that digital experiences across your portfolio are held to consistent accessibility standards that align with international requirements. In fact, according to our Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report, professionals at organizations with centralized accountability for digital accessibility report higher program maturity, and reduced legal risk, relative to those whose organizations’ lack centralized oversight.
• Leverage tooling to support accessibility governance: Digital experiences are dynamic—and sustain compliance, organizations need a reliable system for tracking their conformance with accessibility standards over time. Governance tools, like those in the Level Access Platform, can help streamline this work by providing a unified view of the high-level accessibility status of an entire digital portfolio, as well as individual assets, and allowing organizations to benchmark performance against specific thresholds.

Advance accessibility at scale with a trusted partner

Successfully navigating global compliance requires technology and expertise. An experienced third-party digital accessibility provider, like Level Access, can equip you with the tools and guidance necessary to meet your legal obligations across markets. Engage with a member of our team to get started, or learn more about our enterprise solution here.

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The post Navigating International Accessibility Laws appeared first on Level Access.

Importantly, designing an accessible checkout experience goes beyond ensuring shoppers can enter their credit card details. Before they’re ready to pay for merchandise, most people want to review the contents of their cart to confirm they’ve selected the right items. When this information isn’t accessible to users of assistive technology (AT) like screen readers, potential customers may choose to abandon their carts rather than risk spending money on the wrong products.

So, how can designers ensure every shopper has the “cart confidence” they need to check out? In part three of her “Elevating E-Commerce Accessibility” video series, accessible design expert Dana Randall offers practical guidance for creating an inclusive shopping cart experience, helping all customers check out with certainty.

New to this series? Catch up on parts one and two, covering accessible template design and product display basics. 

Video: Cart confidence

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Video transcript

This is the third video of the three-part video series. This video is going to focus on the cart and checkout. If you’re anything like me, you use your shopping cart as a wish list or a collection of things that you want, but you’re still considering. Maybe you’re unsure of sizing and you need to do a little more research to be sure you’ve got the best fit.

My shopping cart often looks a little bit like this. I’ve got the same item in two different sizes. I also have an item that I’m saving for when it goes on sale, and maybe a few things that I have in mind to buy as gifts.

As a sighted customer, I might not have a hard time figuring out what I did during my 03:00 a.m. insomnia add-to-cart spree, but what is this experience like for a low-vision or screen reader user?

When I’m designing, I want to make sure that I’m considering how to create a functional and efficient experience for all of my users. Some elements that I want to think about include:

Tip number one

Ensuring the sale price is clear and legible, especially for low-vision users. In this example, I’m making sure the sale text in red passes minimum contrast.

Yikes, it doesn’t. Let’s fix that. That’s much better.

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Tip number two

Let’s also make sure that the screen reader accurately announces the price. What is the actual price versus the sales price? And let’s ensure that we’re not creating any unnecessary confusion.

In this example, we have the original price with a strike through, the discounted price that the customer will actually pay, and the total savings amount. One way to approach this could be to give the complete information in a concise sentence, for example, $7.99 instead of $9.99, saving $2.

And finally, let’s go back to my 03:00 a.m. add-to-cart spree. Remember, we have a cart with a lot of items in it. Maybe some need to be deleted or saved for later. That takes us to my final tip of this series.

Tip number three

Something that you might want to consider as a design team is to include your spoken user interface during your prototyping process. Have someone on your team read the cart experience aloud. By including this, you’re considering how a screen reader user will experience your cart. You can think about how you want certain elements and components to be announced and the preferred order that you’d like that to happen.

You can take this same process and apply it to your checkout flow. Your goal is to create a clear and concise cart and checkout experience for all of your customers.

If you found any of this helpful, we’ve got more for you. Check out our other resources on accessibility and retail.

Win more customers with inclusive experiences

Visit our retail hub for additional resources on accessible design in e-commerce, and to learn how Level Access can support.

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However, when I explain that the best way to mitigate legal risk is to provide a barrier-free experience to users, these same organizations often struggle to take action. They have a hard time finding the resources to tackle accessibility in addition to other compliance priorities, like privacy and security.

I understand this concern. Teams today face tremendous pressure to use their resources as prudently as possible. But unless they reliably address accessibility, organizations will continue to invite costly, time-consuming legal action, and they won’t have a defensible position when they’re targeted. They’ll also undermine their progress toward other business objectives. In fact, accessibility issues can expose users with disabilities to privacy and security risks, not to mention result in a poor overall user experience—or even a total lack of usability.

Here’s the good news: bringing digital experiences into alignment with accessibility requirements doesn’t need to be daunting. The key is to think like a user. In this piece, I’ll explain how tackling accessibility through the lens of an end user’s journey, and taking a focused approach to testing and remediation, allows organizations to swiftly and sustainably meet their ADA compliance goals and open their experiences up to a wider group of users.

What does ADA compliance really mean when it comes to digital accessibility?

Many teams think they need to test and fix every barrier in their digital experience, in a one-time marathon, to achieve ADA compliance. This misperception prevents them from making accessibility a consistent priority. In fact, I’ve worked with organizations that, determined to fix everything, request an audit of their entire digital experience, only to realize they don’t have the internal resources to address most issues identified. Understandably, they become disillusioned, and assume accessibility compliance is simply out of reach.

The reality is, the ADA doesn’t include specific technical standards for accessibility. The U.S. Department of Justice has cited conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a benchmark for ADA compliance in its private enforcement actions. But the law itself is ultimately concerned with three key factors:

1. Digital experiences are usable for people with disabilities.
2. Organizations maintain the accessibility of their digital experiences over time.
3. Organizations provide effective communication to users with disabilities (e.g., information communicated on a digital experience is communicated in a way that people with disabilities can perceive, operate, and understand).

This blog will focus primarily on providing guidance for meeting the first requirement, usability for people with disabilities, though that doesn’t make the other two requirements any less important.

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The fast track to ADA compliance and better user experience: User-first thinking

Because of the ADA’s focus on ongoing access, I advise organizations working toward ADA compliance to find a realistic and sustainable approach to testing, and fixing, their experiences. That approach doesn’t involve evaluating and attempting to remediate every page at once. Comprehensive testing is valuable to gain a baseline understanding of an experience’s accessibility—but when it comes to remediation, what really matters is that visitors can successfully use that experience to complete their goals. What are the core pages that matter most to your customers? What tasks might they need to complete?

As you begin to plan for testing and fixing specific parts of your experience, center areas that are important to users. These typically include components and templates that represent key functionality and / or are used across your site or product, such as a menu or search bar, as well as high-traffic pages like:

• The home page
• The contact page
• Pages dedicated to your product(s)
• Pages that provide a physical location for your organization

But don’t just think about the individual pieces of your site. Beyond specific pages, consider the pathways that are crucial for users. Prioritize your key user flows, or the journeys users take to complete core tasks, such as:

• Searching for and comparing products
• Completing a purchase
• Contacting support
• Logging in
• Requesting account statements

When you ensure that users have barrier-free access to the information and functionality they value most, you’ll be well on your way to mitigating legal risk—even if you still have certain issues left to resolve.

Putting a user-first approach into practice

We’ve established that the ability for people with disabilities to use your site is the most important factor in ADA compliance—and by prioritizing the parts of your experience that users care about most, you can make working toward compliance much more manageable. Now that you have your priorities in order, you might be wondering how to approach testing, and remediating, your key components, pages, and user flows.

For the most accurate results, that reflect real users’ experience, testing should be performed manually by accessibility experts and native users of assistive technology (AT) like screen readers and speech recognition, screen magnification, and content resizing technology. And it should include evaluation of specific use cases, in which a user with a disability attempts to complete a user flow with a specific technology.

Testing by real people is critical because current automated testing tools cannot detect all issues. I was recently working with an organization that had performed automated scans of their website and found very few barriers. However, when I attempted to navigate this site with a screen reader, I was immediately blocked by a keyboard trap and hidden content. The organization was completely oblivious to these issues, since they were undetectable by automation.

Unless you’re purposefully creating a baseline and planning to follow up with more focused re-testing of specific areas, it’s wise to approach manual testing incrementally, taking care to test only what you can realistically fix. For organizations with limited resources, this is an effective way to ensure the budget you put toward testing pays off in material improvements to your digital experience. It also means accessibility doesn’t need to disrupt your product roadmap. You can approach remediation in bite-sized pieces—for example, focusing on the pages in one user flow at a time—while continuing to pursue other development priorities.

Every incremental improvement will not only help you reduce your risk, and create a defensible position if you are targeted, but ultimately result in a more equitable experience for users. And, eventually, you can shift your focus from fixing issues to proactively preventing them in the first place—which is the most efficient way to ensure accessibility and compliance. We’ll explore this in more detail in the next section.

The essential guide to user-first accessibility testing

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Compliance isn’t a checkbox

When they’re first approaching digital accessibility, organizations often assume ADA compliance is a one-time box to check—that is, that once their digital experience is usable for people with disabilities, it will remain accessible and compliant for good. However, digital experiences are constantly changing. In fact, business leaders I speak with often underestimate just how frequently their websites are updated with new content by creative teams, or how updates to widgets or third-party tools they use impact their sites’ accessibility.

Every update has the potential to introduce new barriers for users that put brands at risk of a lawsuit. For example, after settling a web accessibility lawsuit in 2016, fast casual dining franchise Sweetgreen recently became the target of another suit because it allegedly failed to ensure its site remained navigable for customers with disabilities.

The dynamic nature of digital experiences makes it especially critical that organizations approach compliance as an ongoing practice, rather than a one-time project. And maintaining accessibility, in alignment with the ADA’s requirements, typically involves more than testing and fixing in a manageable way. To start on the path to sustainable, continuous accessibility, I encourage teams to:

• Set up ongoing site monitoring with automated user flow testing, so they can easily detect any new issues arising from updates that may impact users’ experience.
• Implement accessibility training to equip internal teams with the skills needed to avoid creating new accessibility issues (and future remediation work).
• Take advantage of tools that can help them easily embed accessibility into their specific roles, such as testing integrations for developers and design plugins.
• Publish an accessibility statement that includes a way for users to contact you with feedback about your digital experience’s accessibility.

As part of a user-first approach, you should also aim to incorporate the perspectives of users with disabilities into your experience creation process. In practice, this could involve:

• Including users with disabilities in focus groups for UX research.
• Creating user personas that include users of AT, users of keyboard-only navigation, and other people with disabilities.
• Accounting for the behavior of AT users, keyboard-only users, and other people with disabilities in the acceptance criteria for user stories.

When you thoroughly account for the different ways that users interact with your website, app, or product as you design and build, you’ll have fewer issues to fix later. And you’ll provide more intuitive experiences for users.

Enhance usability and ensure compliance with an expert partner

At first, achieving, and sustaining, digital accessibility can feel challenging—but by focusing on users’ experience, you can ensure you’re on the most efficient path toward lasting compliance. And with the right partner, you’ll have all the tools, services, and support you need to achieve your goals.

Level Access has over 25 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes and maturity levels meet their accessibility compliance obligations. Our experts will:

• Help you understand how people with disabilities use digital technology, and how accessible your digital assets are at a baseline level.
• Work with you to identify the templates, components, pages, and key user flows that matter most to your audience.
• Manually test these pages and flows using a variety of assistive technologies (AT), delivering actionable results.
• Support you with prioritizing and remediating any issues we identify.
• Equip you with advanced automated monitoring tools, training, and other resources you need to sustain compliance.

Ready to start your journey to lasting accessibility and compliance? Contact a member of our team today.

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The post Think Like a User: A Streamlined Approach to Digital Accessibility Compliance appeared first on Level Access.

Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney General signed a final rule regarding the accessibility of digital experiences under Title II of the ADA, which dictates that state and local governments’ services, programs, and activities must conform with web accessibility standards and be accessible to people with disabilities. This rule was originally proposed in August of 2023 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and marks a continuation of the DOJ’s longstanding efforts to clarify the ADA’s application to the digital world.

Unsure whether your organization will need to comply, or what standards you’ll need to meet? In this post, I’ll explain the DOJ’s new rule under Title II of the ADA, including what kinds of agencies and organizations will be impacted. I’ll also outline what compliance will mean, in practical terms, and provide recommendations for aligning with these requirements ahead of the DOJ’s deadlines.

Explore our Title II resource hub to gain clarity on the ADA Title II requirements and how to meet them.

What are the new regulations under Title II of the ADA?

The final rule, which will be officially published in the Federal Register, outlines specific accessibility requirements to ensure governments’ digital experiences are accessible to people with disabilities and therefore more inclusive for all constituents.

The new rule’s digital accessibility standards apply to state, local, and district government entities’ websites and mobile apps, and include digital documents (such as PDFs, word-processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentation files). The rule states that these digital assets and experiences need to conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Version 2.1, Levels A and AA.

In addition, the rule applies to publicly available web content, including video and audio content and new social media posts. However, the rule provides exceptions for some types of content, including unchanging, archived materials on a website.

The language of the final rule confirms that measuring WCAG conformance will require some flexibility, since digital content changes frequently and 100% conformance, at all times, may not be a readily achievable requirement. The rule outlines a limited number of circumstances in which public entities do not need to strictly adhere to WCAG, including cases in which conformance would place an undue burden on organizations, or fundamentally alter the nature of a digital experience.

Additionally, a digital experience that does not conform with WCAG may still meet the rule’s requirements if WCAG violations have a “minimal impact on access,” meaning that people with disabilities can still use the experience as successfully as people without disabilities. Organizations may also provide alternative, accessible versions of inaccessible content, but only when technical or legal limitations prevent the content from being made accessible.

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What about content created by third parties?

To comply with the rule, governments need to ensure that all their web and mobile experiences are accessible, including digital experiences from third-party vendors and agencies.

Specifically, the rule states that any digital content that a public entity “provides or makes available” to users must meet accessibility standards, whether this content is provided directly by the public entity (e.g., published to a government’s own website) or by a third-party organization as part of a contractual, licensing, or other agreement. For example, if a city government contracts with a third-party mobile app provider to collect parking payments, the mobile app must conform with WCAG 2.1 A and AA.

Why were these regulations made—and why now?

According to the DOJ, the proposed updates to ADA Title II address the fact that many state and local governments now provide most of their services, programs, and activities online and via mobile apps. This development has increased the risk that people with disabilities encounter barriers to accessing essential services, as well as barriers to participating in essential civic activities—like attending a town meeting, or even voting.

In addition, both public entities and private businesses are facing mounting legal action surrounding the inaccessibility of digital experiences and content, with many lawsuits and demand letters alleging non-compliance with the ADA. As a result, many organizations have sought clarity from the federal government over what ADA compliance means, practically, when it comes to digital experiences. The DOJ’s new rule offers that clarity by providing documented technical standards (WCAG 2.1 A and AA) against which to measure compliance.

“We will continue to use every tool that we have, including our enforcement authority, to ensure that people with disabilities are not treated like second class citizens when it comes to online services.”

— Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (justice.gov)

Who is impacted by this new rulemaking?

The rule applies to state, local, and other special or district governments, encompassing all government agencies, services, and organizations, as well as organizations they’ve contracted to run programs on their behalf. The DOJ calls these institutions public entities. Other public entities include:

• Public schools, community colleges, and public universities
• Public hospitals and public healthcare clinics
• State and local courts
• Public libraries

Organizations that sell technology such as education technology and web platforms into public entities also need to make sure their products are accessible. While vendors may not directly have to comply with the new rule’s requirements, the public entity—their buyer—does. And with this new rule in place, they need to tighten their procurement requirements to ensure all purchased products and services conform with WCAG 2.1 A and AA.

So, if you want to sell into this market, following these web accessibility standards is a requirement. Check out this fact sheet from the DOJ for a more in-depth list of impacted organizations and services.

When will the new rule take effect? And what are the compliance deadlines?

The final rule goes into effect in June of 2024, 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. After this effective date, public entities have either two or three years to ensure that their web content and mobile apps conform with WCAG 2.1 A and AA standards. Specific timelines for compliance vary based on organizations’ size, with extra time allotted to smaller public entities. The requirements are as follows:

• Public entity with a total population of 50,000 or more: compliance within two years of the date of publication (by April 2026)
• Public entity with a total population of less than 50,000: compliance within three years of the date of publication (by April 2027)
• All special district governments: compliance within three years of the date of publication (by April 2027)

How will it be enforced?

Thenew rule under Title II of the ADA does not propose any new enforcement mechanisms. Instead, the DOJ can take existing enforcement actions such as filing lawsuits in federal court, administrative actions, or entering into settlement agreements with state and local government entities.

How can state and local governments achieve compliance?

While the new rule does not outline specific methods for testing and remediating digital experiences, it indicates the goal is to make sure digital experiences meet the WCAG 2.1 web accessibility standards and that digital content is accessible, providing effective communication to people with disabilities, a requirement of Title II of the ADA. We recommend using a combination of automated testing tools and manual evaluation using assistive technologies, including evaluation by people with disabilities (seeking and incorporating feedback from people with disabilities is encouraged by the DOJ in its new rule).

Now is probably also the right time to secure tooling and training for embedding digital accessibility best practices in all content development processes, from content authoring to UX and UI design. In addition, given the large volume of sites, apps, documents, and experiences a public entity of any size is likely to have in its digital portfolio, procuring an accessibility management platform where remediation progress and accessibility status can be monitored and tracked over time will be essential to ensuring compliance within either the two- or three-year time frames the DOJ has proposed.

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Will these updates to Title II of the ADA also impact private businesses, eventually?

It is likely that the new rule under Title II of the ADA will be a blueprint for similar revisions to Title III of the ADA, which applies to private businesses as places of “public accommodations.” Since the mid-1990s, the DOJ has stated that the definition of places of public accommodations includes company websites, e-commerce platforms, and other digital experiences, and many U.S. courts have agreed, ruling in favor of plaintiffs who allege a company or organization’s website is inaccessible to people with disabilities.

At Level Access, our position is that both businesses and people with disabilities would benefit from clarity in regulations under Title III, as this would reduce unexpected litigation for businesses while making sure consistent accessibility is provided to people with disabilities. However, the timing of any such proposed rulemaking may depend on many factors, including the outcome of the next federal election.

We’re here to help

As the market-leading digital accessibility solution provider, Level Access has decades of experience helping organizations achieve compliance with Title II and Title III of the ADA and other digital accessibility laws. Our suite of solutions encompasses automated and manual accessibility testing—including testing performed by people with disabilities—along with supportive designer tools and extensive monitoring and governance capabilities, all delivered through a central, streamlined system of record: the Level Access Platform.

With our strategic consulting to support with procurement and accountability, and role-specific accessibility training to help teams build internal expertise, state and local governments can feel confident they’re not only working efficiently toward the DOJ’s mandated timelines for digital ADA compliance but also laying an accessible foundation for future digital development. Ready to get on track to meet ADA compliance deadlines? Engage with our team today.

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As a result, many organizations have received demand letters or been served lawsuits claiming that the accessibility issues on their websites constitute violations of the ADA. The rate of litigation has been particularly staggering in recent years: roughly 14,000 web accessibility lawsuits were filed from 2017 through 2022, with over 3,000 filed in 2022 alone.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most recognizable companies that have faced legal action related to web accessibility, and how your organization can avoid legal risk by embracing accessibility.

Companies sued over website accessibility

Web accessibility lawsuits can affect companies of all sizes across a wide range of industries. We’ve rounded up some of the most high-profile cases to make headlines, from early settlements that laid the foundation for future legal action to more recent activity.

1. Winn-Dixie

In 2017, Florida resident Juan Carlos Gil sued grocery store chain Winn-Dixie in what was deemed the first trial of its kind. The judge ruled that because Winn-Dixie’s website was so heavily integrated with its physical stores, it was subject to accessibility requirements outlined in the ADA. This foundational case—resting on the complaint that the website was not accessible to users relying on screen reader technology—helped pave the way for many other web accessibility lawsuits covered in this piece.

2. Blue Apron

Another early ADA lawsuit, filed against the meal kit service Blue Apron, played a pivotal role in highlighting the importance of digital—not just physical—accessibility. The 2017 case made a media splash precisely because the company lacks a brick-and-mortar store. It helped clarify the role of website accessibility in ADA Title III compliance, demonstrating that even companies that have no physical premises can be sued for violating the ADA if their website—their primary “place” of business—is not accessible.

3. KitchenAid (Whirlpool Corporation)

While many early web accessibility lawsuits, like that brought against Winn-Dixie, focused on the close connection between organizations’ websites and physical locations, the increasing ubiquity of e-commerce has called this standard into question. Now that many consumers prefer to shop online, plaintiffs are scrutinizing the equity of access to companies’ online experiences, even if in-store shopping options are available. For example, an early 2023 class action lawsuit against Whirlpool Corporation—the owner of appliance brand KitchenAid—claimed that barriers for customers with visual disabilities on KitchenAid’s website constituted discrimination because they forced customers to spend time and money visiting in-store locations to make purchases.

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4. Fox News Network

Although companies sued over website accessibility are often retailers, a 2018 lawsuit against Fox News Network served as a warning to other media brands to heed the ADA’s requirements for websites. The class action lawsuit, which resulted in a settlement, claimed that Fox News Network’s website contained barriers for users who are legally blind—a broad category that includes users with low vision, not just those with total blindness. In particular, the lawsuit cited a lack of alt text for images and links, as well as redundant or empty links that hampered keyboard-based navigation.

5. Beyonce Knowles (Parkwood Entertainment)

Even the leadership of a pop superstar won’t protect a company from web accessibility lawsuits. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Beyonce Knowles’ company, Parkwood Entertainment, because the site that sold concert tickets and other goods and services related to Beyonce’s music was missing several accessibility fundamentals. According to the plaintiff’s claims, the site lacked alt text for images, had inaccessible drop-down menus and navigation buttons, and did not allow users to navigate with a keyboard instead of a mouse. Given Knowles’ celebrity, the case received widespread media attention and shone a spotlight on the importance of adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—the established global standard for website accessibility.

6. Hasbro

The ADA isn’t the only law governing web accessibility in the U.S.—and companies may simultaneously be held accountable under the ADA and other state and local regulations. Children’s toy manufacturer Hasbro found itself in this position in 2023 when a plaintiff sued the company for violating New York State Human Rights Law, New York City Human Rights Law, and New York State Civil Rights Law, as well as the ADA. The lawsuit alleged that barriers on the company’s website—including missing alt text, missing descriptive links, and inaccessible forms—prevented screen reader users from fully interacting with the experience and purchasing Hasbro’s goods and services.

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7. Panama Jack

In another 2023 class action lawsuit focused on e-commerce accessibility, a plaintiff alleged that the website of outdoor lifestyle brand Panama Jack excluded users who are blind or have low vision by relying exclusively on visual representation to communicate information. Because of this, the plaintiff claimed that Panama Jack failed to provide users with visual disabilities with equitable access to the “goods, services, and benefits” offered through its site. Like Hasbro—and many other companies sued over website accessibility in New York—Panama Jack was accused of violating the New York State Human Rights Law and New York State Civil Rights Law in addition to the ADA.

8. Domino’s Pizza

Fast food franchises have emerged as a frequent target for web accessibility lawsuits, with popular chains including Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Burger King facing legal action for ADA compliance violations. One of the most widely publicized cases in the industry took place in 2019, when a man named Guillermo Robles, who is blind, sued Domino’s Pizza over violations of ADA Title III. According to the complaint, Robles could not order food from the Domino’s Pizza website and app using screen-reading software. Robles won the case, setting a powerful example for businesses.

9. Barnes & Noble

Bookseller Barnes & Noble faced a class action lawsuit in 2022, when plaintiff Daniel Rodriguez alleged that the Barnes & Noble website was not fully compatible with the screen-reading software he used to navigate it. Rodriguez argued that Barnes & Noble denied him equal access to its goods and services by denying him full access to its website. This wasn’t the first time the retailer found itself in legal hot water over web accessibility issues: three years earlier, a different plaintiff named Egal Shabaz sought damages for multiple instances of non-conformance with WCAG, making Barnes & Noble one of many organizations to face multiple web accessibility lawsuits.

10. Sweetgreen

In one of the first high-profile web accessibility lawsuits of 2024, fast-casual health food restaurant Sweetgreen was sued under the ADA and New York Human Rights Law in January. The plaintiff in the case alleged multiple WCAG violations were making it challenging for people who are blind or have low vision to navigate the company’s site and access Sweetgreen’s services. Like Barnes & Noble, Sweetgreen isn’t new to accessibility-related legal action: in fact, the restaurant chain agreed to bring its website into compliance with the ADA as part of the terms of a 2016 settlement. This repeated activity involving Sweetgreen underscores the need for organizations to approach accessibility as an ongoing priority rather than a one-and-done project, particularly in today’s active legal landscape.

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Tips for avoiding web accessibility lawsuits

Whether your organization is already involved in litigation or is interested in being as proactive as possible to avoid web accessibility lawsuits, the best course of action is to make your website or mobile app conformant with the most recent version of WCAG at an AA, or intermediate, level. For a complete guide to these standards, we recommend reviewing our Must-Have WCAG Checklist. But you can get started with the following tips:

• Fix the technical basics. The most common legal complaints about websites are missing alt text, missing labels, empty links, redundant links, and missing page titles. For apps, they include incompatibility with screen reader technology, missing alt text, and missing navigation links.
• Include people with disabilities in your accessibility testing. Though automated scans are a helpful first step in identifying problems, they cannot always emulate the nuances of human interactions with digital interfaces. Use case testing by native users of assistive technologies, such as screen readers, will provide you with a more holistic understanding of your website’s or app’s user experience.
• Commit for the long-term. No software can instantly identify, let alone fix, all your organization’s digital accessibility problems at once. The digital landscape is ever-evolving, as are your users and customers. Lasting compliance requires a commitment to ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Achieving, and maintaining, compliance with the ADA and other global digital accessibility laws is easier with the right tools, training, and support. Our holistic approach combines advanced technology with the industry’s deepest bench of accessibility expertise, so you can swiftly and sustainably meet your compliance goals. Contact our team today to start mitigating legal risk and empowering users.

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That’s a wise decision. The ADA doesn’t just mandate the accessibility of physical spaces: the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as many courts, interpret it to also apply to the digital world. So, if people with disabilities can’t use your organization’s website, you might find yourself in legal hot water. And the legal landscape surrounding digital accessibility remains highly active. Roughly 14,000 web accessibility lawsuits were filed from 2017 through 2022, with this number steadily rising each year. Threatened legal action is even more frequent: more than 1,500 demand letters were sent per week in 2022.

Maintaining an ADA compliant website is key to avoiding reputation-damaging litigation and providing equitable experiences to all users. But web accessibility can feel complex, and you may be wondering where to begin. To help you move from uncertainty into action, this blog covers five steps your organization can take to jumpstart your journey to digital inclusion and compliance.

1. Understand the ADA compliance requirements for websites

To bring your website into compliance with the ADA, you need to understand what the law requires for digital experiences. While the ADA does not explicitly mention website accessibility, Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation. The DOJ has repeatedly reaffirmed its position that websites are considered places of public accommodation under the law.

Because the ADA itself doesn’t provide specific requirements for web accessibility, it’s often up to individual circuit courts to decide what constitutes a violation. However, in its private enforcement actions, the DOJ has frequently referenced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the standard for compliance. Most accessibility experts agree that conforming with the latest version of WCAG at an AA, or intermediate, level is a best practice for ensuring your website is ADA compliant.

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2. Evaluate your website for accessibility issues

Your next step toward creating an ADA compliant website is to audit your site’s current state of accessibility. Specifically, you’ll want to identify any areas of non-conformance with WCAG, as these may constitute barriers for users with disabilities. The most reliable approach to evaluation is to work with a third-party digital accessibility solution provider. Search for a partner that offers both automated and manual accessibility testing, and that will supply the context you need to prioritize and remediate the issues they identify.

An effective partner should focus their manual evaluation on key user flows: the specific paths users take to complete core tasks on your website, such as logging in or making a purchase. Thoroughly testing key flows is critical because accessibility barriers in these paths are the most likely to negatively impact users’ experience, and ultimately trigger legal action. For reliable results, testing of key user flows should be performed by accessibility experts and native users of assistive technologies (AT).

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3. Prioritize fixes based on user impact and legal risk

After you’ve obtained an evaluation of your website, it’s time to address any barriers that this assessment reveals. Depending on the maturity of your accessibility program, you may have a long list of issues—but you may not need to fix all of them right away.

Prioritize fixing issues identified in your key user flows. Issues in key flows affect the greatest number of users, and they leave you more vulnerable to legal action than barriers on lower-traffic parts of your site. In addition to addressing barriers in key flows, it’s strategic for organizations concerned about legal action to prioritize any issues that can be easily identified by automated testing. That’s because many ADA demand letters reference violations found through free automated scans. Issues in this category account for the vast majority of all web accessibility errors—but they’re typically the easiest to resolve.

Once you’ve resolved the barriers that have the most significant impact on users, as well as others that put you at high risk, you can move on to tackling lower-priority issues until you achieve your target level of WCAG conformance and your website is ADA compliant.

4. Start embedding accessibility in the digital experience creation life cycle

When you’ve addressed issues in key user flows, along with other high-priority barriers, you’re well on your way to an ADA compliant website. But as you work your way through lower-priority items, you’ll also want to start thinking about how to ensure you don’t introduce new issues the next time you make changes to your site’s content or functionality.

The most effective way to avoid creating new problems for users is to incorporate accessibility into your process for digital experience creation. That means ensuring web content is designed and developed with accessibility in mind. Consider investing in the following resources to support a proactive, sustainable approach to accessibility.

• Training: Role-specific accessibility training should be available for content authors, designers, developers, and other teams involved in producing web experiences. Training courses can help professionals build the knowledge and skills they need to efficiently and effectively integrate accessibility into their day-to-day work.
• Designer tools: Tools like a Figma plugin make it easy for designers to proactively test new design concepts for common accessibility issues and implement fixes before these designs are passed off to developers.
• Developer tools: By incorporating accessibility testing into your existing process for vetting code, you can significantly reduce the likelihood that barriers slip into live experiences.

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5. Codify and communicate your commitment to web accessibility

As you’ve likely gathered by now, ADA compliance isn’t a one-time box to check. It requires ongoing action, maintained through clear processes within your organization. The best way to sustain this ongoing action is by creating a web accessibility policy. Your policy may also include information about how your organization will meet these standards, such as:

• How web accessibility will be managed within your organization, including which individual or team is centrally accountable.
• How you’ll ensure third-party technology used on your website is accessible.
• What types of accessibility training and education are available to employees.

In addition to developing an internal policy, you may choose to publish an accessibility statement. A well-written accessibility statement publicly expresses your organization’s commitment to digital accessibility and the specific actions your organization is taking to meet the needs of users with disabilities, including maintaining an ADA compliant website. It should also provide a way for users to contact you if they do encounter accessibility barriers. Beyond demonstrating that your organization is doing the right thing, a public accessibility statement is a legal best practice: in fact, the DOJ has recommended accessibility statements in its enforcement of web accessibility ADA lawsuits.

You don’t need to have perfectly embedded accessibility into your design and development processes before you create a policy and publish an accessibility statement. It’s important to acknowledge, both internally and externally, that your commitment to accessibility is long-term, and you’re committed to continuous improvement.

Make, and keep, your website ADA compliant with expert support

Starting, and sustaining, a web accessibility program that ensures lasting compliance is easier with an expert partner. As you approach the work ahead, you may find that you need tools, guidance, and other resources you don’t have internally. A third-party expert can help you fill these gaps, keeping you on track to meet legal requirements.

With more than 25 years of experience in digital accessibility, Level Access has supported thousands of organizations in achieving compliance with the ADA and other global laws. From automated and manual evaluation to remediation support and help with policy creation, we’ll provide the technology and expertise you need to avoid legal risk and improve usability for all. To learn more about our approach, contact our team today.

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The post Maintaining an ADA Compliant Website: Five Steps to Getting Started appeared first on Level Access.

A business-boosting imperative

Prioritizing accessibility in e-commerce will boost business. Not only does it open your products to a greater share of the market, but inclusive organizations also report 28% more revenue, 30% higher economic profit margins, and twice as much net income compared to less inclusive competitors. Additionally, a more accessible experience can result in better customer engagement, potentially leading to higher average order values and increased customer frequency. In fact, according to our Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility survey, a majority (91%) of retail professionals consider digital accessibility a competitive advantage, with 85% reporting improvements in customer acquisition and 81% noting improvements in customer retention. Over time, building an accessible brand earns more consumer trust and loyalty, which may also improve lifetime value metrics.

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A legal obligation

Embracing accessibility in e-commerce not only impacts profitability, it’s critical to avoiding legal risk. Because an e-commerce site can be considered a place of public accommodation as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), brands and retailers can become the target of an ADA demand letter or lawsuit for an inaccessible online shopping experience. And many do. Roughly 14,000 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed from 2017 through 2022 in U.S. federal courts, with more than 3,000 filed in 2022 alone. And e-commerce experiences are consistent targets.

This type of legal action can bring financial consequences including legal fees, staff time and labor, and the cost of a potential settlement. In some cases, brands may face civil statutory penalties under the ADA, ranging from $75,000 for the first violation to up to $150,000 for subsequent violations. And that’s not including the cost of compensatory damages an organization may have to cover if their suit is also being brought under parallel state human rights laws such as the New York Human Rights Laws.

It’s also important to note that, as e-commerce powers an increasingly global marketplace, many online retailers have legal obligations beyond the U.S. For example, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires those doing business in the European Union to make their digital products, services, and technologies, including e-commerce experiences, accessible to everyone. And brands have until June 2025 to comply with requirements or begin to face fines and penalties.

What does accessibility in e-commerce mean in practice?

From avoiding legal risk to broadening your share of the market, accessibility is critical to e-commerce success. But you might be wondering, what does it take to create accessible online shopping experiences? There is a framework to follow when designing and developing: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—a set of more than 80 criteria against which web experiences can be evaluated for accessibility. While it’s not a guarantee of compliance, WCAG has been referenced in ADA enforcement settlements by the U.S. Department of Justice and adopted into many global accessibility laws and standards, including the standards that the EAA will be using to enforce compliance (EN 301 549).

The WCAG criteria are organized by four key principles, often referred to by the acronym POUR. Below, we’ll provide some questions user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designers can ask themselves to apply each key WCAG principle to their organization’s e-commerce experience.

Perceivable:

Are you providing appropriate alternative text for all non-decorative images so that users who are navigating with a screen reader have adequate context for each image?

In particular, pay attention to:

• Product images – if these are used as links instead of display-only images, alt text is not required, but rather meaningful link text.
• Images that contain text. It’s best to avoid these, but if they’re present in your experience, include the text in the image in the accompanying alt text.

Are you providing closed captioning and transcripts for audio and video content so it may be perceived and enjoyed by everyone?

Providing a version including audio description of action that’s only presented visually is also a WCAG recommendation. And designing videos to include sign language interpretation is another plus.

Does your e-commerce experience meet WCAG standards?

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Operable:

Is your website operable by a customer using a keyboard or alternate input device, rather than a mouse, to navigate?

In answering this question, designers tend to focus on the operability of “select” functionality, like buttons. But it’s also important to think about the ability to operate expansion functionality (i.e., accordions, menu items, chat bots, hamburger menus, date pickers, etc.), drag-and-drop functionality, and drawing or painting options without a mouse.

Are you providing users with many ways to navigate your site or platform, to allow maximum flexibility and efficiency?

For example, in e-commerce experiences, it’s common to use many headings on a page or screen. However, designers may want to add skip links for items like carousels and skip links to and from the filters on a category landing page. (For an example, tab through Publicis Sapient page). It’s also good practice to make sure the cart button and search bar are made landmarks (in addition to typical landmarks like the header, footer, and main menu) so shoppers can easily get to them at any time.

Understandable:

Are the headings on your page properly structured and nested, creating a logical flow that allows shoppers using a screen reader to understand the content on their screen?

For content to be understandable, headings should show the structure of a web page or application, like an essay outline. There should be a single heading one (<h1>) per page, reserved for the main heading, and headings two (<h2>) through six (<h6>) should follow a nested structure, decreasing in importance, programmatically. Note: Even though headings are structurally nested, they can be styled any way you want.

Are the forms users are required to complete clear and well-labeled?

This may mean:

• Identifying mandatory fields
• Properly labeling form elements and avoiding placeholder text
• Including instructions in a spot that makes sense for the design of the form
• Providing error messages in text that is specific, descriptive, and helpful

Robust:

If you’re not using native HTML components, have you ensured anything customer-facing you create meets the same accessibility requirements?

For example, each actionable element created should have clearly defined and differentiated states, and all states need to be accounted for. Depending on the element, that may include the following states:

• Default
• Hover
• Focus
• Selected
• Activated
• Open and closed
• Expanded and collapsed
• Clicked / Pressed
• Dragged
• Loading
• Inactive

Have you designed status messages so that people using assistive technologies are alerted to the message without their focus indicator moving to it?

In an e-commerce experience, this might include messages pertaining to:

• Search results like “5 results returned”
• Shopping cart updates like “Shopping cart, 5 items”
• Form success submissions like “Your form was successfully submitted”
• Loading icons like “Application busy”
• Snackbar messages like “Photo saved in wedding album”

Getting started: The e-commerce accessibility journey

Your e-commerce experiences are likely changing constantly, with new products being added, updates being applied, branding being refined, and functionality being enhanced all the time. In this state of flux, how do you ensure accessibility for a digital experience—or a whole portfolio of experiences?

The fundamental first step is understanding that it’s a journey, not a one-time box to check. Find out more in our guide, Digital Accessibility in E-Commerce. In it, we outline your organization’s six key steps for ensuring accessible, engaging, and impactful e-commerce experiences. We also recommend accessing our videos on designing accessible e-commerce templates and product displays for quick, actionable tips.

Ensure accessible, impactful e-commerce with six key steps

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Level Access supports iconic and innovative brands and retailers to ensure online shopping experiences that are accessible for everyone. If you want to safeguard your business’s reputation, improve business outcomes, and avoid legal risk, reach out to our team for a quick introductory conversation.

The post Accessibility in E-Commerce: Designing Inclusive Online Shopping Experiences appeared first on Level Access.

Arlington, VA, March 20, 2024 — Level Access, the leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, has completed its acquisition of UserWay, a pioneer in accessibility AI technologies. The acquisition signals the next evolution of digital accessibility by unifying Level Access’s industry-leading platform and unparalleled expertise with advanced automated remediation technology.

“Our vision for a comprehensive digital accessibility solution will empower organizations of all sizes and of all complexities to make faster progress and lasting impact, which equates to excellence for their end users,” said Tim Springer, CEO and Founder of Level Access. “This acquisition sets the stage for a new wave of innovation, which will equip organizations to build accessible experiences at scale.”

Level Access’s unified platform and expert services have long enabled teams to embed accessibility into the design, development, and testing phases of digital experience creation. UserWay’s technology complements this rich solution set with automated remediation—that is, the ability to apply AI and human-driven automated fixes to live experiences. This versatile toolset will offer the most complete solution for any organization at any stage of digital accessibility maturity.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Level Access to help organizations create and maintain accessible digital experiences,” said Allon Mason, CEO and Founder of UserWay, now President of Level Access. “Advanced automation and user personalization, coupled with Level Access’s proven, comprehensive digital accessibility approach, will be an industry game-changer.”

Organizations increasingly rely on automated remediation in their digital accessibility programs. According to the Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility survey, 34% of organizations leveraged automated remediation technology in 2023, which is a 14% jump from 2022. The survey is commissioned by Level Access, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), and the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict).

Level Access will draw on its more than 25 years as an industry leader and its tenured team of digital accessibility experts to meet this market demand. The company will thoughtfully integrate automated remediation technology into its platform so that customers can benefit from its efficiencies as part of a comprehensive approach to accessibility and compliance.

“From the millions of website owners who have struggled to launch a digital accessibility program to the largest enterprises with the most complex digital ecosystems, we will have a solution to advance digital accessibility for every organization,” added Springer. “With this acquisition, we’re accelerating progress toward our objective of making as many digital experiences as possible accessible for users with disabilities.”

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

About UserWay

UserWay is a full-service provider of digital accessibility software solutions. UserWay is trusted by millions of websites globally to increase usability for people with disabilities. The company’s Al-powered technologies help websites, apps, and digital documents more readily achieve compliance with accessibility regulations, such as the ADA, Section 508, AODA and EAA, and internationally recognized standards such as WCAG 2.2, and EN 301 549. Learn more at UserWay.org.

Contacts

Level Access

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

UserWay

Sophia Tupolev-Luz
VP Communications
sophia@userway.org

The post Level Access Completes Acquisition of UserWay, Signaling the Next Evolution of Digital Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

For the last few years, we’ve observed the rapid expansion and adoption of digital accessibility across industries, and around the world. As industry leaders, we’ve watched that acceleration with pride, while formulating a vision for a new generation of digital accessibility solutions that will equip every organization, everywhere, to embrace and scale accessibility.

This acquisition is a critical milestone in that journey. The advanced technology we are gaining, fused with our comprehensive solution and deep technical accessibility expertise, will power the future of digital accessibility. Here are just a few of the reasons we’re celebrating today.

We’re meeting the new digital reality head-on

Our approach to digital accessibility has always been to help teams make meaningful progress on the underlying issues in the fabric of their digital content, enabling them to provide usable, reliable experiences to their audiences. That work, which is crucial for ensuring sustainable accessibility, is always going to take time—it’s never going to be a simple box to check.

At the same time, the pace of new digital content creation is staggering. As a result of digital transformation, mid-market and enterprise organizations are now managing dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of digital experiences at once. In fact, it’s estimated that around 250,000 new websites are created every day.

We embrace the fact that automation, when used thoughtfully and strategically, is fundamental for helping accessibility programs keep pace with this new digital reality. Our vision for a next-generation comprehensive accessibility solution is one powered by advancements in AI and automation. This solution will provide organizations with a faster way to remove barriers for end users in live experiences, keeping pace with the velocity of digital content creation. It will equip them to meaningfully improve accessibility today, while they take the time required to make progress toward lasting, sustainable accessibility and compliance through accessible design, authoring, testing, and code-level remediation.

We’re expanding the accessibility team even further

We’ve always believed that when it comes to digital accessibility, everyone has a role to play. By developing tooling for designers, developers, and quality assurance (QA) professionals, as well as accessibility program managers, we’ve been on a mission to make sure every team across an organization is empowered to contribute to a more accessible future.

As a result of this acquisition, our technology set will become even more versatile. We can help even more team members integrate accessibility into their workstreams by providing tools that align with their skill sets and responsibilities, while continuing to offer the education needed to expand those skill sets and make an even stronger impact over time. We’re especially excited about the opportunity to work on tooling that better engages and enables the owners of digital experiences, such as marketing teams. With the additional capabilities we’re gaining, the Level Access solution will even more effectively support all professionals committed to digital accessibility whenever—and wherever—they’re working, whether in pre-production, post-production, or live environments.

We’re acting on our expertise as industry innovators

For more than 25 years, Level Access has taken a thoughtful, collaborative approach to the products we build and the way in which we help organizations solve for digital accessibility.

Because of this, we firmly believe we are the provider with both the longevity and the deep subject matter expertise to make a true impact on the evolution of digital accessibility with this acquisition. On the one hand, our approach is deeply rooted in the legacy of audit-based, code-level accessibility remediation. On the other hand, we’ve kept a close watch on the development of automated remediation technologies over time, noting their promising aspects, as well as aspects upon which we would improve.

With our experience, we believe that we are perfectly positioned to bring these two approaches to digital accessibility together in a streamlined, effective roadmap that embraces automation while ensuring program growth and maturation over time.

It’s a big undertaking, but we’re excited by the challenge. We’re confident it’s the best way to make the internet accessible. And we will continue iterating on our solution, based on feedback from our customers, to ensure we’re providing the most effective tools and services for lasting progress.

To learn more about our perspective on the impact of this acquisition, check out this video from Level Access’s Founder and CEO, Tim Springer.

Let’s build better, together

Since Level Access’s founding, we have always partnered with and listened to accessibility advocates and people with disabilities. And we’re committed to keeping that dialogue going. We’re grateful to be part of a movement of committed individuals and organizations that work tirelessly to create an accessible digital world.

Transforming the internet isn’t something one team, or one company, can do alone. As we embrace this next phase in the evolution of accelerated, impactful accessibility, we will act thoughtfully, in partnership with advisors throughout our industry and the broader disability community.

We welcome your collaboration and support as we work to ensure we’re delivering a dependable product that advances access to digital information, for everyone, for good. 

The post Level Access Acquires UserWay: Celebrating a Milestone appeared first on Level Access.

So, how can designers and content authors showcase products effectively for all online shoppers? In part two of her “Elevating E-Commerce Accessibility” video series, accessible design expert Dana Randall explains how to create product listing and product detail pages that enhance every buyer’s journey.

Access part one of this series, covering accessible template design, here. 

Video: Product display basics

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Video transcript

Welcome to part two of this three-part retail- and e-commerce-design-focused video series. I’m Dana Randall from Level Access. We’re going to cover some of the basics that should be part of designing any product listing or product detail page.

We’re going to focus on two different user profiles. User A is visiting your website or app and they don’t have a particular product in mind. They’re really there in a discovery mindset. User B is coming to your site or app with a particular product in mind. They’re in a conversion mindset.

User A: Discovery mindset

Let’s start with user A, the discovery mindset user. I’m going to start their journey on the product listing page. Let’s explore what might make a meaningful difference for a screen reader user. What are some of the baseline requirements? And what’s something that you could put a little extra thought into to shift a buying experience from good to great?

Tip number one:

Alt text. Alt text is a requirement. It’s critical to include meaningful alt text on all your product images. In this example, I’m sharing a product image with the alt text, “blue handbag.” Is this correct? Yes. Will it pass? Sure. This is required to provide your screen reader user with a good experience.

Tip number two:

Exceptional alt text. Have you considered how you can take alt text from fine to fabulous? What if I really considered how I could more meaningfully describe the product?

What shade of blue is it? Sky blue. Also, I noticed that this product has texture to it. This might be something the customer really enjoys or dislikes in their products. If the alt text on this product said, “sky blue satchel with perforated leather,” this would give the customer a much better sense of the product and its details.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. That information’s on the product detail page. This is true. But your screen reader user would need to click through to every product detail page to get that information. You could provide a more efficient experience by providing that information in the alt text.

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User B: Conversion mindset

Now let’s go to user B, the conversion mindset user. We’re going to explore the product detail page, or PDP. They came to your site or app knowing exactly what they wanted, so they landed on your product detail page. How can we design the best possible experience for this user to select the right size and color, and enable them to add the product to their cart effectively and efficiently?

Let’s take this journey with a customer who uses a keyboard or alternate input device. In this demo example, I’m using the keyboard to navigate around the PDP. As a designer, it’s important to think about all users and be sure to consider users beyond those using a mouse or trackpad. If we overlook this journey, it’s likely we’ll design an experience that’s less ideal, or even nonfunctional, for some users.

Tip number three:

Tip number three is for defining focus. Something we need to do in design is to clearly define which elements receive focus. We also need to think about what the focus indicator looks like, and in what order we want focus to be. It’s possible that the visual order from left to right, or top to bottom, isn’t the ideal flow for the best user experience, especially in a PDP where content might have contextual groupings or be in multiple columns. By thinking about the priority and the context of the elements, we can really improve the user’s journey on the page.

Tip number four: 

I also want to touch on the different color options. It’s common for a PDP to offer the product in different colors, but it’s also common for those color swatches to receive alt text that are your internal color codes. Those are not really meaningful to the user, so that’s tip number four: color swatches.

Keep in mind that your internal color codes are not particularly meaningful for your customer, and it would be more meaningful for you to accurately describe the color. For example, “RD-100” isn’t meaningful, but “bright red pebbled” is.

Now, these tips I shared apply to all profiles, so please keep them all in mind when designing. If you found any of this helpful, we’ve got more for you. Check out our other resources on accessibility and retail.

Guide every customer from discovery to conversion

Visit our retail hub for more resources on accessible design in e-commerce, and to learn how Level Access can support.

The post Elevating E-Commerce Accessibility: Product Display Basics appeared first on Level Access.

Requesting this type of documentation from vendors has long been standard practice for government agencies and educational institutions. And as businesses grow increasingly aware of the legal risks associated with integrating inaccessible third-party software, it’s becoming more common in the private sector, too.

While an ACR is a critical gate to business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) sales, the process for completing a VPAT can be complex. We recently covered the ins and outs of this journey in our webinar, “The Value of a VPAT: How to Accelerate B2B Sales with Proof of Digital Product Accessibility.” If you’re new to VPATs and ACRs, we recommend accessing the on-demand recording to get oriented. But even organizations familiar with the VPAT format are often unsure about how to best go about documenting conformance. In this piece, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked VPAT questions we get from our customers—and how we answer them.

The Value of a VPAT: How to Accelerate B2B Sales with Proof of Digital Product Accessibility

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1. I need a completed VPAT right away. Can I get one?

Completing a VPAT is more complex than just taking time to answer questions on a document. Producing an accurate, reliable, and effective ACR is a multi-step process that involves identifying which WCAG standards your products must meet, testing your product against those standards, and remediating any issues that potentially render your product non-conformant.

Navigating this process takes time, particularly if you’re new to digital accessibility and want to present your buyers with an ACR that demonstrates a high level of WCAG conformance. That’s because you’ll need to implement a fix for every applicable criterion that your product doesn’t currently support. Obtaining an ACR you’re proud of can be time-consuming, so it’s best practice to initiate the process now if you think you may need an ACR in the future.

2. Is it a problem if my product only “partially supports” a criterion?

One of the most common VPAT questions we receive from customers who have completed a product evaluation is whether a designation of “partially supports” for any given WCAG criterion will be acceptable to buyers. “Partially supports” means that parts of your product meet a criterion of your target accessibility standards, but other parts do not. For example, if some video content in your product has captions, but other video content does not, you would indicate “partially supports” for WCAG success criterion 1.2.2 – Captions (Pre-Recorded).

You’ll make the best impression on buyers by demonstrating full conformance with your targeted set of standards, meaning your product fully supports all applicable criteria. However, if you don’t have the resources to achieve full conformance by the time your buyer requires an ACR, you may choose to leave instances of “partially supports” in this documentation.

If that’s the case, it’s important that you have a plan in place for addressing the issues that prevent you from fully meeting these criteria, and that you communicate this plan to buyers. Some buyers may request a documented roadmap for when you plan to address any non-conformant issues, including your specific timeline for implementing fixes. They may also request information about any workarounds that are currently available to users for navigating these issues, so they can understand these errors’ impact.

3. Does an ACR need to cover the accessibility of third-party plugins?

Established accessibility standards, including WCAG and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, do not include exemptions for technology from third parties. That means that if your product includes plugins or other integrations from a third-party vendor, this functionality needs to be included in your ACR.

You likely won’t have access to the source code of a third-party plugin to implement fixes yourself—so finding accessibility barriers in technology you’ve purchased can be frustrating. And these issues can impact your ability to sell your own product. We typically advise customers in this situation to work directly with their vendor to address barriers, or to switch to an accessible vendor.

Note: Before you implement a third-party plugin or other software as part of your own product, request an ACR from the vendor to understand this technology’s state of accessibility.

4. Can I qualify for an exception from any of the criteria in a VPAT?

The answer to this VPAT question is typically “no, you cannot quality for an exemption from any criteria.”

Often, organizations request exceptions because they’re unable to resolve an accessibility barrier in a third-party plugin or framework. While this situation is challenging, accessibility issues with third-party software won’t be given an exception, because they can be resolved through work with the vendor.

Other times, organizations want an exception for aspects of their own product’s functionality that are difficult, but not impossible, for developers to make accessible—for example, drag-and-drop functionality. If you’re in a position where your own development team is struggling to implement fixes, consider engaging an experienced third-party for support.

In very rare cases, a product may qualify for an exception from certain criteria. In general, however, if there is a way to address an accessibility issue with a product, an exception will not be granted.

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5. Do I need to complete a VPAT for my website?

The VPAT format is designed specifically to support digital product procurement. If your product is a web application, you may need to complete a VPAT to demonstrate its accessibility to potential buyers. However, you likely won’t need an ACR for a public-facing website that’s primarily used for marketing and not a product you’re trying to sell.

If you want to document the accessibility of your public website, the best way to accomplish this is through an accessibility statement. A web accessibility statement is similar to an ACR in that it outlines the specific accessibility standards that a digital experience conforms with, and how well it meets those standards. But while an ACR communicates a specific product’s level of accessibility conformance to buyers, a web accessibility statement provides information about your website’s accessibility to general users.

Unlock sales opportunities with an expert partner

The VPAT process can feel complex, and you may have more questions than answers, which is why you shouldn’t navigate it on your own. A third-party expert can provide you with the resources and support you need to confidently document your product’s accessibility. Additionally, validation from an objective, reputable third party will boost your ACR’s credibility to buyers.

With more than 25 years of experience, Level Access has worked with hundreds of digital product vendors to produce reliable, accurate ACRs. Our team of experts will answer your VPAT questions and guide you through every step of the process, from identifying target standards to remediating issues surfaced in our evaluation, so you can obtain an ACR that gives you a competitive edge. Contact a member of our team today to get started.

The post Five Common VPAT® Questions from Our Customers, Answered appeared first on Level Access.

In her video series, “Elevating E-Commerce Accessibility,” accessible design expert Dana Randall shares bite-sized, actionable tips designers can use to bring inclusive e-commerce experiences to life. The first installment in this series, covering template design, is now available below—and stay tuned—there’s more to come!

Video: Template design tips and tricks

In the first part of this video series, Randall explores how designers can future-proof templates to ensure accessibility as content changes. Access the full video or transcript to learn how to create versatile templates that are as inclusive as they are compelling.

Your roadmap to accessibility in e-commerce

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Video transcript

Hi, I’m Dana Randall from Level Access. This video is about template design tips and tricks: how to future-proof your templates’ accessibility and plan ahead for content changes.

Brand identity in retail and e-commerce is everything. Several years of my career were spent working in fashion and retail. When I think of an industry where brand is everything, fashion, retail, and e-commerce surely come to mind.

Templates are a framework that you’ve created as a designer to support a wide variety of content for your app or website over time—from season to season, one campaign to the next. These design templates are going to house your creative product shots and campaign content for months to come, or, in some cases, maybe even several years.

Unfortunately, it’s common for us to see websites that were accessible at launch become less accessible over time. This is often due to the content, not the site’s structure or even the templates themselves. How can you future-proof your templates to maintain accessibility over time?

Pressure-test your template against a range of imagery, especially if there’s text overlaying an image. Here, I’m sharing a template as it was initially designed and intended by the designer. In this example, the designer had adequate white space to support the text that’s being overlaid. I do want to note that, in this example, the text over the image passes contrast and legibility. But what happens when the image has a darker background? Or how about when there’s a background that’s a bit more busy than that initial image?

Tip number one:

Always check your templates using light, dark, and patterned backgrounds. This is great for pressure-testing. It helps you identify where you might have to adjust the design to accommodate this type of content going forward. So, what are those types of adjustments?

Tip number two:

Design into your templates a protective gradient or overlay to help enhance text legibility. This gives your content team a little more wiggle room and flexibility with their imagery options.

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Tip number three:

Provide clear guidelines for your content team on the type of imagery they should be using in the template, including things like where the focal point of the image should be. Offer preset blends, blurs, and burns that they can use with their images to help improve legibility. Also, don’t forget in those guidelines to include best practices like not embedding text into images. Screen readers won’t be able to read the text embedded in those images, and this creates more work downstream for those that are responsible for writing the alt text.

Tip number four:

Don’t forget about mobile and responsive layouts. It’s common for things to be fine on desktop, but on mobile, accessibility falls apart. Be extra careful with text overlays on mobile. These lockups on mobile may fill more of the image, creating legibility and contrast issues. Plan for that in your templates and provide guidelines around copy length or at your breakpoints. Switch your overlay layouts to stacked layouts for mobile.

And finally,

Tip number five:

Pressure-test your design using 200%, or even better, 400% text zoom. Think about how you need to wrap or reflow that text to avoid any unwanted collisions with other content or your call to action.

If you found any of this helpful, we’ve got more for you. Check out our other resources on accessibility and retail.

Start improving customer experience with accessible e-commerce design

Visit our retail hub for more resources on accessible design in e-commerce, and to learn how Level Access can support.

The post Elevating E-Commerce Accessibility: Template Design Tips and Tricks appeared first on Level Access.

From time to time, for various reasons, we at Level Access get asked by customers and potential customers which accessibility testing engine is “best.” By this, they usually mean which tool is going to catch “the most” accessibility barriers with the highest degree of reliability. I understand the question. If you’re just getting started setting up an accessibility practice, you may want help choosing between the many engines that are available, especially those that are freely available. Or, if you’ve been working in accessibility for a while, you may be trying to decide if you should stick with what you know, or switch to another tool. The answer I give in this situation depends on how provocative I’m feeling on the day, but it usually boils down to the same basic sentiment: it doesn’t matter.

As a solutions engineer, I see my job as helping organizations understand not just what individual “tools” they need in their accessibility arsenal, but which accessibility outcomes their team should be pursuing, and the type of holistic solution framework they’ll need to reach them. So, in this article, I’ll explain why teams should avoid spending time trying to quantify which accessibility testing engine provides the “most coverage,” and instead focus on the more important question, “what are we going to do with the results?”

Comparing testing engines’ coverage is a wild goose chase

If you aren’t familiar with the term, a testing engine is essentially a set of rules and checks, typically developed in JavaScript or Java, that can be executed automatically to test a digital experience for accessibility issues. These engines are typically leveraged in browser extensions, CI/CD integrations, and post-production scanning and monitoring. There are several accessibility testing engines on the market. Some are free, standalone tools, while others exist as part of a digital accessibility provider’s broader solution.

If the goal of an accessibility practice, from an outcomes perspective, is eliminating accessibility barriers and maintaining an inclusive and usable digital experience, it makes sense that teams would want to choose an engine that will catch the most errors or has the “best” accessibility testing coverage. Unfortunately, as a buyer, trying to determine which testing engine has the best coverage is often a confusing, if not misleading, conversation. Here’s why:

• Most testing engines have considerable overlap in terms of the kinds of accessibility barriers they are able to identify. For the most part, they all catch the most common accessibility bugs, such as insufficient color contrast, missing descriptive text on things like images, links, and buttons, and a wide variety of other bugs that are semantic or structural in nature.
• Assessing and comparing the reliability of the testing data generated by different engines can be extremely complex. There is a considerable amount of interpretation in defining which errors identified may be “false positives” or “false negatives,” and, most of the time, whether a given test result is truly a bug or a “false positive” is largely rooted within the context of the digital experience. This makes these errors not globally consistent, and thus, a poor metric with which to compare the accuracy and reliability of data generated by different engines.

The Level Access team worked hard to develop our proprietary testing engine, Access Engine, making sure it could provide the most specific, detailed understanding possible of a digital experience’s accessibility issues when needed. We also made sure it produces accurate, actionable reporting by helping surface the most critical issues for teams to address and providing prescriptive instructions for how to remediate them. We happen to believe it’s an excellent tool.

But in reality, the “best” testing engine is one your team will commit to using, consistently. This is partly why, in the Level Access Platform, clients are free to use the testing engine of their choice between the common options of Access Engine, axe-core, WAVE, and Equal Access. That way, the familiarity a team has established around a particular engine and its reporting formats doesn’t exclude them from accessing the wider toolset and support our solution has to offer.

More isn’t always “more”

In my seven years of experience collaborating with teams of various sizes to develop and maintain accessibility practices, I’ve observed many organizations struggle to understand how to effectively implement actionable steps based on test results to enhance their digital inclusivity. Typically, teams find a tsunami of data overwhelming and de-motivating. There’s no way to possibly address all errors at once, but the overflow of data can make it hard to know how and where to prioritize remediation efforts. A testing engine might provide excellent “coverage,” testing against dozens, if not hundreds, of rules and criteria, but if teams aren’t supported to take action with the data generated, then more accessibility testing coverage will not lead to fewer accessibility barriers (which in turn won’t lead to a more inclusive digital experience).

To advance accessibility efforts effectively, I often advise teams to actually reduce the number of rules being used in testing. This may mean excluding rules related to elements beyond developers’ control, like color contrast semantic issues dictated by brand guidelines or fixed templates in content management systems. While it’s important to note that contrast issues and semantic accessibility bugs inherent to templates are still crucial to capture, reporting them alongside more focused efforts specific to developers isn’t actually helpful in terms of outcomes if there are no clear actions to be taken in that context. Automated accessibility testing should be decentralized and integrated throughout the digital life cycle, with a contextual focus on generating actionable data. This ensures reporting emphasizes outcomes (work to be done) over data generation, minimizing distractions and facilitating clear quality standards. Eventually, addressing specific barriers should become standard in acceptance criteria or product guidelines, allowing teams to gradually expand their testing scope sustainably.

Curious about the state of digital accessibility?

Access the report

Teams need tools to bridge the gap between findings and fixes

So, one might ask, if accessibility testing “coverage” isn’t a rational basis for comparison between testing engines, why would a team pay for a testing tool as part of an accessibility solution when there are comparable testing tools available for free? Simply put, an accessibility testing engine on its own is not an accessibility solution. Free, browser-based accessibility testing tools, like Google Lighthouse, are well suited to help a single person find and fix accessibility bugs in their local browser environment. However, when only using a free tool in an organizational setting, there is no overarching reporting, no data trail demonstrating adoption or use of testing tools to support organizational compliance requirements, and no support for collaboration between users or across teams. The value in paying for access to a testing tool as part of a comprehensive licensed or enterprise solution comes not from an increase in accessibility testing coverage or volume of test results, but rather from the direction that the solution can provide about how and where to take action.

Organizations who want to truly make an impact on accessibility will need to rely on a solution that helps them to act on the data and test results they generate. This solution might include:

• Reporting / dashboards that clearly answer questions like:
  • How is my accessibility program doing?
  • How was my program doing 90 days ago?
  • What steps can be taken to progress my program so that we get to where we know we want to be 90 days from now?
  • Which of my teams are excelling and which are struggling?
  • Are there clear patterns in where gaps in accessibility performance seem to exist?

• Simple and direct support for integrating accessibility practices into existing processes within the digital operation, for example:
  • Browser tools for fast and simple automated detection of accessibility barriers, allowing creators to find and fix bugs in their local environments while they code or author new content.
  • Public APIs or Plugins offering low-lift options to add accessibility scans as part of CI/CD processes. Note: when focused on outcomes, rather than data generation, you’ll not only want the capability to add scans to a process, but also to easily manage the data so that a quality gate can be enforced. This is what actually reduces the presence of bugs downstream, and ultimately leads to more sustained gains in overall accessibility of the digital experience.
  • Seamless integrations with project or task management workflows, either by supporting those functions natively or by syncing with task and ticket management systems, like Jira. This helps teams organize and communicate about the work to be done without manually entering or transferring key context.

With a comprehensive solution, teams move from testing to generate information, to testing to make an impact. These solutions make work simpler and collaboration easier for development teams, while also enabling key stakeholders in an organization to make informed decisions about goal setting and resource allocation, helping drive progress toward their desired accessibility outcomes.

Conclusion

Based on WebAIM’s annual report surveying the accessibility of the internet’s top one million home pages, roughly 96% of the most visited home pages online still contain dozens of WCAG failures, which likely equate to accessibility barriers for many. And most of them are issues that can be caught by automated testing using any of the popular accessibility testing engines mentioned in this article. If you combine that with the reported number of axe-core downloads (currently around 15 million weekly downloads reported by GitHub), and extrapolate that to the availability of other free tools and rule libraries like equal-access and WAVE, there is no shortage of automated testing being performed out in the world, and yet:

• 84% of the web’s top pages still have text contrast issues.
• 58% still have missing alt text issues.
• 46% have form inputs missing labels.

For me, it is very clear that more accessibility testing isn’t what’s going to make the internet a more accessible space. A testing engine alone can’t drive teams to act on what the data is telling them or support them through that action in a sustainable way. Ultimately, what most organizations need is clear direction about what steps to take and where to take them. To find those answers, teams need a holistic solution; one that drives them to act on focused test results by setting smart priorities based on relevant data, and to collaborate seamlessly to maintain momentum.

In my view, Access Engine is a great accessibility testing engine, but it is just one piece of what makes the Level Access Platform—and our overarching approach to accessibility—so effective. With simple, actionable reporting capabilities, features to enable organization-wide accessibility governance, integrations for seamless communication and task management, and more, we help teams go beyond “testing better” and make meaningful progress toward their compliance goals by creating more inclusive, accessible experiences for everyone. If that sounds like the progress your team is ready for, reach out to our team to start a conversation.

About Noah Mashni

Noah is the Director of Solutions Engineering at Level Access with more than 10 years of experience as a technologist and technical solutions expert. His expertise on strategic accessibility practices has been featured by outlets like Smashing and at accessibility conferences like CSUN.

The post Choosing a Digital Accessibility Solution: Why Testing Coverage Isn’t Key appeared first on Level Access.

It has long been my belief that accessibility and usability are inseparable—baked in to every usable, enjoyable experience. So, it makes sense to me (and delights me!) that, according to data from both our 2022 and 2023 State of Digital Accessibility surveys, the key reason organizations continue to work toward digital accessibility is improved usability—creating a better user experience for all. However, when digging further into the 2023 survey data, it became clear to me that, while usability may be the end goal for many, it’s not what’s driving accessibility resourcing.

In our survey, we asked respondents for their organization’s top three priorities for improving accessibility. The top response was accessibility training—a great start. To ensure optimal usability, all teams need training on how accessibility applies to their work. But the second and third most popular choices on this priorities list were more revealing to me. After training, the major priorities respondents identified for improving accessibility were hiring skilled developers and hiring skilled quality assurance (QA) professionals.

I wasn’t surprised that skilled designers, or investment in accessible design more broadly, weren’t in those the top three priorities, but I was disappointed. Designers are the professionals with the best opportunity to ensure accessibility enhances usability, which is what most organizations claim to be aiming at, long-term! Yet, so many organizations still seem to view accessibility as largely a set of problems to be “fixed” in development and QA, rather than a strength or toolset to be harnessed in design. In the rest of this piece, I’ll explain why organizations may be stuck resourcing accessibility with this reactive mindset and how shifting or adding focus on improving accessibility in design can improve the sustainability of organizations’ accessibility compliance efforts, ensuring more usable digital experiences for everyone.

Curious about the state of digital accessibility?
Access the report

“Growing pains”

Skilled developers and QA professionals are crucial in launching and maintaining accessible websites and digital products. But by focusing resourcing only in these areas, organizations risk remaining in reactive mode—catching and solving accessibility “bugs” in development and testing rather than ensuring accessible, usable experiences from the start, in conception and design.

We often find organizations so focused on reducing all critical errors in development that conversations about how to involve or empower designers as part of the effort are beyond their scope, even years into a partnership with us. And this may not mean the organization isn’t being proactive.

For example, one of our clients prioritized up-skilling their developers and QA team in order to remediate their critical accessibility issues. That training included embedding testing for accessibility as part of their regular workflows to catch accessibility errors in development before they’re officially “bugs”, which has now become routine. They also trained their product managers on writing user stories that incorporate accessibility considerations. Both these measures are important steps toward a proactive approach that deserve to be celebrated. However, without the involvement of skilled designers and content creators, even the most committed customers risk hitting a plateau, continually fixing issues that designers could have designed out of their experiences to begin with, especially with support from an accessible design system.

Reflecting on the “top three priorities” mentioned in the introduction, many teams seem to be resourcing for the problem they’ve got in front of them now, not what will set them up for success in the long run. What organizations WANT to be doing to improve accessibility isn’t always aligned with what they’re ACTUALLY doing, based on the resources and challenges in front of them. And this “growing pain” is also confirmed in our research: incorporating accessibility earlier in digital experience creation was the single most widely reported challenge among respondents in our 2022 State of Digital Accessibility data.

It’s understandable. Resources flow to where teams experience the most acute need. Organizations faced with inaccessible experiences and the threat of legal action are likely to want to take immediate action, leaning on development and QA teams, before (or instead of) pursuing proactive education and investment in accessible design. The challenge is, even if they “solve” the problem in the short-term, without actively embedding accessibility in design and digital experience planning, repeated accessibility issues are likely to just pop back up again.

Accessible design is the anchor

Designers hold the key to breaking this cycle and advancing accessibility goals by embedding core usability considerations into the fabric of digital experiences. I feel so strongly about designers’ potential to be accessibility catalysts in their organizations that I created the Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics guide to help designers in applying the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), using designer-centric language and ideas.

It takes investment to build a skilled design team and equip them with the support and space to take up that mantle and make that proactive impact. But while many organizations are still struggling to become more proactive when it comes to digital accessibility, there is encouraging evidence that those who manage to make the shift are reaping the benefits. When asked about the most impactful actions their organizations have taken to improve digital accessibility, this year’s State of Digital Accessibility survey respondents ranked incorporating accessibility when designing (56%) as their top choice, alongside testing for accessibility during development (52%).

One recent example of the value of this proactive approach to accessibility comes from our partner Wunderman Thompson. In working on a site for Berkley Insurance, they included requirements for accessibility in design and submitted designs up front to our Level Access Design Evaluation service. This led to a reduction in accessibility issues caught in testing of about 90%. Their manual evaluation returned 16 total findings, just two of which were critical. This is an incredibly low number: in our experience, most sites of similar sizes yield 300-400 findings at this stage. So how did they accomplish this result? By shifting from a reactive “compliance” mindset to a proactive “creative” mindset, prioritizing accessibility in design to head off issues later in the software development life cycle (SDLC).

Want Karen’s guidelines for accessibility in design?
Access the guide

Wunderman Thompson’s success makes it clear that, with the right tooling and training, design teams can drive meaningful change in the way their organizations approach accessibility. And this is also borne out in our experiences with clients. For example, one of our customers introduced an accessibility transformation program to champion the principles of universal design and development. Even with only a portion of the full scope implemented, they benefited from immediate impacts, having fewer defects and reduced rework. Another of our customers, Merck and MSD, have worked to enable multi-national design teams working across a variety of tech stacks through their new corporate design system. Their new design system dramatically increased their teams’ efficiency while ensuring that their products meet accessibility requirements and stay on brand.

Empowering designers and content creators: The way of the future

Of course, the larger the organization, typically the more resources they have with which to seize the benefits of proactive accessibility in design. But the strong interest in and uptake of our new Figma plugin, along with similar tools across the accessibility solutions landscape, points to the willingness among designers to play an active role in this effort in their organizations. And what’s evident from the previous client examples is the potential organizations can unlock when that willingness is supported. An investment in improving accessibility in design saves time and resources in the experience creation process as a whole, while also supporting a better, more usable experience for users and customers.

In fact, I have a prediction. It’s a bold one, but I think it’s also fair, based on the engagement with and interest in our organization’s design tools to date. I predict that in a few years’ time, as we review our annual State of Digital Accessibility survey data, we’ll begin to see a shift in resourcing priorities toward proactivity, and an emphasis on embedding accessibility in design and planning as a best practice. Until then, I hope this article can be a useful tool in your internal resourcing conversations.

Want to get ahead of the curve?

If your organization is ready to embrace a more proactive, sustainable approach to digital accessibility and compliance, there’s no time like the present. For the solutions to help you get there, explore our design tools, or reach out to our team to get started.

The post Shifting the Focus: Why Organizations Need to Prioritize Accessibility in Design appeared first on Level Access.

In that time, we have closely monitored the advancement of overlay technology capabilities, and our perspective has evolved. At the close of 2023, we announced that we entered into an agreement to acquire UserWay, a digital accessibility solution provider that offers overlay technology (access the full press release here). When this acquisition closes, we’ll be expanding our toolset to provide a cost-effective digital accessibility solution that budget-strained organizations can implement to get started on their accessibility journey.

At a high level, overlays in our industry typically consist of two separate technologies: automated remediation technology and browser-based assistive tools. Neither technology on its own will identify or address every accessibility issue on an organization’s digital experience, or ensure an organization achieves legal compliance. But when leveraged as part of a holistic accessibility program, both technologies can have a profound, positive impact on digital accessibility. In fact, we believe that the most effective toolset for digital accessibility will combine the speed and cost benefits of automated remediation with comprehensive digital accessibility solutions, like the ones we already offer through the Level Access Platform. This integrated approach will accelerate the timeline for the creation of an accessible digital world.

Our Founder and CEO Timothy Springer explains more about these technologies and how they can be leveraged effectively, as well as our evolved perspective, in a recently published article. We’re sharing his perspective here to equip LevelAccess.com visitors with a deeper understanding of overlay technologies and the role of automated tools in the evolution of digital accessibility solutions.

In this post, you’ll learn about:

• The definition of digital accessibility overlays, including the two types of technologies that typically comprise them
• The history of unethical marketing claims that have negatively affected this solution category
• Common criticisms of this class of technology, and our response to each
• Why we believe automated remediation technology is part of—not a replacement for—a comprehensive digital accessibility practice

My Perspective: Digital Accessibility and Overlays

By Timothy Springer, Founder and CEO, Level Access

Today, our company, Level Access announced that we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire UserWay.org, a digital accessibility solution provider. UserWay is a public company, and the transaction hasn’t closed, so I can’t discuss specifics about UserWay as a company, its products, or our agreement today. That noted, UserWay has been grouped with companies providing “overlays.” Accordingly, I think it’s appropriate to share my perspective on overlays, in general, and how they fit into the greater picture of digital accessibility.

There’s a lot of information out there about overlays. I’ve written a lot of it. The key thing in digesting that is separating marketing claims from technology. The technology of overlays works. Truth is it actually works very well and does so at scale. In that, it can positively impact the accessibility of millions of sites. The marketing claims, the effective use of that technology as part of an accessibility journey, are what needs work.

I founded Level Access 25 years ago and I’ve worked in accessibility for my entire professional career. At Level Access, we’ve always approached the market, digital accessibility, and technology in a principled and thoughtful way. We’ve monitored the overlay market for years. In that time, we’ve observed technology and companies mature. When we identified an organization that had the alignment of technology and company maturity, we acted.

What’s an overlay?

Let’s back it up a second and get some definitions. The term “overlays” is generic. There is no concise definition. You’ve likely observed overlay solutions all the time on (literally) millions of websites in use every day. There are a lot of non-accessibility examples of overlays. Cookie consent tools? Overlays. That form you’re filing out? Provided via an overlay. The technology for remotely implementing features of a web page is well established and in place. “Accessibility overlays” are just a sub-class of generic overlay technology. They’re script deployed solutions that (i) automatically remediate common accessibility issues and (ii) browser-based solutions for changing the appearance and structure of a page. The stuff that’s been written on accessibility overlays comingles marketing claims and technology—let’s pull that apart.

Marketing claims

The chief criticism of accessibility overlays relates to marketing claims. The common point of contention is a claim like “deploy an overlay and be fully and completely compliant with X,Y, or Z accessibility requirement.” Our point of view on this is easy: overlay technology can be an amazing part of an overall solution for accessibility but, on a standalone basis, isn’t sufficient to substantiate compliance with most accessibility requirements. At Level Access, we’ve long advocated for the scope of overlay solutions to be communicated with an appropriately nuanced view of accessibility. Over time, we’ve seen such evolution among the bigger players in the market as they’ve reacted to the largely negative response from the accessibility community regarding overly broad claims.

At Level Access, we believe in accurate, transparent communication. This has always been a bedrock of our company and our approach to marketing. For any solutions we provide—tools, technologies, training or services—we’ll be clear about their role in an overall accessibility solution.

Technology

So, I’m confident marketing claims can be made properly. That allows us to pivot to technology and how it can positively impact digital accessibility. That starts with an overview of the two separate pieces of technology that overlays provide: automated remediation technology and browser-based assistive tools.

Automated remediation technology

Automated remediation technology is web specific technology. When a page loads, it executes a chunk of JavaScript code. That code provides (i) an automated testing engine which reviews the page, then (ii) applies fixes for the accessibility errors it can readily remedy. Automated remediation is a powerful tool in helping companies with digital accessibility.

For some historical context, this technology has been around a long time. We had a technology at Level Access that we worked on way back in 2001 for (then) static pages. We had a short-lived product—Alchemy—that we developed to provide automated remediation in 2020 and 2021. (We couldn’t get it to work effectively in our stack and had to narrow our focus during the pandemic). The point: the idea of fixing accessibility issues automatically is sound and longstanding. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with this class of technology.

Like any technology, though, you’ve got to be aware of what it does well and what it doesn’t do well. Automated remediation available in the market today can’t fix every accessibility issue. The most effective solution will be one that combines the speed and cost benefits of automated remediation with the tried-and-tested approach of comprehensive digital accessibility solutions, like the ones we already offer through the Level Access Platform.

Browser-based assistive tools

The second part of the typical accessibility overlay offering is an interactive control, often called a “widget,” that provides tools to help adjust the web interface—changing font sizes, making colors have more contrast, substituting more readable fonts—to make the page more usable for that specific user.

The main criticism of these tools is that they are redundant with tools already in the user’s browser or operating system. You could, however, make the same argument about basically every user installed assistive technology (AT), as all operating systems ship with included ATs today. So, in our view browser-based assistive tools aren’t materially different than user installed assistive tools in whatever form they may take. If it’s helpful to you, use it. If it’s not, don’t.

Our vision for high quality, freely available AT for all is an important part of our history. Through our merger with eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), we’ve been offering free AT to users for more than a decade through the Icon and Channel programs. End-users of eA customers’ websites can access the free eA AT, a downloadable app for Windows and Mac, to provide AT for users with physical disabilities. Browser-based assistive tools follow that same legacy we’ve been passionate about but upgrade it to a modern technical environment and deployment model. They allow us to provide free tools to end users so they can make websites work better for them. What we particularly like in that: browser-based assistive tools benefit the vast majority of users who could benefit from assistive tools but either don’t know about them or don’t know how to use them. There’s a common refrain in accessibility: the vast majority of people that could benefit from assistive technologies don’t use them. We think browser-based assistive tools are a powerful way to raise awareness of assistive technologies benefits and its positive impact.

We’re focused on two key things in deploying these tools. First, they must adhere to the principle of non-interference. Any tool must “play well” with user installed assistive technology, browser-based accessibility tools and operating system accessibility tools and APIs. Second, it’s got to be optional for receiving accessibility enhancements. Every user gets all the accessibility enhancements we provide. If you want to use the browser-based assistive tools, great. If you want to use some other combination of user installed AT, browser or OS setup—great, that’ll work just fine.

The criticisms of overlays and our response

There are valid criticisms of overlays that any vendor in this space needs to address. Here’s how we think about our responsibilities related to them:

Marketing claims

First up is not making a claim like, “one line of JavaScript will make you compliant in 48 hours.” We are committed to accuracy and transparency in our communications about our products.

Always-on technology

Some accessibility overlays require a user to click to activate its automated remediation. For us, automated remediation must be active and always on for every user. Every user should get the same, accessible experience.

Interference with assistive technology

Automated remediation and browser-based tools should never interfere with user-installed AT. If they do, we will treat this like all engineering issues and address the issue. And, browser-based assistive tools will always be optional.

“We can remain mired in historical biases against these technologies or use them to accelerate the cause of accessibility. We choose the latter.”

Timothy Springer, Founder and CEO, Level Access

Access today beats access tomorrow

A comprehensive, sustainable digital accessibility program, one that starts in design, fixes underlying code with errors, and treats accessibility as first-class non-functional requirement, is the sustainable solution for accessibility. That’s been our viewpoint for 25 years and, I suspect, will be our viewpoint for at least 25 more.

What gets missed in that, though, is that there are millions of websites whose owners have neither the funds nor technical depth to develop a comprehensive digital accessibility program. Cost is the biggest barrier for these firms. Level Access can either provide a principled, compelling, cost-effective solution they can say “yes” to today, and get started on accessibility, or keep doing little for these firms. If we’re smart about it, that starting point will materially improve the accessibility of these sites today. Now. Not in ten years when they’re big enough to do it “right.” Not when we’ve exhausted their desire to do the right thing with an approach they can’t take on. Our point of view is simple: start now. Get moving. Make things better today. From there, we’ll have years to grow and mature our approach, together.

What’s next?

Digital accessibility is a constantly evolving field. Over the 25 years Level Access and I have been involved in the industry, many new technologies have come and gone. Some work. Some don’t. Many have been developed to help our client organizations achieve sustainable digital accessibility. The feature list is long: automated scanning, monitoring, integrations, reporting, and analytics. One thing remains consistent: to make every digital experience accessible there is a huge need for automation. Millions of websites rely on automated remediation technology today, so this is clearly a requirement the market is demanding. We’re excited to play a role in bringing that technology to organizations around the world in an effective, impactful fashion.

Your partner for an accessible digital future

As digital technology, and digital accessibility, continue to evolve, it’s important to choose a partner that will help you understand these changes, and help you keep pace. If you have questions about our approach to digital accessibility, our announcement of our plans to acquire UserWay, or how our solution can specifically support your digital accessibility program—whether you’re starting or scaling, reach out to our team today.

The post Our Perspective: Digital Accessibility and Overlays appeared first on Level Access.

You’re far from alone. The legal landscape surrounding digital accessibility remains active, with thousands of web accessibility lawsuits, and many more demand letters, filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) each year. In fact, 40% of the over 1,000 professionals we surveyed for our latest State of Digital Accessibility Report say their organization has faced digital accessibility-related legal action in the past 12 months.

Digital accessibility lawsuits tend to be costly and time-consuming, and they can erode consumers’ trust in your brand. While an ADA demand letter isn’t the same as a lawsuit, it may lead to one.

Here’s the good news: by taking the right path forward, you can not only secure the best possible outcome for your organization today, but also reduce your risk of future legal action, ensuring all customers are being fairly and equally served. Let’s cover the six steps you’ll need to take to effectively navigate a demand letter, safeguarding your organization’s reputation and resources.

1. Assess the ADA demand letter’s legitimacy

Before you take any action, you need to understand whether the ADA demand letter you’ve received is legitimate. Even if you have a legal background, it’s wise to consult with a third-party expert, such as outside legal counsel, to determine this. A strong accessibility partner can also help with this assessment, providing specific information from recent ADA filings.

With the help of an expert, review the letter closely, and ask the following questions:

• Is the law firm representing the plaintiff reputable?
• Does the plaintiff have standing to sue?
• Does the plaintiff’s law firm have a history of filing lawsuits?
• Are the claims described in the letter clear and specific?

The answers to these questions will inform whether, and how, you decide to respond.

Expert review of an ADA demand letter

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2. Validate the accessibility issues identified in the letter

In addition to checking that the ADA demand letter itself is legitimate, validate that the claims made in the letter are technically accurate. Does your website or app contain all accessibility issues cited by the plaintiff?

This is an important step because, in some cases, a plaintiff’s law firm will send boilerplate letters to multiple possible defendants, citing the most common accessibility issues. Not all of these may be present in your digital experience.

It’s also possible that some of the issues cited in the letter have since been resolved. Noting this in a potential reply may lessen the plaintiff’s desire to continue to pursue legal action.

A reputable digital accessibility solution provider like Level Access can evaluate your digital experience and document findings for each claim made. The right partner will also help you understand the scope and severity of any valid findings, which may inform the strength of the plaintiff’s case.

3. Strategize with a legal expert on a response

Just because you’ve received an ADA demand letter doesn’t mean you need to respond. In fact, responding may not always be in your organization’s best interest. Be sure to discuss your situation with a legal expert, such as a third-party law firm, accounting for the legitimacy of the demand letter and validity of its claims, before making this complicated choice. You’ll also want to involve any other legal stakeholders within your organization.

If your team decides to respond, consider the following questions:

• Is there a strategic advantage to the timing of your response?
• Do you have evidence to rebut the claims made?
• Can you resolve any issues before responding?
• How much is a user’s experience impacted by the named issues?

A general counsel’s advice for navigating ADA lawsuits

Access the blog

4. Evaluate your digital experience—and take action on the results

It’s possible that your organization’s website, app, or other digital experience contains accessibility barriers not mentioned in the ADA demand letter, or that issues are present in additional digital experiences you own. These can leave you vulnerable to future risk. And it’s not uncommon for organizations to be repeatedly targeted by ADA demand letters and lawsuits: of respondents we surveyed who reported facing legal action in the past 12 months, 82% also anticipate facing legal action in the next 12 months.

To identify issues you may not be aware of, request a professional accessibility evaluation from an experienced accessibility solution provider. In this evaluation, an expert will assess how well your digital experiences meet the needs of people with disabilities. You’ll obtain the most accurate results by working with a partner that offers manual testing alongside automated scanning.

Rather than auditing your entire digital portfolio at once—which tends to yield an overwhelming list of issues that are difficult to prioritize—an actionable evaluation focuses on key user flows, or the paths users take to complete core tasks, like completing a checkout process.

By concentrating on the parts of your digital experience that are most important to users, you can swiftly remove the barriers that are most likely to put your organization at risk of a lawsuit. Then, move on to testing and fixing lower-priority areas of your digital experience once these critical problems have been resolved.

5. Communicate your commitment to accessibility

Once you’ve committed to fixing the issues identified in the ADA demand letter—and others that could invite future legal action—it’s a good time to clearly and publicly communicate the action your organization is taking to improve accessibility. You can do this by publishing an accessibility statement.

A well-crafted accessibility statement highlights your commitment to providing equitable, inclusive experiences, creating a welcoming environment for users with disabilities. It also offers a channel for users to alert you about the accessibility barriers they’re encountering without resorting to a demand letter. In fact, publishing an accessibility statement is a legal best practice based on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) requirements in former private enforcement actions.

Support from experts in digital accessibility law

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6. Adopt a digital accessibility policy

Fixing barriers across your digital experiences, and communicating this commitment publicly, are crucial first steps toward mitigating the risk of future legal action. Now, you’ll need to sustain the progress you’re making with issue remediation and prevent new barriers from emerging as your experience is updated with new content and features.

Establishing accountability for accessibility is key to achieving both goals. You can do this by adopting a digital accessibility policy that sets principles and guidelines for ensuring your organization’s digital experiences are free of accessibility issues. As it’s built out, your policy should be shared with every relevant department within your organization. It should also be accompanied by access to training for employees. In fact, accessibility training for web personnel is a consistent mandate in DOJ enforcement actions.

Start your journey toward ADA compliance

Receiving an ADA demand letter may be frustrating—but by taking the steps outlined in this article, you can maximize your organization’s chances of a favorable outcome. And you’ll be accomplishing more than protecting your organization from a lawsuit. You’ll also be providing better experiences for all users.

However, navigating the complex digital accessibility legal landscape can be challenging, and lasting compliance takes time. Our team of digital accessibility legal experts can provide the clarity and support you need to move forward from an ADA demand letter and create a plan for lasting compliance.

We’ll review your demand letter for accuracy and validity. Additionally, our professional testers will evaluate your key user flows for issues that may expose you to future risk and provide actionable guidance for remediation. We’ll also partner with you to create a public accessibility statement and stand up an organization-wide policy that keeps your team accountable for continued progress. Ready to get started? Connect with a member of our team today.

The post What to Do if You Receive an ADA Demand Letter: Six Steps to Mitigate Risk appeared first on Level Access.

Recently, we put our website through a lot of changes. In fact, we reimagined our entire visual identity, from our logo to our color palette. I couldn’t be more excited about this transformation—not only as a designer and a creative director, but also as an accessibility advocate. We’ve created a brand that is as inclusive as it is modern and dynamic.

So, how did we pull it off? In this post, I’ll explain how we approached rebranding with accessibility as our top priority.

Where we started: Our concept

Our brand concept and website are, ultimately, an expression of our core beliefs as a company. So, before we began ideating on logos or color palettes, we had to revisit our guiding principles.

We didn’t have to think too deeply. Level Access exists because accessibility must be an essential part of every digital experience. Every person has a right to barrier-free access to digital technology, and inclusion needs to be a standard consideration in experience design and development—not an afterthought.

We also believe that accessible experiences are more, not less. Embracing accessibility doesn’t mean sacrificing beautiful design and cutting-edge innovation. It means bringing creative concepts to life for all users, not just some.

Where we landed: Our design philosophy

Throughout my career in design, including as a creative director, I have often been rewarded for breaking rules. That’s what won me awards and led others to notice and admire my work. So, I understand why designers may have a fundamental aversion to the concept of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Having a set of clear-cut rules to follow goes against the philosophy that drove much of our success.

But at the same time, my work—like that of most designers I’ve met—is motivated by creating experiences that people love. By keeping accessibility in mind, we enable many more people to enjoy the experiences we design. Once we understand this, we learn we can be more creative when we consider every user’s needs.

This ties back to one of our guiding principles, the belief that inclusivity adds to, rather than detracts from, creative expression. We wanted our new brand to embody this principle, so we started by developing a design framework that was not only unique and contemporary, but also accessible.

We created guidelines for ensuring that all color combinations used on our website, and in our resources, meet WCAG color contrast specifications, and we deliberately chose our go-to fonts for their legibility.

By embedding accessibility in our brand’s visual identity, we aim to enable everyone who visits the Level Access website to fully benefit from its content. And I’m confident our design choices don’t just enrich the experiences of people with disabilities. They result in more intuitive journeys for all users.

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Key design elements: The field and the vector

We believe that the work we help our customers do has a life-changing impact on people who use technology. In design, we wanted to capture this belief on a symbolic level. For example, three of our main decorative elements—the field, vector, and focal point—aren’t just there for visual appeal.

The field is the large, round shape you’ll find across our website. Wherever it’s placed, it extends beyond the edges of its frame. It’s meant to represent the entire category of digital accessibility and the human need we’re serving.

The field is always intersected by the vector, a precise, purposeful square or rectangle that represents technology and our drive to improve and innovate.

And the intersection of these two elements is the focal point—where humanity and technology meet to create life-impacting results.

How we got here: Putting principles into practice

At Level Access, we spend a lot of time discussing best practices for creating accessible digital experiences, and our rebrand challenged us to practice what we preach. Here are a few ways we put our shared understanding of, and commitment to, inclusive design into action.

We collaborated continuously

When it comes to inclusive brand design, I’ve learned that no single designer, creative director, or accessibility specialist knows it all. We worked with multiple internal and external teams during our rebrand, from the agency partners who supported our design work to our own professional accessibility testers. By enlisting the help of experts and people with different types of disabilities, we could fill our own knowledge gaps and keep our creative direction aligned with our accessibility goals.

Maintaining a continuous feedback loop with experts also empowered us to swiftly correct for gaps in our initial approach: for example, when our accessibility team identified a need for documentation surrounding accessible button states, we were able to ensure this was created in a timely manner.

We took a proactive and inclusive approach to design planning

As we’ve touched on, accessibility was a key priority for us from the earliest stages of planning our rebrand. While they were still building mood boards and developing color themes, one of our agency partners, Landor, sought my input not only as an accessible design expert but also as a person with a disability. I was able to flag design directions that leaned toward the use of motion and animation, as well as those that used patterns in ways that could trigger people with vestibular disabilities like myself.

We also discussed the accessibility of colors, beyond contrast requirements. I had the opportunity to share best practices for applying color while being mindful of individuals with sensory disabilities, and to identify colors that should be used only as accents.

These early touchpoints allowed us to inject WCAG and inclusive design principles into the very beginning of the planning process. And they helped us shape a visual identity that was vibrant and compelling, as well as inclusive.

We tested for accessibility during web development

Our continuous conversations about accessibility throughout design allowed us to build our new website much more efficiently than we would have had we waited until development was underway. Even so, we confronted a challenge that many of our customers do: limited time. Our internal accessibility team played a key role in helping us work as quickly as possible to bring our new brand identity to life for every user.

One crucial step in this regard was testing the functionality of every component in our library for accessibility barriers. Because many of the same components are repurposed across a website, testing at the component level reduces the number of barriers that need fixing on fully developed pages.

Once the site was built, our testing team also worked diligently to test the most important parts of our website with multiple assistive technologies (AT). Within our commitment to accessibility, our definition of done included no critical accessibility issues. We would not launch the website with any known barriers to users—even if that meant pushing back our launch date.

However, we know that accessibility work is never “done.” Maintaining and improving accessibility over time requires an ongoing effort. If you encounter any challenges or errors, please let us know.

Embracing progress over perfection

We’ll be honest: rebranding was a journey. Mistakes happened, and adjustments needed to be made—and they’ll continue to be made moving forward. But we’re committed to progress over perfection, and we remain dedicated to accessibility and inclusion as we further refine our brand identity.

In fact, while we’re proud of the brand we’ve created, I’m even prouder of the process through which we created it. Inclusive design isn’t just about including all users—it’s about including experts and people with disabilities in your design practice. By enlisting support and remaining open to feedback, we captured our brand’s guiding principles not only in our new visual identity, but also in the path we took to get here.

To learn more about designing for all users, access our guide, Agile Accessibility in UX and UI Design.

The post Introducing the New Level Access appeared first on Level Access.

We know digital accessibility empowers people with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities. But have you ever considered how your website, content, or app might impact someone who encounters challenges in all these areas?

You would never intentionally harm a customer or user. However, the way your digital experience affects a user’s senses could cause trouble for customers with sensory or vestibular disorders, or who identify as having a vestibular disability. So, how do you make sure your experience is safe and enjoyable for the widest possible audience? In this blog, we’re offering key considerations for supporting users with vestibular disorders and disabilities.

What is a vestibular disorder?

The vestibular system, located in our inner ear, aids in maintaining balance and spatial awareness by relaying sensory information to the brain for proper body positioning. These sensory inputs come from our:

• Ears: helping detect the movement of the head in space
• Eyes: helping detect quick movements
• Body: helping notify the brain about where various parts of our musculoskeletal system are in space

Vestibular disorders cover a wide spectrum of experiences and can be temporary or permanent. They can range from a person having vertigo (spinning sensations) to feeling unbalanced (like they are on a boat or that the ground is uneven) to spatial disorientation.

Many individuals with vestibular disabilities also have other disabilities or conditions. It is not uncommon for a person who is blind or deaf to have a vestibular disorder, because one or more of the key sensory inputs that control balance is sending bad data or no data to the brain. Individuals who experience vestibular migraines, Meniere’s disease, damage to the vestibular organ, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or multiple sclerosis (MS) may also identify as having vestibular disabilities.

Due to the various potential causes, the prevalence of vestibular disorders is often underestimated. In the U.S. alone, 35% of adults who are over 40 years of age, or nearly eight million people, have chronic problems with balance and an additional 2.4 million have dizziness alone.

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Common challenges people with vestibular disabilities encounter online

The general public may be pretty familiar by now with the idea of avoiding flashing images to prevent seizures. You may have noticed warnings about the use of flashing effects before a TV show or on your way into a movie theatre. However, these same images can also cause a vestibular episode for many people.

To understand the science behind this, it can be helpful to think of your body like a computer, which has multiple data inputs. Your brain is the processor; your eyes and ears are your hardware. The data that hardware sends is the software. People with vestibular disorders typically encounter challenges in the hardware that result in sending bad data to the brain. The computer expects to receive data that is consistent, but when one packet of data doesn’t coordinate with all the others, the system crashes, causing episodes of dizziness, disorientation, headaches, and other difficulties.

Excessive motion, constant animation, 3D depth effects like parallax, videos that play automatically, animated GIFs, flashing imagery, bold patterns (especially on pages that require scrolling), and sudden or abrupt audio can all trigger a vestibular episode.

How can website and digital experience owners consider people with vestibular disabilities?

1. Choose patterns and colors wisely:
   • Avoid bold and repeating patterns, especially in backgrounds. When a user scrolls through a bold pattern, this can simulate motion and flashing, which is known to trigger vestibular episodes.
   • Be mindful of using highly saturated, bright colors over large areas. Vestibular disorders can be linked with photosensitivity, and since these colors are emitted via a screen, they can cause a similar reaction to that which many of us have to bright lights.
2. Consider the audio experience:
   • Captions are critical. People with vestibular disabilities may be hard of hearing and / or have hypersensitive hearing. Users may need audio captions because they are hard of hearing or choose to intentionally limit their sound exposure (for example, by wearing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs) due to hypersensitivity.
   • Do not autoplay audio. Whether it’s an autoplay video or background music, sudden sounds can be problematic for users with hypersensitive hearing. The user will likely be startled by this audio, and it can trigger pain, headaches, confusion, and disorientation. Avoiding autoplay also benefits any user who is sensitive to sound and visual stimuli, which can include individuals with autism and other Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD).
3. Approach motion intentionally. Motion isn’t completely off-limits, but when using motion, try to be:
   • Purposeful: Use motion with intention. Make sure all animations help users reach their goals by surfacing connections between states or views, drawing attention to crucial details, or providing feedback.
   • Intuitive: Provide motion that feels familiar and expected. It should mirror traits from the real world like acceleration, gravity, and volume to achieve a natural feel.
   • Seamless: Motion should fit naturally into the experience without creating a distraction. The amount of motion used should be just enough to get the intention across, and no more.

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4. Allow for user control:
   • Giving users the ability to control their experience is a key aspect of accessible design, particularly for individuals with vestibular disabilities. This means enabling them to adjust settings, such as font size and color contrast, to suit their individual needs. It also involves offering alternative options, such as audio descriptions for visual content, or turning off animations to accommodate users’ needs and preferences.
5. Respect the user’s device settings
   • As part of most phones’ and computers’ accessibility settings, users have the option to reduce motion. This applies to their experience with operating systems like iOS and Mac OS, as well as to web pages that are loaded on the device (if these websites have been developed to recognize the relevant user setting).
   • “Reduce motion” settings can stop or reduce the movement of some screen elements, such as:
     1. Screen transitions
     2. Typing autocompletion
     3. Animated full-screen and bubble effects in messenger apps
   • It’s important that CSS ensures that when a user has determined “reduce motion” to be their preferred experience, it is maintained, so they are not hunting for a “stop animation” button somewhere on the page. For more technical support on respecting a user’s device settings, visit this article from the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C’s) Web Accessibility Initiative on animation from interactions. You can also check out this suggested technique for meeting the related success criterion in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

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Support customer relationships, protect your brand

Your team works hard and invests valuable resources to build a brand customers and users will stick with. But one triggering episode on your site or digital experience could put those hard-earned relationships at risk, negatively impacting your brand and resulting in lost business. In this light, a commitment to accessibility isn’t just a design best practice: it’s a commitment to a better, more successful brand. Keep in mind that design considerations to support users with vestibular disorders also support many other users, including:

• People with sensory processing disorders (SPD)
• People who have chronic migraines
• People who experience seizures
• People with autism
• People with ADHD

Plus, fewer pop-ups, flashes, loud colors, and triggering effects make for a smoother, more enjoyable user experience for anyone.

WCAG includes success criteria that account for many of the considerations above. These include user control and the application of flashing effects. But there are also elements of accessible design for vestibular disabilities that WCAG does not cover, like supportive use of bright colors, and limiting the abrupt use of sound. That’s why education, and working with an expert accessibility partner, is so important.

We can help. Learn more about our ready-to-use designer tools, or contact our team to discuss what next steps are right for your team.

Additional resources on design for vestibular disabilities from Dana Randall

• Designing Dizzy: Seeing the world through an accessible design lens
• Designing Dizzy: Digital Displays & Neurological Disorders
• Will Web3, The Metaverse & AR/VR ever be accessible for me?

The post Inclusive Design for the Senses: How to Support Users with Vestibular Disabilities appeared first on Level Access.

Not too long ago, I was on a call with a colleague at a software company, when they said something that troubled me. They mentioned that digital accessibility was not a concern for their organization, since their product is sold to other businesses, not directly to consumers. I understand where they may have gotten this impression. Many of the headlines about digital accessibility revolve around web accessibility lawsuits targeting large retailers, banks, and consumer brands. But the idea that business-to-business (B2B) organizations shouldn’t bother with accessibility standards couldn’t be further from the truth.

Accessibility isn’t just relevant in the business-to-business (B2B) space—it’s a game-changer. In fact, our recent State of Digital Accessibility survey found that 85% of respondents at B2B organizations consider digital accessibility a competitive advantage, and 64% say digital accessibility has contributed to revenue growth. But, as my recent conversation revealed, some organizations still don’t grasp the importance of B2B digital accessibility. And by the time they do, they’re already at risk of losing business.

In this piece, I’ll explore three reasons why B2B companies must embrace digital accessibility to succeed in today’s market.

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Accessibility is quickly becoming a standard requirement in B2B sales

The data is clear: today’s buyers are prioritizing accessible products. Nearly three in four senior leaders we surveyed (73%) say that digital accessibility is a requirement for software procurement at least most of the time. If vendors can’t keep up with these requirements, contracts are at risk.

There are good reasons for this trend. First, as part of a holistic approach to digital accessibility, purchasing accessible third-party software enables consumer-facing organizations to serve more customers, and to provide consistent experiences to all users. Second, many consumer-facing companies have a legal imperative to ensure digital technology is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other global accessibility laws. And that includes technology from third-party vendors.

If a bank integrates inaccessible third-party software for its customers to use to complete payments or request statements, it could face a lawsuit. Similarly, a retailer that uses a third-party integration to personalize search results on its e-commerce site may be held legally accountable if this integration creates accessibility barriers for users.

With upcoming European Union (EU) legislation, I anticipate that B2B digital accessibility will play an even more critical role in procurement for companies that currently operate in, or plan to break into, the European market. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates that a variety of products and services—including many types of digital technology—that are sold in, or imported into, Europe meet accessibility standards. That means the providers of certain types of covered products and services will need to prioritize accessibility to legally do business in Europe, regardless of whether these products and services are purchased by organizations or consumers.

In fact, I know of many B2B organizations that are already taking action to meet EAA requirements. Companies that sell point-of-sale devices are preparing to make sure these devices are accessible, as businesses are prioritizing EAA-compliant models in their buying decisions. Similarly, numerous computer and mobile phone manufacturers have started the process of bringing these products into conformance with accessibility standards so that they can be imported into the EU for sale.

Digital products that work for everyone increase client retention

Over the course of my career as an executive at a B2B company, I’ve learned that good business isn’t just about driving sales—it’s about helping clients solve problems for their customers. This is especially true in the current economic climate, as both B2C and B2B companies increasingly recognize that retention is key to sustainable growth.

By integrating accessible products, consumer-facing companies can solve problems for more customers. And by providing accessible solutions, B2B companies keep their clients happy. In our survey, 78% of professionals from B2B organizations say digital accessibility has contributed to improved client satisfaction, and 69% say it has contributed to improved client retention. This makes intuitive sense. When a consumer-facing company receives a flurry of customer complaints—or an ADA demand letter—because they’ve integrated inaccessible third-party software, they’re not likely to renew their contract.

Beyond compliance, many companies prioritize digital accessibility as part of their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In fact, 38% of respondents to our survey count fulfilling DEI commitments among the factors that continue to drive their digital accessibility programs. When evaluating existing relationships with vendors (as well as when procuring new tools), organizations may factor in whether these vendors are bringing them closer to, or further away from, their DEI goals.

Notably, companies committed to DEI may aim to provide equitable digital experiences not only for clients, but also for their own employees. That means ensuring that employee-facing software, like intranet systems, from third parties is accessible—not just customer-facing software. As organizations double down on internal commitments to DEI, they’re likely to maintain relationships with vendors who provide accessible products and discontinue relationships with those who don’t. Accessibility is more than a competitive advantage in the B2B space: it’s critical for client satisfaction and retention.

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B2B companies aren’t immune from web accessibility lawsuits

Although the ADA may not apply directly to B2B software products, what business doesn’t have a website? While high-profile web accessibility lawsuits typically involve consumer-facing organizations, B2B companies are hardly exempt from compliance requirements. In fact, our survey found that 28% of respondents at B2B organizations report that their employer has been involved in legal action surrounding digital accessibility in the past year.

I suspect this has to do with the fact that business websites are likely to be considered places of public accommodation under the ADA, whether they’re owned by B2B or B2C organizations. And other laws governing web accessibility don’t differentiate between B2B and B2C companies either. Outside of the ADA, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) mandates that all organizations in Ontario with over 50 employees need to maintain accessible public websites, regardless of whether they sell to businesses or consumers.

Additionally, California Assembly Bill 1757, which is widely expected to pass in some form next year, would hold “resource service providers” (that is, any commercial entity that maintains a website or other digital resource, such as a mobile app, used alongside its website) accountable for conforming with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards. The law applies to providers who operate in a B2B capacity and to consumer businesses. It’s also worth noting that proposed language in California AB 1757 would prevent vendors involved in a website’s creation (such as digital agencies) from shifting liability away from themselves and onto website owners. So if a website is inaccessible, a vendor may be legally accountable—even if a contract holds the website owner responsible for accessibility.

B2B web accessibility lawsuits may not always make headlines—but that doesn’t mean vendors are above the law. Just like the B2C organizations they sell to, B2B companies are legally obligated to maintain websites that work for all users. And a costly, time-consuming lawsuit will hardly help a company win new contracts.

When it comes to B2B digital accessibility, don’t wait until it’s too late

There’s no question that product accessibility is a boon to B2B organizations—it fuels growth and mitigates both business and legal risks. But often, companies don’t recognize its importance until a deal is on the line, a customer is at risk of churning, or they’re facing legal action. I’ve worked with far too many vendors who learn that accessibility is a procurement requirement late in the sales cycle, when they’ve already run out of time to achieve conformance and close the deal.

My advice to B2B companies is to make accessibility a priority now. Be proactive about requesting an accessibility evaluation of your product and website, and partner with an expert, like Level Access, to resolve any issues identified. You’ll protect your organization from losing business you’ve worked hard to win, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

If you’re curious about how one B2B software company prioritizes product accessibility—and the benefits they’ve enjoyed as a result—I recommend checking out our webinar with identity verification platform Socure.

The post Three Reasons Why B2B Companies Must Prioritize Digital Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is an accessibility law that applies to both the public and private sectors in Ontario. It was passed in 2005 and seen as an improvement upon the existing Ontarians With Disabilities Act of 2001.

The AODA requires individuals and organizations to follow accessibility standards, broken down to five major areas of doing business:

1. Information and communications (including an organization’s websites, apps, digital documents such as PDFs, etc.)
2. Customer service
3. Transportation
4. Employment
5. Design of public spaces

The standards were developed by committees with representation from different sectors, including people with disabilities and from within the disability community.

Written into the AODA is a time frame within which government, public-sector groups, and organizations of different sizes must comply with the accessibility standards. The Ontario government’s goal is for the province to become completely accessible by 2025.

It’s important to note that there’s already human rights legislation in place in Ontario that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The AODA doesn’t replace the Ontario Human Rights Code. However, it does set out clear processes for covered entities to follow as they ensure their practices and policies are AODA compliant.

There are more than one billion people worldwide living with a disability. In Ontario, about 2.6 million people live with disabilities, which breaks down to roughly 25% of the total population. As the population ages, the proportion of those with disabilities is only expected to grow. Organizations are wise to ensure their digital experiences are accessible for individuals of all abilities, including this growing demographic, not only for compliance reasons, but for the benefit of their brand and customers.

Who must comply with the AODA?

The AODA requires you to make all public websites, mobile sites, public-facing documents, and social media content (within your control) accessible if you are a designated public sector organization or a business or non-profit organization with 50 or more employees. Refer to the ontario.ca to determine how to count your employees.

Website compliance applies to all new websites or significantly refreshed sites. A new website is one that has a new web address. A significantly refreshed website is one that keeps the same web address but reflects substantial changes that impact the overall look and feel, the content or the navigation.

Start your AODA compliance journey with an expert partner

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What does AODA web accessibility compliance require?

1. Improving accessibility through WCAG

The following list provides a few of the most important accessibility considerations organizations should address to be compliant with AODA. You can visit the Government of Ontario’s “How to Make Websites Accessible” page for a more detailed checklist.

• Non-text elements on the website, such as images, need to have text alternatives.
• Understanding the meaning of the content must not depend on being able to perceive colors, sounds, object size, etc.
• Individuals must be able to pause, stop or control the volume of any audio that plays for more than three seconds.
• Web pages and links should have self-explanatory titles.
• Text must be able to be resized (enlarged).
• Website functions must work using a keyboard.
• If there is a short time limit for certain functions, individuals must be able to control or extend the time limit.
• There should be nothing on the website that flashes rapidly.

To address these areas, the AODA requires that public-facing websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A and AA criteria. WCAG was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is the internationally accepted standard for web accessibility.

To comply with the AODA, all web content must conform to WCAG success criteria.

With regard to WCAG, there is a newer version, WCAG 2.2, which includes all of the requirements of WCAG versions 2.0 and 2.1. Conformance with WCAG 2.2 is not required for AODA compliance, but organizations can “future-proof” their accessibility efforts by complying with the latest standard.

2. AODA compliance training

In order to be compliant with the AODA, not only are organizations compelled to improve accessibility, they’re also required to provide training to all their staff, directors, volunteers and contractors to ensure these individuals also understand how to comply.

This AODA compliance training, as outlined in Section 7 of the law, must take place as early as possible and a diligent record of the training must be kept. If an organization’s accessibility policies change, the training needs to be updated. The training should also include an understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code and how it protects people with disabilities from discrimination.

The best accessibility training should address accessibility fundamentals such as the use of color, images, links and buttons, and content writing.

What are the consequences of non-compliance?

Besides the damaging reality of discriminating against users with disabilities, and the damage to brand reputation that goes with it, noncompliance with the AODA can lead to significant financial penalties. In the most severe cases, an organization can be faced with hefty daily fines for every day they remain noncompliant.

The last deadline to submit a compliance report was December 31, 2023. As of 2024, organizations that filed a “non-compliant” report may receive Notices of Non-Compliance.

How do you know if your website meets AODA compliance requirements?

The first step to AODA compliance is assessing your organization’s level of web accessibility. This is typically a multi-pronged process requiring a combination of automated and manual testing.

A great way to get started checking your website for accessibility issues is by using an automated scan or “checker.” Single-page scans through the WAVE tool are free.

However, it’s very important to remember that automated scans are limited in the types of  issues they can detect. This is why the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario strongly urges organizations to have their sites assessed manually by digital accessibility experts, even if they’ve already used online tools to evaluate their accessibility.

Furthermore, the Government of Ontario has developed the AODA Compliance Wizard to give organizations a customized list of requirements for compliance, based on what kind of business they are or the size of their workforce.

Access our AODA Compliance Checklist for a step-by-step guide to meeting your obligations under the law.

How to ensure you’re meeting AODA website compliance requirements

Level Access offers a unique approach to the problem of digital accessibility. Namely, an all-in-one solution that combines technology, manual evaluation by experts, remediation guidance, and legal expertise. This approach enables organizations to achieve and sustain digital accessibility across all their sites, apps, and products.

Learn how our comprehensive solution can help your organization achieve its digital accessibility and compliance goals. Request a demo today.

The post AODA Compliance Requirements for Websites appeared first on Level Access.

Arlington, VA—December 31, 2023—Level Access, a leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, and UserWay (TASE: UWAY), a pioneer in accessibility AI technologies, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Level Access to acquire UserWay. Together, Level Access and UserWay will create advanced digital accessibility solutions to help more organizations to start, and accelerate, sustainable digital accessibility programs.

UserWay’s AI-powered software automates the identification and optimization of code to improve digital accessibility for websites, apps, and digital documents. Millions of websites globally trust UserWay’s technology to help improve usability for people with disabilities. The addition of UserWay’s complementary technology and team will enhance Level Access’s full-service digital accessibility solutions, including its market-leading digital accessibility platform, and extend the reach of its deep subject matter expertise to organizations of all sizes.

“Allon and the UserWay team have developed incredible automated remediation technologies that enable organizations to move faster in their digital accessibility programs,” said Tim Springer, CEO and Founder of Level Access. “This combination, with our full-service digital accessibility platform, will enable us to bring powerful new tools to our customers and positions us with a robust solution set for organizations of any size and maturity.”

“We’ve long admired the Level Access team and their integration of technology, service, and subject matter expertise,” said Allon Mason, CEO and Founder of UserWay. “This transaction delivers compelling value to our shareholders and provides our team with a great opportunity to bring our technology to a broader market. We are unified by a shared mission to make the world more accessible, and we believe this partnership will increase and accelerate what we are able to accomplish.”

As part of Level Access, UserWay will continue to operate under its existing name and brand. Allon Mason will continue to lead UserWay as CEO and will become President of Level Access. The transaction is expected to close in early 2024, subject to approval by UserWay’s shareholders and receipt of customary regulatory approvals. Additional information for UserWay shareholders can be found on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE)’s ‘MAYA’ Website.

Level Access’s existing investors JMI Equity and funds managed by KKR continue to support the growth of the company.

Nfluence Partners acted as financial advisor and Sullivan & Worcester as legal counsel to UserWay. Latham & Watkins LLP and Herzog, Fox & Neeman served as legal counsel to Level Access.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

About UserWay

UserWay is a full-service provider of digital accessibility software solutions. UserWay is trusted by millions of websites globally to increase usability for people with disabilities. The company’s Al-powered technologies help websites, apps, and digital documents more readily achieve compliance with accessibility regulations, such as the ADA, Section 508, AODA and EAA, and internationally recognized standards such as WCAG 2.2, and EN 301 549. Learn more at UserWay.org.

Contacts

Level Access

Nicole McTheny
Senior Director, Content and Communications
nicole.mctheny@levelaccess.com
(602) 339-1569

UserWay

Sophia Tupolev-Luz
VP Communications
sophia@userway.org
UserWay.org

The post Level Access Agrees to Acquire UserWay appeared first on Level Access.

• 85% of respondents consider digital accessibility a competitive advantage for their organization.
• Seven in 10 respondents say their organization has a digital accessibility policy in place.
• Nearly three-quarters of respondents say their organization has an individual or department centrally accountable for digital accessibility adoption, an important marker of accessibility maturity in our experience.

It’s clear from these results that inclusion, accessibility, and compliance are increasing priorities throughout the general market.

But even if you’re committed to inclusive user experiences and maintaining compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) or other legislation, it can sometimes be difficult to understand how to make good on that commitment, or which digital accessibility strategies are best for your organization.

In a recent webinar, our CEO and Founder Tim Springer unpacked this year’s State of Digital Accessibility survey data, adding analysis based on more than two decades as a leader in digital accessibility. In this blog, we’ll share his recommendations, complemented with data from our report, for how organizations can expand and improve digital accessibility and compliance in 2024, no matter what stage they’re at in their journey.

Get up to date on the state of digital accessibility

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If you’re brand new to digital accessibility:

Shift your focus to usability

There are many reasons your organization may be pursuing digital accessibility, but our research tells us a motivating factor for most organizations is compliance. In fact, meeting the requirements of applicable anti-discrimination laws ranked as the top reason to start addressing digital accessibility among this year’s survey respondents. But, after more than two decades helping organizations of all sizes adopt accessibility, we’ve come to recognize the limitations of a compliance-only focus in helping organizations sustain accessibility progress. The reality is that most organizations’ attention will wane once they feel they’ve “checked” the compliance “box,” which is exactly when they begin to face legal action again, and the cycle repeats itself.

Luckily, our year-over-year data points to an alternative focus that helps organizations progress toward more meaningful, lasting progress: usability. When organizations shift their focus from ticking off a checklist of compliance requirements to creating a smoother, more enjoyable user experience for everyone, they improve customer engagement and retention, and avoid falling out of compliance and doing damage to their brand.

So how do you help your colleagues make this shift in mindset? As Founder and CEO Tim Springer advises, don’t underestimate the power of a story. Seek out opportunities to demonstrate the human impact of an accessible digital experience. For example, show executive teams how your app works for a person using a screen reader both before and after applying accessibility best practices. This real-world user perspective is more likely to stick with leadership and help spread an understanding of the importance of accessibility further in your organization than the “we have to stay compliant” argument.

Build it in, don’t bolt it on

The most sustainable way to address digital accessibility and remain compliant over time is to move accessibility into your experience creation life cycle instead of focusing on fixing already-live experiences. The sooner you can start to shift accessibility “left,” embedding it early and often in creative teams’ existing processes, the more efficiencies you’ll reap, and the less likely digital accessibility strategies are to be abandoned in favor of other competing priorities. And if you do make this shift, our data suggests it will pay off. Respondents in this year’s survey rated embedding accessibility in design as the most impactful action their organizations have taken toward improving accessibility, and respondents at organizations that address accessibility in planning were significantly more likely to report improved outcomes in customer acquisition, retention, and revenue as a result of digital accessibility.

Skip the DIY approach

Digital accessibility, like compliance priorities such as information security and data privacy, is complex. It requires advanced knowledge of user experience design and digital development with careful attention to, and expertise in, an intricate, evolving legal landscape. Given the complexity, the more guidance an organization can get, the better. A DIY approach to digital accessibility may lead to unnecessary headaches and frustration as you try to find your way forward.

An expert digital accessibility solution provider can help to assess your organization’s current state of compliance and shape a plan for sustainable accessibility adoption. And if others in your organization need to be convinced of the ROI, Springer’s reminder is this: investing in a partnership early on actually helps organizations save money on accessibility in the long run by driving down unexpected expenses. An expert partner will help your teams prioritize work to focus on areas where your team will make the biggest impact for users and avoid wasting time and resources.

If you’re maturing your digital accessibility practice:

Establish centralized accountability

One of the most successful digital accessibility strategies an organization can put in place is having central accountability for driving this adoption forward. While the work of accessibility should be decentralized and involve the teams responsible for creating and maintaining digital experiences, appointing a centralized champion, or team of champions, ensures that accessibility remains a priority and receives the necessary support and resources. And this can have significant benefits, especially when it comes to maintaining compliance. Respondents to our survey at organizations with centralized accountability for accessibility adoption were more than 3.5 times more likely to report reductions in legal costs and in the time required to handle lawsuits.

Standardize accessibility training

As mentioned above, digital accessibility is not just the responsibility of a select few. It impacts various roles within an organization, even those who may not directly touch the software development life cycle (SDLC). For example, does your People Operations team ensure employee benefits platforms are accessible for employees with disabilities that impact their online experiences? Could an employee with a hearing or visual disability access required training videos without issues?

By providing standardized accessibility training, organizations can raise awareness and help all staff understand the implications of digital accessibility in their work. This knowledge empowers teams to make informed decisions and contribute to a more inclusive digital experience. Fortunately, it appears more organizations are aware of the importance of training: accessibility training ranked among respondents’ top choices when asked what they would prioritize to improve accessibility at their organizations.

Celebrate wins

Building a strong digital accessibility practice is an ongoing journey. And it’s never truly “done.” Along the journey, there may be setbacks, and it can be difficult for teams to stay motivated and committed to ensuring accessibility across an entire digital portfolio, especially in the face of busy schedules and competing priorities. That’s why it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the progress your organization is making along the way. Whether it’s improving processes by embedding new digital accessibility strategies, onboarding new teams to accessibility work, or achieving specific milestones, taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate these wins helps foster a positive and inclusive culture within an organization and helps employees sustain their commitment to making a difference.

Learn from the market’s most successful accessibility approaches

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If you’re expanding accessibility across your organization or enterprise:

Make accessibility part of your procurement process

Embedding accessibility as part of the requirements for technology purchases may be second nature to companies who produce software or digital products and may need to provide proof of accessibility in their own sales cycles. But since digital transformation is now a long-past-due priority for most organizations, this best practice should really extend to any organization purchasing technology today. When you’re vetting potential tech vendors, it’s important to find out how seriously they take accessibility. Ask them questions like:

• What accessibility standards does your product conform with?
• How do you make sure your products and services are accessible?
• Can you show us proof of your commitment to accessibility?

Ideally, accessibility should be embedded in contract requirements. This way, vendors are held accountable for delivering accessible solutions, and your organization isn’t inheriting accessibility issues that may damage users’ or employees’ experiences and put you in the hot seat for non-compliance. As an added tip, Springer advises that organizations look for vendors who not only can produce a satisfactory, completed Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT^®), but have also sought certification from a knowledgeable third-party expert like Level Access, as this adds credibility to their accessibility claims.

Don’t sugar-coat reporting

When trying to secure buy-in from leadership in order to spread accessibility adoption across the organization, it might be tempting to paint a rosy picture and emphasize all the positive progress made toward accessibility while downplaying roadblocks that are in the way. But Springer says it’s important to avoid that temptation and approach reporting on accessibility objectively. De-emphasizing the negative in reporting could actually backfire and lead to decreased support from leadership—after all, leaders might argue that if everything’s working so well, there’s no need to allocate more time and resources to accessibility initiatives. Remaining objective and open, while optimistic, in your progress reports helps leaders make informed decisions and prevents misalignment down the road.

No matter where you are in your accessibility journey, the State of Digital Accessibility report provides valuable insights and strategies for success. To dive deeper into these findings and draw more data to help you boost accessibility in 2024, request the Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility report. In the report, you’ll discover how organizations across industries are leveraging digital accessibility to enhance user experiences, drive customer engagement, and achieve compliance. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to benchmark your current efforts and stay ahead of the curve as you plan digital initiatives for 2024.

The post Boost Accessibility in 2024: Digital Accessibility Strategies for Success No Matter Where You’re Starting appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, Dec. 18, 2023 – Level Access, the leading enterprise digital accessibility platform, in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), released its Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report today. This year’s expanded study reveals that making digital experiences accessible for people with disabilities is a mainstream priority for enterprise organizations, and it provides new insight into the challenges preventing progress for many organizations. Challenges include internal misalignment between executive leadership and practitioners, and confusion about compliance obligations.” Organizations today understand that digital accessibility isn’t just a moral imperative and a compliance requirement–it’s a business best practice. The majority of enterprise organizations are implementing digital accessibility policies and report business improvements as a result,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “However, our data reveals there are gaps between organizations’ intentions and what we know to be effective execution. Level Access expanded this year’s State of Digital Accessibility survey to include not only accessibility practitioners and managers–those actively invested in the day-to-day work–but also executive leaders at enterprise organizations. Key findings in the report reflect a trend of rapid transformation toward accessibility, coupled with confusion over requirements and implementation:

1. Widespread adoption: More than 70% of respondents’ organizations have implemented digital accessibility policies, recognizing accessibility as crucial for enhancing user experience, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation.
2. Confidence versus reality: While 83% of respondents express confidence in the accessibility of their organization’s primary digital experience (such as their website), 40% report facing legal action in the past 12 months. This points to a misalignment between professionals’ perceptions of online accessibility and the reality of compliance requirements under accessibility laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
3. Leadership and practitioner disconnect: Senior leaders and practitioners have noticeably different perceptions of the state of digital accessibility at their organizations, with leaders often more confident and less aware of resource gaps. Almost half (45%) of senior leaders believe their digital accessibility practices are “highly developed,” versus less than a quarter of practitioners (23%).
4. Barriers to progress: Three-quarters of respondents report their organizations want to improve digital accessibility but have too many competing demands, and 69% say they lack adequate time to address accessibility issues.
5. Impact of proactivity: Successful digital accessibility initiatives are marked by a proactive approach. Incorporating accessibility when designing (56%) and testing during development (52%) were identified as the most impactful actions respondents’ organizations have taken to improve digital accessibility.

“This year’s insights reveal more than we’ve ever known about what’s contributing to successful digital accessibility programs, how organizations are thinking, and where they’re stalled,” Springer adds. “This deeper level of understanding validates our approach of supporting organizations with advanced, integrated solutions for building inclusive digital experiences. “In a world increasingly driven by digital interaction, creating digital experiences that work for all users is critical to organizational success,” said Christopher M. Lee, PHD, VP and Managing Director of G3ict and IAAP. “We hope our research inspires and empowers businesses of all sizes to prioritize digital equity and inclusion as a key business objective in 2024.”Request the Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report.

For additional insight from Tim Springer about this year’s report, request our on-demand webinar, “The State of Digital Accessibility: 2023 Insights and Action Items for 2024.”

Research methodology:

Level Access commissioned independent market research specialist Vanson Bourne to undertake the quantitative research upon which the Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report is based. A total of 1,033 business decision-makers and technical / product specialists from the U.S. were surveyed during July and August of 2023. Respondents worked at organizations of varied sizes and across industries. All professionals surveyed had some involvement in digital experience creation at their organizations, whether in a tactical or strategic capacity. Vanson Bourne conducted surveys online using a rigorous multi-level screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates were given the opportunity to participate.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, two leaders in the digital accessibility solution space, announced the completion of their merger in August 2022. To learn more, visit levelaccess.com.

About G3ict and IAAP

The Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict) is a nonprofit organization formed by leading industries, disability advocacy groups, and public organizations in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to address the inequality and lack of accessible products and services for persons with disabilities. For more information about G3ict, please visit g3ict.org.The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), a division of the G3ict, has a mission to define, promote, improve, and diversify the accessibility profession globally. IAAP equips organizations to build a skilled workforce and develop accessibility maturity by providing certifications, professional education, solution-based tools, and subject matter expertise. For more information about the IAAP, please visit accessibilityassociation.org.

Public Relations Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

The post Level Access Releases Fifth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report appeared first on Level Access.

There’s quite a bit to explore. Visually, we have a new logo, a refreshed color palette, and updated design components. Structurally, we’ve redeveloped our user experience to better align our content with the interests, motivations, and educational needs of our first-time—and longtime—visitors. And this is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, my team and I look forward to sharing many of the details and decisions that led us to today’s launch and what the future holds in this ongoing evolution.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the new Level Access. And, as always, if you experience something that isn’t working as expected, or would just like to chat about the changes, we’d love to hear from you. Email us here.

Thank you for visiting,

Ian Lowe,
Chief Marketing Officer,
Level Access

The post Brand Identity Update from CMO Ian Lowe appeared first on Level Access.

Accessibility compliance deadlines: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

AODA compliance reports are due December 31

Time is running out to report on AODA compliance. The AODA mandates that all private-sector organizations in Ontario with 20 or more employees file a compliance report every three years—and the next deadline is December 31. The 2023 reporting format is similar to 2020’s, but notably, this year’s instructions specifically highlight the AODA’s requirement that public websites and social media content conform with WCAG 2.0 AA (excluding two specific criteria for audio descriptions and live captions).

If your organization is impacted by this deadline, you need to file a report before the end of the month. While you may request an extension for achieving compliance, you’re still obligated to accurately report on the current state of compliance at your organization by December 31, and it’s not 100% certain that your request will be granted. Unlike in previous years, extension requests will be considered after—not prior to—the reporting deadline.

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The EAA is on track to take effect in June 2025

The deadline for compliance with the EAA remains June 28, 2025. In contrast to other European Union (EU) accessibility laws, which focus on the public sector, the EAA also applies to private-sector organizations that do business in Europe. That means all companies that sell products to European businesses or consumers must meet EAA requirements—even if they’re located outside the EU. The EAA mandates that a range of products and services, including computers and operating systems, smartphones, banking services, and e-commerce experiences, be made accessible to people with disabilities.

The EU standard for digital accessibility (EN 301 549) will be updated over the next few years to reference WCAG 2.2 as the compliance standard for digital technology. If the EAA applies to your organization, the best way to prepare is to start by familiarizing yourself with its requirements and evaluating the accessibility of your technology. Then, aim for conformance with WCAG 2.2, as well as any other applicable EN 301 549 requirements, when designing new digital experiences.

Case law developments: U.S. Supreme Court declines to clarify whether testers have standing in ADA Title III lawsuits

A case widely followed by the accessibility community, Acheson vs. Laufer, has come to a less-than-climactic close. The case, which recently reached the U.S. Supreme Court, revolved around whether Deborah Laufer—an individual who regularly files lawsuits against hotels whose websites do not identify accessible rooms—could legitimately sue Acheson Hotels even though she did not intend to use their services. Laufer claimed the hotel’s practices violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Given that Laufer is one of many website testers who consistently file accessibility lawsuits, Acheson’s request that the Supreme Court rule on her standing as a plaintiff raised a broader question about whether these testers can effectively enforce the ADA.

The Supreme Court refused to clarify Laufer’s standing, but suggested they may consider doing so if presented with the question again. That means that, for the time being, testers may continue to take legal action against organizations whose websites they believe violate the ADA. Organizations’ surest defense against web accessibility litigation remains working toward conformance with the latest version of WCAG at Level AA and working with a third-party expert to maintain conformance, in support of ADA compliance requirements, over time.

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Conformance documentation: VPAT 2.5 released, accounting for WCAG 2.2 criteria

Accessibility remains a common requirement in software procurement processes. So digital product companies may be interested to learn that an updated Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®), VPAT 2.5, has been released. The most significant difference between VPAT 2.5 and previous versions of the VPAT is the inclusion of WCAG 2.2 success criteria in the WCAG, International, and EU editions of the template. Additionally, VPAT 2.5 has been updated based on guidance from the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) that WCAG success criterion 4.1.1 (parsing) be automatically considered met for WCAG 2.0 and 2.1. Because this criterion is addressed by most modern browsers and assistive technologies, it is considered obsolete by the W3C and was removed in WCAG 2.2.

Organizations that have already met WCAG 2.2 success criteria can now report on conformance using this template. Additionally, if you’re planning on updating your accessibility conformance documentation, you’ll want to use VPAT 2.5. This communicates your commitment to accessibility to buyers by demonstrating that you stay in the know about reporting best practices. While you should use the most recent version of the VPAT regardless of whether you’re ready to conform with WCAG 2.2, aiming for conformance with 2.2 criteria will even more clearly show that your organization values inclusion.

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Achieve lasting clarity and compliance with an expert partner

When it comes to digital accessibility, it can feel like change is the only constant. And if you’re having a hard time making sense of every new standard, regulation, and reporting best practice (or understanding the differences between them), remember that you don’t need to do it alone. Level Access has over two decades of experience helping organizations around the world meet accessibility compliance deadlines, including providing support with filing AODA compliance reports and drafting extension plans with key milestones.

Our experts are well-versed in global accessibility legislation and regulations, and we’ll work alongside you to ensure you meet your goals, whether you’re focused on mitigating legal risk, providing up-to-date documentation to fulfill procurement obligations, or simply providing the best possible experience for every user. Plus, we’ll provide the tools, testing, and training you need to stay ahead of evolving requirements. Connect with a member of our team today to get started.

The post End-of-Year Accessibility Debrief: Compliance Deadlines and Key Developments appeared first on Level Access.

The fact is, just because your website may have been created by your agency partner doesn’t mean your organization won’t be liable if it fails to meet standards for compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable accessibility laws.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, and ensure the most productive, positive working relationship possible, you need to ensure you and your agency are on the same page. In this blog, we’ll further explain why it’s important to discuss accessibility with your digital agency and share a list of accessibility questions that will help facilitate an open, constructive conversation.

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Why is it important to ensure your agency partner understands digital accessibility?

Many organizations lack an intimate understanding of what accessibility really means when it comes to websites, apps, and digital products. So even if an agency is vocal about their commitment to inclusive experiences, some may not know what they don’t know.

Additionally, agencies are often managing a lot of complexity and working with tight timelines. Discussing accessibility with your agency partner earlier, rather than later, ensures time can be allotted for incorporating and checking for accessibility. This is especially important if your digital agency may be inheriting accessibility issues from other agencies managing your organization’s brand, or in the case that they run into challenges with tooling and integrations as they incorporate accessibility software.

Given these factors, it’s easy to understand why some agencies may struggle to fully adopt accessibility—but ignoring the needs of users with disabilities has serious consequences. The legal landscape surrounding web accessibility and ADA compliance remains active, with plaintiffs filing a record 3,255 lawsuits in 2022. Legal action can lead to reputational damage and escalating fees for your organization, not to mention the drain on productivity for both brands and agencies when teams need to drop what they’re working on to quickly remediate issues identified by a complaint.

There’s also a significant opportunity cost to ignoring accessibility: in the U.S. alone, working-aged adults with disabilities control about $490 billion in disposable income. An informed, proactive digital agency partner will help you not only avoid negative outcomes, but also optimize your user experience so you can reach (and retain) the widest possible audience.

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When is the best time to ask your agency about accessibility?

Ideally, accessibility should be a point of conversation from the very beginning of the relationship. Embedding accessibility expectations in your contract, including the accessibility standards your finished product needs to meet, is a great starting point. This will keep accessibility top-of-mind in any early discovery and planning discussions—for example, your agency will know to ensure that brand colors and key color combinations are vetted for accessibility during any early-stage branding review.

However, depending on the digital accessibility maturity of your organization and your agency partner, accessibility may not come up in conversations until a project is well underway. If that’s your situation, no time like the present: in our 20+ years of experience supporting organizations of all sizes—and partnering with some of the world’s leading digital agencies—we’ve learned it’s never too late to adopt or improve accessibility.

Accessibility questions to ask your digital agency

In the content that follows, we’ve collected questions that will be helpful for fostering a conversation with your agency partner about how accessibility is being incorporated in your digital experiences. You’ll also gain information about how to best support your partner in enhancing their approach to provide your customers with the best user experience.

We’ve collected our recommended accessibility questions into three key categories, based on important topics to align on with your agency: the current state of your digital experience’s accessibility, how your agency approaches digital accessibility, and how the experience’s accessibility will be maintained over time.

Current state of accessibility

• How many accessibility errors are live on our site / experience right now?
• Of those, how many are critical (meaning, they represent a barrier to access)?
• What tools are you using to evaluate the experience for accessibility errors? How are you managing the results?
• How long have you been tracking accessibility performance? Are there trends in the types of accessibility issues you’re noticing, or in the types of pages or types of content that tend to contain issues?

The response you’re looking for:

At a basic level, it’s important to know that your agency partner is aware of what constitutes an accessibility error that could render your site or experience inaccessible for people with various disabilities (and therefore non-compliant)—and that they can identify if any currently exist on your site.

If your agency team can’t answer these accessibility questions, they likely won’t have satisfactory answers to the rest of the questions we suggest asking, either. But, that certainly doesn’t have to mean the end of a relationship! Take the questions below as prompts to explore together and answer collaboratively as you set expectations and create procedures for accessibility moving forward. For this type of session, it may be helpful to rely on an expert accessibility partner who can explain best practices for implementing digital accessibility successfully.

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Approach

• Who on your team is involved in ensuring accessibility of the site / experience?
• What is your review process regarding accessibility? Who reviews experiences, at what point in the process, and how often?
• What accessibility standard(s) does your team evaluate against?
• How do you approach or make decisions about how to prioritize accessibility in an overall build?
• How do you ensure you’re designing for diverse needs and personas?
• How, if at all, does your team involve people with disabilities in the experience planning and creation process?
• Besides design and development, what is your process for accessible content creation (alt text, captions, videos, reading level, plain language, etc.)?

The response you’re looking for:

Responsibility for, and process surrounding, digital accessibility will vary depending on the agency’s operating model. Larger or more mature firms may have a leader or team responsible for inclusive design, while smaller firms, or those with less accessibility experience, may take a more ad-hoc approach. What’s important is that staff are thinking about, and incorporating, accessibility into their work—and that, if a design or build fails to meet accessibility standards, the work is sent back before the experience is launched.

Regarding standards, the best practice is to work toward conformance with the latest version of WCAG, satisfying at least the Level A and AA criteria. If the agency routinely measures against WCAG 2.1 standards, this may be a good opportunity to explore what it would take to satisfy the nine new standards released in version 2.2.

Only the most advanced digital agencies, and especially larger ones, are likely to have robust policies and procedures around seeking and incorporating user feedback, including feedback from people with disabilities. However, it doesn’t take a large client roster or deep pockets to ensure user stories guiding design and development represent and include people with disabilities. These are the types of achievable best practices an expert accessibility firm can help agencies incorporate.

Maintenance

• How does your team monitor the accessibility of experiences over time?
• What does it do with the resulting data?
• Do you partner with an accessibility firm to evaluate your work?
• Do you have a process for proactively seeking feedback from various user groups and incorporating that feedback into future iterations of the experience?
• (If your brand team handles the maintenance of your site / experience): What resources can you give us to ensure we can maintain accessibility on our site?

The response you’re looking for:

Accessibility is far from a one-time consideration. Each update to your site or experience brings with it the possibility of a new issue that could block access to visitors and users with disabilities. Any indication that your agency partner understands digital accessibility as an ongoing part of an experience’s life cycle and not something that can be “fixed and forgotten” is a great sign.

Expert evaluation, especially manual evaluation including testing by people with disabilities, is crucial to the long-term accessibility and compliance of your experience. If your agency doesn’t already seek this support, ask if they’d be willing to collaborate with experts and incorporate this evaluation in their scope and process.

In terms of resources for handoff, when accessibility is incorporated early, agencies that support with design can offer several guideposts to help your team sustain a compliant website or digital experience. Deliverables from a website design partner might include brand and style guidelines, CSS written with proper semantic markup, accessible widgets and components for creating new pages on your site, and accessible color and font-size options set as defaults in your web content management system (CMS).

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No need to play “gotchya”

Digital accessibility is a journey, not a destination. It’s important to remember that these questions aren’t meant to paint your agency into a corner—they’re meant to be the beginning of a conversation. And as a bonus, your accessibility questions may inspire your agency partner to enrich or add to their approach on other clients’ projects as well. In this way, you’re not just partnering to create a website or app. Your partnership can be part of the movement toward a more inclusive internet for all.

If there are areas where your agency partner’s answers don’t meet what we’ve explored in this blog in terms of desired responses, it doesn’t mean they aren’t the partner for you. It probably just means they need support. That support can come in many forms, but the right accessibility solution provider will provide the tooling, training, and expertise both parties need to fill the gaps. Level Access has extensive experience enabling both brands and agencies to create and maintain accessible and compliant digital experiences, including websites, mobile apps, software platforms, and more.

Whether you and your agency want to benchmark your current approach to digital accessibility, or your brand needs a roadmap for enabling best practices across your network of vendors, we’re ready to help. Engage with our team today to get started.

The post 16 Accessibility Questions to Ask Your Digital Agency appeared first on Level Access.

In this post, we’ll dive deeper into the importance of game accessibility and outline three practical considerations for designing gaming experiences everyone can enjoy.

Why video game accessibility matters

People play video games for countless reasons, from socializing with friends to unwinding after a long day. By prioritizing game accessibility, studios ensure all people have an equal opportunity to experience the connection, adventure, and pure joy that gaming can bring.

There’s also a business case for making video games accessible. In the U.S., working-aged adults with disabilities control roughly $490 billion in disposable income—and this figure doesn’t account for the countless gaming enthusiasts under the age of 18. To maximize their market share, and maintain an inclusive brand, game creators need to account for the diversity of consumers’ needs.

Finally, neglecting accessibility in gaming can have legal repercussions. The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) mandates that two-way communication in video games (like voice or text chat with other players), as well as the paths users take to reach two-way communication features, be accessible. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines of up to $100,000 for each violation.

Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public accommodations be accessible to people with disabilities. Legal decisions and settlements have found that public accommodations covered by the ADA include e-commerce experiences associated with digital purchases across platforms—from computers and smartphones to virtual reality gaming consoles. The ADA could apply to web or in-app purchases of full games, as well as purchases made to obtain in-game items or unlock new features.

Best practices for accessibility in gaming

It’s clear that prioritizing accessibility is a must for any game creator eager to maximize revenue and mitigate risk. But what does accessible game design mean in practice? In this section, we’ll explore a few considerations for building inclusive video games.

1. Empower users to personalize the gaming experience

Video games today come in a wide variety of formats—from first-person shooter games like Call of Duty, to massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) like World of Warcraft—and on an array of platforms and devices. The range and spectrum of players’ accessibility needs is just as broad. So when it comes to inclusive video game design, customization is key.

Game creators should provide users with options for configuring displays, controls, and other settings to make experiences work for them. These options must be available to users from the launch of a game, not just during game play. And designers shouldn’t label accessibility options as being “for” specific types of disabilities. Instead, game creators can empower players to select the best options for their unique needs and offer a “playground” or tutorial mode in which they can try out various settings.

Settings that support video game accessibility include, but aren’t limited to:

• Closed captions and / or visual indicators for audio: Any auditory instructions or dialogue must be available in closed captions, and auditory cues (for example, a “bang” when an opponent attacks) should come with corresponding visual indicators.
• Audio descriptions: Audio equivalents need to be available for all information that is conveyed visually.
• Options to limit disruptive sensory stimuli: Players need the option to turn off or dial down the intensity of potentially harmful stimuli, such as loud noises, sudden motion, flashing, and haptic feedback.
• Multiple forms of visual indication and enhanced color contrast: Instead of solely relying on color to convey meaning, use a second visual indicator like patterns, symbols, or markings. In addition, individuals who need sufficient contrast will find it easier to play when the color contrast between important on-screen elements (such as playing characters, enemy characters, and interactive items) and background elements is increased.
• Customization for game controls: Users should have the flexibility to re-map keys so that all actions can be performed with a single hand. They also need to be able to complete all tasks that can be performed with an on-screen pointer with the controller alone, or through dictation.
• Automated navigation and controls: Some users may want the option to automatically navigate a game’s world, as well as to automatically take actions such as shooting or jumping.

2. Reference industry standards for game accessibility

Video game design and development can be complex—and teams will likely benefit from more comprehensive and specific guidance than the personalization tips we’ve outlined above. Thankfully, experts have published a number of standards for ensuring the functional and technical accessibility of video games. These include:

• Accessible Player Experience Patterns: Developed by AbleGamers, a non-profit organization devoted to video game accessibility, these guidelines focus on the needs of players with different types of disabilities and how to meet them.
• Xbox Accessibility Guidelines: Xbox provides a comprehensive set of technical accessibility specifications for games played on its consoles.
• Game Accessibility Guidelines: The Game Accessibility Guidelines were produced by a group of studios, accessibility specialists, and academics. They list best practices for making games accessible to people with motor, cognitive, vision, hearing, and speech disabilities, along with general accessibility considerations.
• XR Accessibility User Requirements: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)’s first accessibility documentation surrounding extended reality (XR) experiences introduces functional standards for XR accessibility.

Additionally, the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can be broadly applied to the content in video games. However, because WCAG was created primarily for HTML web content, it doesn’t account for all the scenarios in which video game creators need to consider accessibility—so gaming-specific standards can help fill in these gaps.

3. Include people with disabilities in video game creation

Lastly, but certainly not least, while industry standards equip teams with a general framework for designing accessible video games, every game is unique. The most reliable approach to ensuring game accessibility is to involve people with disabilities in the process of game creation. To understand the needs of players with disabilities, game developers should take care to include members of the disability community in focus groups for user research. And teams should consult with people with disabilities during design, development, and /or testing, as part of existing product development processes, to ensure that all players’ needs are met.

The joy of gaming is for everyone

The world of gaming continues to expand, and prioritizing accessibility is essential to ensuring that all players can participate. As the market-leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, Level Access empowers innovative organizations across industries—including gaming, media, and entertainment—to create inclusive, compliant digital experiences. Engage with our team today and learn how we’ll help you achieve your accessibility goals.

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A few years ago, I was working with two colleagues at Level Access to evaluate the accessibility of a web page. When they began discussing an interactive icon on the page, there was a problem: I could not see what they were seeing. For them, the icon was clearly there. For me, it was not there. I was stumped. After nearly 45 minutes of back-and-forth, I suddenly realized what they were talking about. As if by magic, an icon appeared right in the center of the page. What was going on?

These kinds of situations aren’t new to me. Over the years, I’ve gotten used to other people seeing things that I do not see. Even though I have sharp vision, I have Post Trauma Vision Syndrome due to accidents in childhood. I also have dysgraphia (difficulty writing by hand), dyscalculia (math blindness), and visual integration difficulties relating to autism. All of this means I score poorly on cognitive tests—at least in comparison to what I’ve been able to accomplish in my career so far. It also means that navigating web pages has always been a challenge for me.

I’m hardly alone in the barriers I face online: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 12.8% of adults in the U.S. (approximately 33 million people) have some type of cognitive disability. Any organization committed to inclusion needs to account for these users to ensure that everyone can successfully navigate their website. But here’s the challenge: unlike other types of disabilities, there are few formal standards for cognitive disability and digital accessibility. In fact, the Worldwide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has just begun to touch on cognitive differences in the most recent version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). When it comes to creating accessible websites for users like me, it can be tough to know where to begin.

In this blog, while acknowledging just how wide-ranging the category of cognitive disability is, I’ll discuss some commonalities in how I—and many others with cognitive disabilities—interact with online information. I’ll also offer some advice for making digital experiences more accessible for users with cognitive disabilities.

The diversity of cognitive disability

One reason for the lack of clear accessibility standards and guidelines for people with cognitive disabilities is that the range of these disabilities is huge. It includes:

• Perceptual disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, as well as limitations in memory
• Developmental disabilities including autism and Down syndrome
• Cognitive and perceptual differences related to brain injuries
• Cognitive differences related to aging

Some, but not all, individuals who are neurodivergent also self-identify as having cognitive disabilities. For more examples, the WAI provides a comprehensive list of cognitive disabilities on its website.

Cognitive disability and digital accessibility: How do people with cognitive disabilities navigate online?

Because the range of cognitive disability is so broad, experts have avoided one-size-fits-all formulas for describing how users with cognitive disabilities navigate online. Every user interacts with digital information differently, depending on their unique experience of cognitive disability. But over the course of my career—both at Level Access, and in decades of disability-focused education and counseling before that—I’ve had an opportunity to explore whether there is a common pattern in how people with cognitive disabilities use the web.

I’ve come to the understanding that for many users with cognitive disabilities, including myself, the brain has to “gate down” visual stimuli to a manageable level. We protect ourselves from overload by limiting what we take in. Before I see a web page, my brain unconsciously decides what is—and isn’t—important enough to see. In the case of the icon that I “couldn’t see” in that discussion with my colleagues, by the time that I consciously saw that page, my brain had already decided that the icon was unimportant.

Here’s how this works in my case. Even though I’ve had sharp vision for most of my life, my visual field of focus is extremely narrow. Most people have a two-degree field of focus, which covers a person’s entire face. I have a field of focus of 1/10 of a degree, about the size of a pore on someone’s nose. That’s because my brain does not have the bandwidth to take in more than this tiny sliver of visual information at once. “Gating down” is my brain’s way of solving a problem: making sense of a lot of information, with limited bandwidth.

Tips for making your website accessible to users with cognitive disabilities

People with cognitive disabilities who “gate down” use a variety of problem-solving methods to filter out unimportant information and focus on what matters. To be accessible to users with cognitive disabilities, web pages need to flow with—not against—these methods. Here are a few pieces of advice for accounting for cognitive disability and digital accessibility in web design.

Use patterns logically and consistently

Users with cognitive disabilities rely heavily on patterns to make meaning from the fire hose of information on any given web page. When applying patterns—such as the order of form fields, colors, and borders—to different elements of your website, it’s important to do so in a meaningful way.

Associate distinct patterns with specific forms, or specific types of tasks. Make sure to adhere to these same patterns across all pages of your website, and to introduce them early and consistently within user flows (the series of tasks that a user performs to complete a goal, like logging in or completing a purchase). For example, if form fields are presented in a particular pattern on the first page that a user visits to book an airline ticket, the fields should be presented in the same pattern on the following pages that the user navigates to finish booking. Sudden switches in patterns can leave users “stranded” and unsure how to proceed.

Ideally, this concept should apply to your entire design system: all similar components (like all radio buttons and checkboxes) should adhere to consistent patterns in functionality and styling. Having wildly different components and page layouts puts more cognitive load on the user and may result in a disruptive experience for an individual with a cognitive disability.

Key principles of accessible design

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Pay attention to mental mapping

When you think of a website’s main navigation bar, chances are, a particular order of information comes to mind. There’s a “home” button on the left, maybe a “log in” button on the right, with buttons to access different parts of the website in the middle. And if you were asked to place this imaginary menu bar on a web page, you’d probably put it right at the top. That’s because, since the early days of the internet, most web designers have followed a particular template for creating menu bars. And users have developed a shared understanding of how menu bars are structured: that is, we have a mental map for these elements.

People with cognitive disabilities take time to move from one mental map to another, and we tend to seek out maps that are familiar to us. Already used to making perceptual decisions based on very little information, we’re prone to jumping to conclusions about what is there. So, when designing web elements, use objects and patterns that will be easily recognizable to users.

Make important things look important

Patterns and mental mapping aren’t the only strategies that people with cognitive disabilities use to identify crucial information and filter out distractions. The size of elements, and their brightness, play a key role in how users discern what matters. Because of this, web designers should aim to make important information and functionality brighter in color, and larger, than less important functionality. Size and brightness are especially critical when it comes to elements linked to key tasks. An essential next step in a user flow shouldn’t be a tiny, dim icon.

While bright colors are helpful for calling a user’s attention, designers should be mindful to use them deliberately. The over-use of bright colors and bold patterns can be a burden for some people with sensory and cognitive disabilities. To provide the most accessible, intuitive user experience, designers should reserve the accent color in their design system for interactive elements like buttons and links. This reduces cognitive load while providing users with a clear direction as they navigate your site.

In addition to size and brightness, the placement of elements relative to surrounding content may determine how a user with a cognitive disability perceives their importance. If an actionable icon is surrounded by decorative material, a user may unconsciously assume it’s decorative. In fact, that’s what happened with the icon that I mentioned at the beginning of the blog: because it was located inside the type of horizontal bar that often divides content blocks, my brain registered it as unimportant.

Of course, this doesn’t mean web designers can’t be decorative and creative. People with cognitive disabilities like an engaging, stylish web experience as much as the next person. But what really matters is that designers use decorative elements in a meaningful, intentional way to help guide users along their journey.

Additional considerations

• Ensure there is adequate color contrast between text and background elements, and for all meaningful objects on a page. As a rule, follow WCAG, which recommends a 4.5:1 color contrast ratio for small text, and a 3:1 ratio for large text and user interface (UI) components. This helps ensure all important information can be perceived by users who “gate down.”
• Make intuitive choices about colors and icons. Avoid color choices that conflict with a user’s expectations, like an error banner appearing in green, and steer clear of unusual iconography.Counter-intuitive style choices may make it more challenging for users, especially those with cognitive disabilities, to decipher the importance and meaning of elements on a web page.
• Use a consistent pattern for visual focus indicators. Sudden changes in a focus indicator’s type or style may cause users with cognitive disabilities to lose their place on a page. Avoid focus indicators that rely on slight changes in shades of color.
• Don’t assume users have the same information that you do. For example, if your site copy contains abbreviations, be sure to spell out what these abbreviations refer to. This minimizes confusion for all users and can be particularly important for those with cognitive disabilities.

Accessible websites are more intuitive for everyone

Digital accessibility doesn’t just benefit people with disabilities. It improves user experiences for everyone, and this is especially true when it comes to accessibility for those of us with cognitive disabilities. Incorporating the considerations above into your website’s content and design will result in more logical, intuitive, and enjoyable journey for all users—enabling your organization to engage a broader audience and demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusion.

About Gershon Blackmore

Gershon Blackmore is a Senior Accessibility Analyst at Level Access. Prior to joining the company in 2014, he held a wide range of roles, including serving in the pulpit as clergy, working as a supervising psychotherapist, and teaching religion and medical ethics courses in university. He has also trained and worked in chaplaincy, serving as a police and hospice chaplain. All through this journey, he has used computers as assistive technology for his disabilities. He lives in Syracuse, New York, with his daughter and son-in-law and three cats.

Additional resources

Level Access’s online Academy offers expert-led, on-demand training for designers, content creators, and other key roles. To learn more about cognitive disability and digital accessibility, check out the following courses:

• Introduction to Digital Accessibility: This introductory course focuses on the different types of disabilities and how these disabilities can affect a person’s ability to access digital content. It also explores the differences between accommodation and accessibility, and why it’s important to design for everyone.
• Understanding Accessible Design: This introduction to accessibility equips designers to incorporate accessibility into their work from the beginning, preventing retrofits and redesigns.
• Disability Etiquette: This course covers appropriate ways to interact with individuals with disabilities. It provides information about the different types of disabilities that people may have and introduces best practices for communicating and engaging with people with disabilities.
• Understanding Accessible Experiences: This course offers an overview of various accessible experiences. It covers how everyone benefits from accessible experiences and debunks accessibility myths to help learners begin overcoming bias.

Want expert advice on how to incorporate accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities into your organization’s digital experiences? Engage with our team today to get started.

The post Cognitive Disability: The Next Frontier for Web Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

It’s time for a shift in thinking (see what I did there…?). It’s time for a broader approach. It’s time for teams to be proactive about when, where, and how they apply digital accessibility to their work, not just as a “quality check” but as a guiding philosophy. As I’ve advocated elsewhere, accessibility needs to be thought about as the flour in the muffins, as it were—an integral, inextricable part of all experience creation.

Of course, this expanded approach puts designers in the hot seat, since “experience creation” often begins, in earnest, in design. But in my experience, very little exists for designers and content creators to lean on when it comes to applying digital accessibility proactively in their daily work. There are plenty of tools that can help designers check and adjust designs for certain aspects of accessibility, covering a subset of their scope, but what designers are lacking is a single source of truth to help them easily identify and understand all their responsibilities when it comes to ensuring accessibility. In short, designers need support for how to bake with accessibility instead of checking for it after the muffins (substitute your favorite baked good) are done.

Tips for agile, accessible design

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Those who are “in the know” about digital accessibility may hesitate here. “What about WCAG?” you may ask. Certainly, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are an important standard that designers are, ultimately, accountable for upholding when shaping any digital experience. But the way WCAG is structured doesn’t align with the mental model used by most designers. We tend to think in terms of componentization and “flows,” which makes it convoluted and messy to refer back to WCAG. It’s not practical for designers to memorize long lists of specific success criteria and then try to cross-reference that mental list for which specific rules to apply to each new design. Designers just want to know what they need to consider from an accessibility standpoint, or if there’s anything they might be missing.

Introducing the Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics Guide

For years I’ve wanted to simplify WCAG and put it in designer-centric terms. So this year, I did. In an effort to arm designers and content creators with a resource they can use to proactively embed accessibility considerations in their regular workflows, I created the Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics Guide.

The guide includes more than 170 heuristics—think of them as guidelines or “to-do” statements—meant to help designers and content creators with their daily decisions. The heuristics are grounded in the technicalities of WCAG, as well as additional accessibility best practices, but they are presented in simple and understandable phrasing tailored to a creative audience.

But wait—there’s more. The heuristics are organized into designer-centric principles and sub-principles, making them easy to find and learn. In my opinion, the principles equate to the tenets of accessible design. For example, one principle, Properly Structure Elements, includes the following sub-principles:

• Clear Identification
• Logical Order
• Optimizing Assistive Technology Experience
• Proximity Implies Relationship
• Setting Context
• Setting User Up for Success

Designers are comfortable with and familiar with such concepts. One could easily map them to things like the 10 usability heuristics, the laws of UX, or other well-known usability guiding principles.

To create the heuristics, I referenced the robust set of design- and content-specific rules, based on WCAG, that I wrote for customers of Level Access’ Design Evaluations service. I simplified those rules and restructured them into more design-centric categories (the principles), and then included additional best practices.

And of course, like any good designer, I had my work reviewed. The heuristics were reviewed by my peers, Level Access’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Jon Avila, and our Chief Innovation Officer, Karl Groves. For a practitioner’s lens, I also had the heuristics reviewed by our product design team (including our design director, Swapnali Thakar) and members of our Design Evaluations testing team.

Embed Karen’s heuristics in your everyday approach

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How to use the guide

The value of the guide is in helping designers and content creators identify the specific accessibility requirements for whatever task they have at hand, be that a component, pattern, page, flow, etc.

For example, a designer might be working on a new product card. They would consult the guide and find some heuristics that apply. They would then add these heuristics to their set of requirements, to be considered alongside all other requirements.

This is the future of design—where accessibility is included at the beginning, to be considered and incorporated alongside all other requirements.

But hey—I’m talking to designers here, so let me show the guide in action, rather than just describing its usefulness. In this quick video, I explain how the Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics can be applied to the common task of creating a product card.

Download the transcript

Every designer’s practice is unique, and it would be naive to think one document can solve accessibility for any designer or their team. This guide is not meant to be thought of as a one-stop shop for all things accessible design.

Instead, my hope is that it’s a handy resource at the ready when designers need direction and guidance on accessibility, and ideally, a springboard to further knowledge-seeking and professional development in this area. If you’re a designer, I hope you refer to this document regularly to ensure the breadth and depth of accessibility coverage required in your designs. I also hope that, over time, the heuristics start to seem second nature, and that the principles help shape your individual design philosophy.

Make accessible design your new normal

If you’re ready to level up your daily design practice, you’re in good hands. Access the Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics Guide for the expert-informed, simplified direction you need to become an accessible design champion.

For more information on how Level Access can support you and your team with expert Design Evaluations and more, contact us.

About Karen Hawkins

Karen Hawkins is the Principal of Accessible Design at Level Access. She holds an honours Industrial Engineering degree with a specialization in Human Factors, and she is a certified accessibility professional. Karen worked for more than a decade as a user experience designer and director, leading and mentoring multidisciplinary teams in creating world-class user experiences and determining complex omnichannel digital solutions for leading global companies. She is a passionate advocate for digital accessibility, and she spends her time training both colleagues and clients to apply, and share, accessible design thinking.

The post Accessible Design Principles and Heuristics: The Story Behind the Guide appeared first on Level Access.

In an agile approach, teams tackle remediation in focused, high-priority segments, and proactively embed accessibility into digital experience creation to avoid introducing new accessibility barriers. It’s a formula for efficient fixes and sustainable momentum—but there’s one challenge.

While it can be fairly straightforward (if onerous) to track progress toward resolving a large-scale audit’s findings, when accessibility is seamlessly embedded into your team’s everyday work, it can be tricky to understand how to track your impact. Do you measure the number of overall accessibility issues in your digital properties? Or how many critical barriers exist? Or the time it takes to address accessibility issues? All three?

This blog will offer three key performance indicators (KPIs) that product teams can use to monitor the effectiveness of their agile accessibility efforts, as well as two process-oriented accessibility KPIs to help in shifting mindset and focus if your team is in the process of adopting a more agile approach. Seem like a lot to keep track of? We’ll end off with an explanation of how our solution can enable you to bring together data in an agile way and stay focused on what matters most.

Why measure the success of your agile accessibility efforts?

If you haven’t really started tracking accessibility progress for each of your digital experiences, you’re not alone. Many teams don’t have any ongoing KPIs for digital accessibility, either because they’re unaware of their obligations or because they treat accessibility as a one-time, box-checking activity, where the completion of remediation on an audit’s findings is equated with a team having “solved” accessibility on their site.

This reality is unfortunate because consistent measurement is crucial to building sustainable, accessible, usable digital experiences for everyone, and supporting your broader organizational inclusion and compliance goals. Teams need current data to understand where their efforts are having an impact, what blockers they need to get past, and how they may need to work differently to achieve their desired results—and that counts double for product and development teams working in agile development methodologies, who need data to be able to pivot and iterate on plans in real time.

Plus, accessibility measurement doesn’t just help teams work smarter—accessibility KPIs are also important for helping other stakeholders within your organization understand the impact of your accessibility efforts, which can help you secure additional buy-in and resources.

What should you measure to understand if your agile approach to accessibility is working?

The accessibility KPIs that your team chooses to track may vary based on your team’s unique objectives. We’ve mapped each of the following KPIs to a common goal of teams employing agile accessibility, so you can choose the metrics that best support what you’re currently hoping to accomplish.

Goal: Decrease bugs that stop users from accomplishing tasks

KPI: Number of critical issues currently live in key user flows

Agile is a user-centric philosophy, and the most common methodologies, such as agile scrum, are built to solve user needs and problems. That’s why the requirements for work to be performed during agile development are written from the perspective of the user. In an agile approach to digital accessibility, teams shift from a “compliance” focus—trying (and typically failing) to eliminate every bug on every page of a digital experience, in no strategic order—toward a usability focus: quickly delivering experiences that allow individuals with disabilities to easily accomplish their goals.

A user flow refers to a specific path that users take to complete core tasks on a digital property, such as making a purchase, booking an appointment, requesting a demo, or accessing important information. Measuring the number of critical issues (issues with the most severe user impact) that are live in key user flows across your site or experience helps your team understand whether your accessibility efforts are being put in the right place and ensures that users’ most urgent access needs are being met first.

Get Started with Agile Accessibility
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Goal: Decrease the time it takes to resolve identified accessibility issues

KPI: Average amount of time that an accessibility issue sits in the in backlog

Agile is about measuring velocity: how much you can produce in a specific time period at the quality standards your team deems acceptable. But many agile teams don’t include accessibility in those quality standards—either because they don’t understand the severity of various accessibility issues or worry that proactively addressing accessibility will slow down innovation. As a result, every new release contributes to a growing backlog of accessibility bugs.

In agile accessibility, teams build accessibility into their workflows so fewer and fewer bugs slip into live digital experiences. Simultaneously, they become more efficient at remediating bugs that are already live, eventually reducing critical accessibility issues in the backlog to zero.

A reduction in the average amount of time that an accessibility issue remains in the backlog shows that a team is not only maintaining the accessibility of their product, but also improving over time, whether that’s with every few sprints, every release, or along a different cadence they decide to set.

Goal: Reduce new accessibility issues

KPI: Number of accessibility issues introduced in new releases compared to previous releases

Agile methodologies exist to support sustainable ways of work. In fact, one of the 12 agile principles states, “Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.”

When it comes to accessibility, that means building experiences that are accessible by default. By embedding digital accessibility expertise and testing into every phase of the software development life cycle, teams adopting agile accessibility should notice a downward trend over time in the number of accessibility issues introduced in each new release. With this approach, more and more accessibility bugs will be caught before features go live—or even better, before code is even merged. Including accessibility in your Definition of Done (DoD) is an impactful way to avoid creating a new backlog of accessibility issues.

For continued success, don’t just measure the “what”

Of course, for strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement, it’s important to have data on the “what” of digital accessibility: the number of issues impacting users with disabilities in your digital experience, with context on their severity and impact. But if you shift to also focus on the “how,” you can understand what you need to improve your overall digital accessibility approach, such as additional resources or adjustments to velocity (like taking a fix from two to four story points). This information may be less relevant for reporting to supervising stakeholders and leadership, but it’s of crucial importance to agile development teams, as it feeds into sprint planning.

Some important agile accessibility KPIs that indicate how your team is doing with its adoption of agile accessibility might be:

• The number of accessibility bugs caught in the early stages of development, versus after release. This demonstrates that for a development team, accessibility is not an afterthought, and more bugs are getting caught earlier. Because it’s often much faster and cheaper to fix an issue early in the development cycle, this also impacts the overall efficiency of a development function. Notably, for product managers and team leaders just getting started with agile accessibility, the stage at which accessibility bugs are being remediated may not always be immediately clear or easy to surface. If that’s the case for your team, getting clearer insight on “when” these bugs are being caught will be an important first step toward measuring process efficiency.
• The percentage of new designs that include accessibility annotation. This shows that cross-functional communication between design and development, which is crucial to success in agile accessibility, is a priority. If these annotations are being applied (and incorporated) consistently, it’s a positive indication that the larger team or department is embedding accessibility best practices beyond—and before—development.

Agile Accessibility in Product Management guide

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Too many numbers? We can help.

As we’ve established, tracking accessibility KPIs—or rather, tracking the right accessibility KPIs—is essential for sustainable success. But consistently keeping tabs on multiple data points can be challenging, and you don’t want to spend more time tracking progress than making progress.

The Level Access Platform unifies and organizes findings from both automated scans and manual evaluations of digital experiences, equipping teams with a complete understanding of their accessibility performance in a simplified manner that makes it easier to understand and prioritize issues. With sophisticated monitoring tools, teams can run recurring scans to track the progress being made over time on digital experiences (or individual pages) in different stages, from development, to staging, to production. This allows a more detailed understanding of how accessibility is progressing as an experience takes shape. And, teams can drill down even further by monitoring issues with key design components so remediation efforts can be focused on core building blocks that impact an entire digital experience.

Our digital property-wide, page-level, component-level, and “by-rule” dashboards also perfectly support an agile approach to monitoring by highlighting trends in key issues over time. These flexible views help leaders and managers gain insight on the types of issues that teams are prioritizing for remediation, and the types of issues teams may need training to avoid introducing in the next feature release.

In addition, our unique governance capabilities help teams to set policies for digital accessibility to align around shared goals. For example, if velocity in remediation is a strong priority, teams can set a policy for how long a critical finding is allowed to stay open, and get customized alerts when findings fall outside that policy. Dashboards at both the workspace level (which may involve multiple different digital properties) and organizational level also help reveal common findings, highlighting what areas your teams and organization may need to focus on when it comes to digital accessibility education and training.

Seize the data

When you’re ready to commit to sustainable, lasting progress toward accessibility, we’re ready to help. With a streamlined user interface and powerful monitoring and reporting capabilities, the Level Access Platform is your single system-of-record for tracking and organizing accessibility KPIs as part of your agile approach. Request a demo today to learn how our solution can help you meet your accessibility and compliance goals faster, for good.

The post Agile Accessibility KPIs: How to Measure What Matters appeared first on Level Access.

For more than two decades, we’ve dedicated ourselves to one goal: helping organizations build a more inclusive digital world. We believe Forrester’s evaluation validates that our work is making a meaningful impact on our customers and the audiences they serve. And it reinforces our commitment to providing a solution that doesn’t just allow organizations to meet bare-minimum compliance standards but empowers them to proactively create equitable experiences for all. So why do these rankings matter—and how does our solution stack up, according to analysts? In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of the Forrester Wave report, and the key factors that position us as a Leader.

“Level Access is the only vendor in this evaluation to earn all superior or on par scores for its current offering. Its platform is particularly strong in policy configuration, embedded learning, program analytics, and usability.” – The Forrester Wave™: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023

The Forrester Wave™: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023

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An objective roadmap for an expanding industry

Since our launch in 1997, the digital landscape has evolved dramatically, and the digital accessibility space has evolved with it. Thanks to many converging factors—including organizations’ widespread adoption of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, increased regulatory and legal pressure, and elevated awareness of the business benefits of creating inclusive experiences—along with advocacy from people with disabilities and their allies—digital accessibility is now a mainstream priority across sectors and industries. As organizations increasingly recognize the importance of digital accessibility, a growing number of vendors have emerged to support teams’ efforts. But with so many different options on the market, it can be challenging for organizations to identify the best solution for their needs. The release of the first-ever Forrester Wave report on digital accessibility platforms not only signifies the maturity of the digital accessibility space today, but also equips buyers with a much-needed framework for making informed purchasing decisions.

What makes Level Access a Forrester Wave Leader?

As the digital accessibility industry has grown and changed, we’ve remained committed to providing the most effective, sustainable solution in the market. And with the release of the Forrester Wave, that commitment has garnered great results. Level Access was named a Leader with the highest score in the current offering category. This scoring draws back to the fundamental beliefs that inform our solution and approach. Our platform and services are evidence of our firm belief that digital accessibility is an ongoing practice, not a one-time project. It’s a shared responsibility across an organization, that should be embedded in, not added onto, teams’ day-to-day work. And it brings plenty of opportunities for continuous learning and improvement. The specific categories in which Forrester ranked vendors seamlessly aligned with our own philosophy, validating for us the core principles driving our organizational roadmap. Here are some aspects of our solution that contributed to our ranking as a Leader among the industry’s eight most significant vendors:

Platform

Level Access is the only vendor in Forrester’s report to receive the highest score possible of 5.0 in the platform criteria. Digital accessibility is important work, performed by many people across an organization. From designers, developers, and content authors to marketing, legal, and compliance teams, we believe that everyone has a role in a successful practice. That’s why the Level Access Platform unifies digital accessibility across teams, providing a centralized system of record for decentralized work streams. In our opinion, Forrester’s evaluation is consistent with our focus on cross-functional enablement when it comes to accessibility: we know that accessibility needs to be a shared priority, with distributed efforts united by a single source of truth.

Supporting services and offerings

Our ranking as a leader among evaluated digital accessibility providers doesn’t rest on the strength of our unified platform alone. We also scored a 5.0 in the Forrester Wave in the supporting services and offerings criteria, which evaluated services including our legal support, governance documentation, and strategic guidance on program management. We believe that the more a team understands accessibility guidelines, compliance requirements, and their own individual strategic roadmap, the higher their likelihood of success with digital accessibility. That’s why we partner with our customers to provide the crucial training and expertise they need to make the most of their commitment to online inclusion.

Partner ecosystem

In its analysis, Forrester also evaluated a vendor’s partner ecosystem. At Level Access, we highly value the cultivation of a community beyond our employee base. We understand that in a complex and rapidly evolving digital landscape, it takes many teams, working together, to ensure accessibility for all. Our partnerships with digital agencies, consultancies, and industry groups help us amplify our impact, allowing us to share our expertise with audiences across sectors and industries. They also offer our teams opportunities for continual learning and feedback, helping us be the very best we can be for our clients. In fact, the Forrester report specifically mentioned the extended client support we offer via our partnerships, noting that our “strong partner ecosystem positions [us] well to deliver on clients’ end-to-end needs.”

Roadmap

Forrester’s evaluation doesn’t just confirm for us the leadership we demonstrate through our current offering, but also covers the strength of our product roadmap, for which we received a 5.0, ranking two or more points above all other solution providers. We are constantly incorporating customer feedback in order to deliver the tools and support teams need to be successful. We make our roadmap accessible to customers through our platform and foster a direct feedback loop that ensures we’re providing the right value at the right time. In fact, Forrester specifically cited our ability to “deliver value to clients quickly.”

“Reference customers praise [Level Access’s] willingness to listen to, and innovate around, their needs, as well as the platform’s ease-of-use for business owners, not just engineers.” – The Forrester Wave™: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023

Your partner for an accessible digital future

As digital technology, and digital accessibility, continue to evolve, it’s important to choose a partner that will keep pace with these changes. By validating for us the core beliefs driving our solution, Forrester’s evaluation makes us confident that we’re not only providing the strongest platform on the market today, but also will continue to serve the needs of organizations tomorrow. Download the full Forrester Wave: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023 report for a comprehensive overview of the current solutions landscape, and learn more about how analysts rank Level Access and other providers in the categories that matter to your organization. Think we might be a good fit? Reach out to our team to demo our platform in action.

The post Level Access Named a Leader in First-Ever Digital Accessibility Forrester Wave™ appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, Oct. 18, 2023 — Level Access, the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions, today announced it was named a Leader in Forrester Research, Inc.’s first-ever evaluation of digital accessibility platforms: The Forrester Wave™: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023. In the report, Level Access is positioned as the provider with the highest score in the current offering category, receiving the highest scores possible in the Platform, Roadmap, Partner Ecosystem, Pricing Flexibility/Transparency, and Supporting Services and Offerings criteria.

According to the report, Level Access is the only solution to earn all superior or on-par scores for its current offering. Its unified platform is particularly strong in policy configuration, embedded learning, program analytics, and usability, all aspects of the product that enable an ongoing, continuous, and collaborative digital accessibility practice. Forrester also noted that the Level Access Platform is the best fit for companies looking for a vendor with a platform-first approach and strong enterprise-ready features.

“This first-of-its-kind report demonstrates that digital accessibility is evolving. It’s no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a priority. The strength of our solution supporting that priority is now backed by Forrester analysis,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “Our position as a Leader on the Wave, with the highest score in the current offering category and the highest score possible in the product roadmap criterion, proves to us that we have anticipated both the tools that organizations need to make a sustainable impact on accessibility today and the product plan that ensures our solution is evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow.”

As a growing number of organizations understand the advantages of creating accessible digital experiences, their dedication to and investment in platform-first digital accessibility programming is on the rise. Specifically, the report notes that buyers are seeking platforms that enable them to proactively embed accessibility in design and development, rather than fixing accessibility issues after the fact.

The report also observes how reference customers praise Level Access’s willingness to listen to and innovate around their needs, as well as its platform’s ease of use for business owners, not just engineers.

“Level Access continues to evolve with the dynamic needs of our customers, from engineers and makers all the way to the C-Suite,” continued Springer. “We are honored for this recognition and would like to thank Forrester for acknowledging and researching the critical importance of digital accessibility in building a better world.”

Particularly after its strategic merger with eSSENTIAL Accessibility in August 2022, Level Access has set new standards in the digital accessibility solutions market. The company’s most recent innovations include a Figma plugin for designers and enhanced user management permissions.

A complimentary copy of The Forrester Wave™: Digital Accessibility Platforms, Q4 2023 is available for download from Level Access.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit www.levelaccess.com.

Media Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

The post Level Access Named a Leader Among Digital Accessibility Platforms by Independent Research Firm appeared first on Level Access.

Digital accessibility starts with design

Digital accessibility is often assumed to be a purely technical problem—but designers’ leadership is critical to providing equitable experiences for all users. When designers don’t account for accessibility, barriers may slip undetected into digital experiences, negatively impacting usability. Additionally, many common accessibility issues caught in development or testing (such as problems with form accessibility, and missing controls for video and audio content) originate in design. By proactively incorporating accessibility into new concepts, you can prevent having to revisit completed and approved designs to fix problems flagged later on in the development life cycle.

Four tips for kickstarting your accessible design practice

As a designer, taking the initiative to address accessibility ensures all users can fully benefit from the experiences you create. Even if your organization is already conducting accessibility testing in development or quality assurance (QA), designing for users’ diverse needs is a cornerstone of an efficient, effective digital accessibility practice. And with the right approach, incorporating accessibility into your designs doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. Use the following four steps to get started.

1. Build your skills through training

Before you can start designing with accessibility in mind, you’ll want to gain a foundational understanding of accessible design principles and best practices. While tools and plugins can help you catch common accessibility barriers (more on this in the next section), building your own knowledge and skills will allow you to work more efficiently, and intuitively approach new projects through the lens of accessibility. Consider enrolling in role-specific accessibility training courses, like the courses on user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design in our online Academy, and review resources from accessible design experts. Additionally, take time to learn about the different ways in which users with disabilities interact with the digital world (the Worldwide Web Consortium, or W3C, has published helpful educational videos on this subject). This type of general awareness training will help you better empathize with users—and we probably don’t have to tell you that empathy is key to great user experience design.

Want to save time and ensure accessible design?

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2. Use tools to proactively embed accessibility in your design process

While building your own knowledge will help you avoid common errors, you’re only human—and chances are, some accessibility barriers will slip through the cracks. For this reason, it’s wise to take advantage of tooling to proactively review and validate the accessibility of your designs. Plus, checking your own work can help you hone your skills as you learn how to avoid repeating the same mistakes. A variety of tools, including color contrast checkers and plugins, are available to help you ensure that your work meets accessibility standards. In fact, we recently launched an accessibility plugin for Figma that you can use to quickly identify and fix accessibility issues in components while you work.

Introducing the Level Access Figma plugin

Our new plugin for designers can be downloaded from the Figma Community space and it provides a simple, efficient way for our customers to incorporate accessibility into their day-to-day workflows. Whether you’re creating a new user interface (UI) or making design updates to an existing digital experience, you can use the plugin to test the accessibility of components like buttons, links, checkboxes, and text input fields. Simply scan a component with the plugin to reveal a list of accessibility issues—and apply fixes directly to your design with a single action.

3. Seek out professional accessibility reviews

With the right tooling and training, you’re well on your way to designing engaging, easy-to-use experiences for everyone. But as every creative knows, it’s always wise to get an additional perspective on your work. And if you’re approaching a larger-scale project—such as a website redesign or a new campaign style guide—you’ll want to run your drafts by an accessibility expert. Our solution includes an option for this: our Design Evaluations service enables designers to submit new concepts for review by design accessibility testing experts, including native users of assistive technologies. Obtaining a comprehensive, independent review is a valuable step toward ensuring that a design project meets accessibility standards, as well as a learning opportunity that can help your team close skill and knowledge gaps.

4. Get expert help to solve problems—without taxing your budget

As your team scales its accessibility practice, challenges and complex situations can arise. It’s important to have access to accessible design experts who can help you untangle both tactical and process issues as you build a new skill set and establish new ways of working. Forging partnerships with experienced professionals can validate that you’re moving in the right direction, and help you get back on track if an unexpected problem causes you to temporarily veer off course. While your partners should be knowledgeable and reliable, you don’t want your questions to rack up bills and fees. Level Access provides unlimited support from accessibility experts, so you can reach out for help anytime, without having to renegotiate contracts or manage invoices. Additionally, our team includes accessible design leaders like Karen Hawkins and Dana Randall, so you’ll have access to the most trusted authorities in the space.

Everything you need to design for every user

Incorporating accessibility into your design practice doesn’t need to feel daunting—and you don’t need to do it alone. With resources like training, tooling, and third-party expertise, you can feel confident taking a proactive role in digital accessibility at your organization by designing enjoyable, intuitive experiences for all users. At Level Access, we know that digital accessibility starts in ideation and design, and we’re committed to empowering designers with the technology, guidance, and expert insight needed to ensure usability for everyone. To learn more about our design solution, engage with our team today.

The post How to Get Started with Accessible Design appeared first on Level Access.

In its most recent report on the market, The Digital Accessibility Platforms Landscape Q2, 2023, leading global research and advisory organization Forrester underscores the value of an accessibility platform solution. According to the Forrester report, platforms “help companies implement their accessibility policies and create effective, easy, and emotionally positive experiences for all customers, including those with disabilities.”

But not all platforms are created equal. While there are a variety of vendor options, Forrester states that only a few established providers offer a combination of technology and services. Level Access is proud to be among the notable vendors listed in the report. In this post, we’ll explore a few of the key factors informing Forrester’s overview of digital accessibility platforms, and the ways in which we believe Level Access exceeds core use case capabilities.

Core use cases

The Level Access solution combines an advanced software platform with access to strategic support services and custom role-based training, equipping organizations with the tooling and expertise needed to scale an accessibility program. And with this technology-plus-people approach, our solution aligns with the top use cases Forrester identifies as most frequently sought after by buyers:

• Audit/test experiences, leveraging rapid automated testing alongside expert manual evaluation and functional testing by users with disabilities.
• Continuously monitor experiences to swiftly find, prioritize, and fix any new accessibility issues.
• Remediate experiences efficiently with access to strategic guidance, as well as advanced, integrated project management capabilities which streamline workflows.
• Measure and report on compliance, whether a single website or a portfolio of assets.
• Embed accessibility into development, using our browser extensions, CI/CD integrations, and APIs to catch errors proactively during the build phase.
• Raise internal awareness and expertise with self-paced, on-demand, customized digital accessibility training courses mapped to specific job functions.

But Level Access goes beyond these core use cases, with differentiating capabilities that support a long-term approach to accessibility.

Top differentiators

To help buyers evaluate the platform provider that will best meet their needs, Forrester identifies 26 top differentiators of core and extended use cases. We believe the Level Access solution aligns with many of these differentiating capabilities, helping organizations establish a sustainable and scalable program:

• Integration with design tools: We’ve created the market’s first design-based Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) rule library, tying accessibility directly back to individual WCAG success criteria. This library provides insights and immediately actionable feedback on color palettes, typography, component libraries, wireframes, and more. By identifying accessibility issues in design, teams can proactively address preventable barriers before development begins.

• User task flow testing: Level Access takes a user-first approach to testing. We prioritize the critical paths users take to complete core tasks—like making a purchase or booking a demo. By testing user flows, organizations can prioritize and address high-impact barriers, significantly improving the usability of their experiences and positively impacting their primary business objectives.

• Issues prioritized by severity to user and risk level: The Level Access Platform organizes issues by severity—clearly defining critical, high, and low-level issues. Organizations can analyze issue severity within individual digital experiences or aggregate across their entire portfolio. This categorization makes it easy for organizations to prioritize fixing issues that are blocking user access, which ultimately reduces legal risk.

• Component-based issue breakdown: When teams address accessibility issues in global components, they fix repeated issues across a digital experience—all at the same time. Our component testing increases efficiency and accelerates improvements.

• Policy configuration options: Our platform enables organizations to establish thresholds for each accessibility metric. We refer to these thresholds as policies. They include metrics such as percentage of remaining findings, overdue findings by severity, web properties with monitoring established, and more. Should a policy dip below an established threshold, organizations are alerted and can quickly make improvements. And falling below policy thresholds will identify opportunities for learning, which can be accomplished through our expert-led accessibility training Academy.

• Customizable enterprise dashboards: Organizations need a way to quickly assess the accessibility health of a single asset, or an entire portfolio. Level Access provides a variety of different customizable dashboard views, enabling users to better manage an entire program, or the accessibility of a single asset. Our Governance Dashboard provides a comprehensive program overview, allowing users to set policies, track progress against those policies, and identify key areas for improvement. The portfolio view lists every experience managed within the platform, highlighting metrics like health and remediation progress for each. Meanwhile, dashboards for each individual asset drill down to that asset’s health score, manual evaluation overview, scan history, findings by severity, and more, integrating remediation work with project management systems like Jira.

To further help buyers considering digital accessibility solutions, Forrester plans to publish a digital accessibility Forrester Wave™ evaluation report in October. 

Get started with Level Access

To make lasting, meaningful progress with digital accessibility, organizations need a platform that supports their objectives and scales with their efforts. To learn more about the value Level Access will provide your organization, request a demo today.

The post Level Access Recognized as a Notable Vendor in Forrester Digital Accessibility Platforms Landscape appeared first on Level Access.

Whether you’re trying to book a yoga class or seeking out best practices for your work, most of us immediately turn to the internet to get things done and find the information we need. Along the way, it’s not uncommon for us to encounter a standard form where we’re asked to provide our personal information to access a piece of content or sign up for an event or newsletter.

Forms have become an integral part of the digital experience. A well-designed form can help us access the things we need quickly, while a poorly designed form can lead to frustration and missed engagement opportunities. In fact, more than 67 percent of site visitors will permanently abandon your form if they encounter complications of any kind, and only 20 percent will reach out to your organization to follow up. So, to maximize conversions, it’s not enough to have a compelling call to action and an attractive layout. Your forms need to be intuitive and easy to complete for every user, including people who use assistive technologies to navigate your experience.

Want to save time and ensure accessible design?

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We get it. Designing forms isn’t exactly sexy work. But creating engaging and accessible forms is crucial, and it doesn’t have to be difficult. In this article, we’ll go through three critical tips for designing accessible forms that can help you reduce friction on your website, app, and beyond—delivering an exceptional user experience.

1. Where you place form labels matters

It’s probably no suprise to learn that form labels play an essential role in form accessibility—without them, nobody would know what information to enter! What may be a surprise though is the importance of ensuring your labels for form fields are always visible and correctly positioned.

Generally speaking, form labels should always be placed outside of, and above, any form fields to ensure users have access to them at all times.

Placing form labels to the left of a field can also be an accessible approach, and placement to the right may also work for things like checkboxes and radio buttons.

Let’s explore why label placement is important:

• Form labels above the field remain visible even as the user completes the form so users can compare their answers to form labels at any time during the process of completing the form.
• Labels above form fields work with a wide range of field types, including text boxes and dropdowns, or for group labels in cases like radio buttons and checkboxes, to provide a consistent overall experience.
• Placing labels above form fields allows the flexibility to ensure forms can be completed on smaller screens, using touch interfaces, and when forms have been translated into other languages.

Label placement is a small detail that can have a big impact. Making a habit of placing labels outside form fields, where they remain accessible, helps ensure every form you design is an accessible form.

2. Placeholder text can hurt more than it helps

Placeholder text—or example text—is a bit like having a personal GPS for your form fields. It’s there to guide you without the need for long labels. But here’s the twist: example text implemented in the incorrect way could actually hinder users instead of helping them.

If you’re using example text, it’s essential to add it in a way that supports users as they complete your form. Generally speaking, it’s better to have example text outside of form fields rather than inside them.

Here are just a few of the issues that can arise when using placeholder text instead of field labels:

• Placeholder text that disappears as users move to that field can strain short-term memory.
• When placeholder text disappears, there is no way for users to check their work before submitting the form.
• Research shows that fields with placeholders in them are less likely to draw attention, and users may mistake placeholder text for fields that were auto-completed.
• Placeholder text doesn’t offer any indication of what users should do when error messages occur.

These issues cause difficulties for all users, but there are other issues with placeholder text that can be particularily impactful to users with disabilites.

• The default light gray color of placeholder text has poor contrast against most field backgrounds, making it difficult to perceive for users with low vision.
• Users navigating your site with a keyboard may find that placeholder text disappears when they select a field, which can lead to frustration and a poor overall experience.
• Not all screen-reading tools will read placeholder text aloud, meaning screen reader users won’t know what to enter in your form field (or even that the form exists!).

To address these challenges effectively, it’s best to avoid relying on placeholder text. Instead, use clear, visible labels positioned outside empty fields (for example, above the field, below the form label), and ensure that any hints or instructions remain persistent. If placeholder text is unavoidable, be sure to indicate to developers that the form requires a <label> with the type set as text so the content is read out to screen readers.

Does your style guide streamline accessibility?

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3. Error messages should appear where users expect them

Getting an error message doesn’t make anyone smile, but it’s even worse if you can’t find the error message in the first place, and you’re left wondering what on earth went wrong.

Generally speaking, error messages could appear on any side of a field (top, bottom, left or right), or even at the top of the form. But to ensure you’re designing accessible forms, it’s best to place all error messages to the right of the field they refer to. Keeping error messages consistently on the right follows the natural reading order in many of the world’s most common languages, creating a predictable reading experience for screen reader users.

Working on mobile is the exception. For mobile experiences, form design best practices dictate that error messages should appear below fields to reduce cognitive load and follow the natural vertical reading order of the page.

Here’s how other message positions can hurt form accessibility:

• Error messages on the left
  • Breaks the natural reading order for many people
  • The leftmost side is typically reserved for the most critical elements, which in this case is the form entry field or form label.
• Error messages above fields
  • Adding an error message next to the form label, any example text, and the field itself can create added complexity in the design, and doesn’t give each element its own space.
  • Placing the error message above the field can create a less logical reading order, whereas putting the error to the right will likely follow a more helpful order of: form label, example text, the user’s entry into the field, and the error describing what is wrong.

Designing accessible forms can be easy

Now that you understand the fundamental principles behind designing accessible forms, you’re well on your way to delivering an exceptional experience for all users. Don’t forget, digital accessibility is a journey, and even a modest improvement in form accessibility is a move in the right direction. Implementing accessible form design best practices can have a significant impact for all users, and creates a better overall user experience.

Want to learn more about how Level Access supports accessible form design? Check out our webinar on Design Evaluations: our unique offering providing accessibility feedback for designers from designers. There are also plenty of resources on accessible design available in our Academy. To learn how either of these offerings supports your organization’s needs, contact our team for a demo today.

Additional resources

Don’t miss out on other recent articles we’ve published about accessibility in design:

• Designer Tips: Improving Button Accessibility
• Color Blindness Accessibility: What Designers Need to Know
• Enhancing Accessibility: Link Text Best Practices

The post Designer Tips: Creating Accessible Forms appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, September 21, 2023 — Level Access, the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions, is proud to announce its successful completion of the SOC 2 Type 1 examination for the Level Access Platform. The platform is part of a comprehensive digital accessibility solution for managing, reporting, and enabling the accessibility and ADA compliance of organizations’ websites, apps, software, and other digital experiences. The successful SOC 2 examination is a testament to the high level of security and confidentiality of the platform.

The SOC 2 certification adds to Level Access’s existing ISO 27001 certification and FedRAMP Authorization and signals the company’s ongoing commitment to enterprise security, management, and support. The successful examination provides tangible proof of the platform’s strong security, while simultaneously streamlining the procurement process for organizations seeking a digitally accessible solution.

“Our large and public-sector customers require advanced levels of security and privacy, along with enterprise-level features like SSO, role-based access, issue integration, and support for multi-tiered tenant hierarchy,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “This examination further solidifies our dedication to upholding the highest standards of security and confidentiality for organizations of every size and scale.”

With the anticipated cost of cybercrime expected to surge to a staggering $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, the imperative for rigorous security measures has never been greater. Enterprises, especially, require solutions and allies who can prioritize their security. This assessment serves as a beacon of trust and reliability for enterprise clients, especially those navigating the intricacies of regulated sectors. Level Access’s firm focus on these principles strengthens the trust clients can place in its approach to unique business needs.

“Our decision to undertake the SOC 2 Type 1 examination was driven by our commitment to security and confidentiality, and to demonstrate to our customers that security remains a top priority for Level Access,” added Jeremy Sumner, Director of Information Security at Level Access. “As we move forward, we aim to pursue SOC 2 Type 2 and further reduce our customers’ risk profiles while strengthening our position as the trusted partner in digital accessibility.”

For a comprehensive insight into Level Access’s unwavering commitment to security, confidentiality, and digital accessibility, visit www.levelaccess.com.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone.

Media Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

The post Level Access Elevates Security and Confidentiality with the Successful Type 1 SOC 2 Examination of its Digital Accessibility Platform appeared first on Level Access.

Buttons play a pivotal role in a range of digital experiences. Whether you’re shopping for typeface books online, signing up for a UX newsletter, or logging into your Figma account, you’ll need to use at least one button.

If you’re a designer, that probably isn’t all too surprising. Since buttons are so common you run into them regularly, so why spend a whole blog learning about them? The answer: accessibility. Buttons help users navigate and engage with your digital experience. They’re core to its success. And since buttons are such an important part of most digital experiences, it’s essential for designers to ensure that buttons can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities who may use assistive technology, like a screen reader, or alternative navigation methods, like relying on the keyboard only.

Sometimes starting can be the hardest part, so in this article we’ll be discussing three key aspects of button accessibility you can take forward and start implementing in your designs today (or tomorrow, after you’ve revisited your style guide).

1. There’s a difference between buttons and links

While buttons and links might not seem all that different, there is a subtle distinction between them that can make or break an end user’s experience.

At a basic level:

• Buttons are interactable elements that perform actions on a page; they do something.
• Links are interactable elements that direct you to different parts of the experience; they take you somewhere.

Whether or not you’ve thought about it, you probably already know this. It’s why your buttons and links likely don’t look the same: they each communicate something different to the user!

The only issue with this approach is that some users can’t perceive those visual differences, and need to rely on other ways of knowing how to interact with your element.

This is where the conversation for designers usually ends and developers are told to ensure they give buttons the role of <button> and links the role of <link> in their code. This is great advice, but it doesn’t mean designers don’t have a voice here.

We know a lot of designers want and need creativity and flexibility in their designs, which can sometimes mean a link could look like a button, or a button could look like a link. In these scenarios, it’s essential that designers communicate the intent of their designs to developers.

If a developer thinks your design looks like a button, they might improperly define it as a button in their code. If this happens, a screen reader user could select what they thought was a button and be redirected to a completely new page in your experience (i.e., the behavior for a link).

This unexpected outcome of being sent to a new page can be completely experience-breaking for users.

So, your first button tip is: If you think any of your button designs could be mistakenly interpreted as a link, make sure you connect with your development team so they know to communicate your design intent correctly to your users.

Ready to save time and ensure accessible design?
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2. Color contrast is key

If you’ve landed on this blog, chances are you’ve probably already read a thing or two about color contrast and accessibility, so we’ll keep this section brief.

When it comes to color contrast on buttons, there are two handy best practices to remember :

1. You should check the contrast between the text and your button.
   • The contrast ratio between text and its background should be at least 4.5:1.
2. You should check the contrast between your button and its background.
   • Optimally, the contrast ratio between a button and its background should be at least 3:1.

(Note: These are according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, Level AA standards, which are the most commonly targeted standards for most organizations.)

While many designers know they need to check the contrast of text, it’s just as important to remember to also check the contrast of the button itself. Without proper contrast, your users may have a hard time finding and interacting with certain functions of your experience. This can be especially true for the millions of people with some form of visual impairment or color blindness and some users with cognitive disabilities that can find low-contrast text difficult to focus on.

For bonus points, it’s a good idea to check the contrast of the button and its background for every button state. If your button changes color when hovered over, for example, that new hover color should also meet the minimum 3:1 contrast ratio.

3. Aim for the right target (size)

It probably won’t surprise any designer here to learn that buttons need to be large enough for your audience to interact with, particularly when those experiences could be accessed on a wide variety of devices and screen sizes. But do you know exactly how big they should be?

Our trusty accessibility guidelines (WCAG) tell us the minimum target size for buttons should be at least 24 x 24 CSS pixels (which can include your button and the padding around it). This sizing helps ensure users with various motor and visual disabilities are able to access different components on your site.

Bullseye! Mystery solved, right? Well, not quite. The WCAG accessibility guidelines provide different levels of conformance targets, and the 24px minimum is just the Level AA conformance target. Organizations like Apple and Google recommend the Level AAA target of 44 x 44 CSS pixels (in Google’s case, they recommend 48 x 48). So, if you’re looking to adhere to their recommendations, 44 x 44 should be your minimum target size.

How can your style guide streamline accessibility?

Access the training webinar

To ramp up the creativity just a bit though, there are a few notable exceptions to these guidelines for you to consider.

At a high level, you may be able to design buttons smaller than 24 CSS pixels if:

• There are no other targets within 24 CSS pixels of your button in all directions.
• The user can perform the same action elsewhere on the page in an accessible way.
• The actionable element is inline (this exception is frequently used for inline links).
• The size of your button is set by the user agent.
• Your buttons’ size and location are considered “essential.”
  • To use a direct quote from WCAG: “If the size and spacing of the targets is fundamental to the information being conveyed, the Essential exception applies.”
  • An example of this could be several pins placed on a map that may overlap with one another. Overlapping isn’t a best practice, but the location of the pin is essential to the experience.

So, your third button tip: your buttons should be at least 24 x 24 CSS pixels in size, but you should aim to have them be at least 44 x 44.

Better buttons for all

In this article we’ve discussed the importance of ensuring the intent of your buttons is properly communicated, reviewed tips on color contrast to ensure buttons can be properly perceived, and talked about button target size to ensure buttons can be interacted with. Now, it’s up to you.

The next time you’re working with buttons, try giving at least one of these tips a try. Even a small improvement in button accessibility is a step toward creating a more accessible, more robust, and ultimately stronger experience for each and every one of your users.

If you’d like to learn even more about accessibility for buttons and links, we have an entire Academy course dedicated to exactly that subject. You can learn more about Academy on our website, or reach out directly for a demo of our Academy or any of our other accessibility tools for designers.

Additional resources

Looking for even more design resources? Check out some of our other recently published material:

• Color Blindness Accessibility: What Designers Need to Know
• Enhancing Accessibility: Link Text Best Practices
• Alt Text for Accessibility

Bonus: Thinking about how to support neurodiversity in your designs? Check out this resource from the Neurodiversity Design System recommended by Head of Accessible UI Design, Dana Randall.  

The post Designer Tips: Improving Button Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

To meet procurement requirements, simply assuring buyers that your product is accessible won’t seal the deal. You’ll need to complete a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT®, and produce an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), demonstrating your product’s conformance with accessibility standards. But, unlike your dynamic, agile accessibility practice, ACRs are static. They only provide a point-in-time snapshot of a product’s accessibility. So, how should agile teams approach accessibility reporting when they’re continually iterating and innovating? In this post, we’ll outline four best practices for maintaining accurate, up-to-date ACRs at an organization committed to agile accessibility.

1. Create your ACR as soon as possible, but plan to make updates

Don’t wait until your next major product update to initiate the ACR creation process. Obtaining a report as soon as possible won’t just help you close upcoming deals—it will also equip you with a stronger understanding of which accessibility standards are, and aren’t, applicable to your product. Some types of ACRs (including those documenting Section 508 and EN 301 549 compliance) will also provide you with a better sense of the kinds of assistive technology that can be used to interact with your experience. Understanding this information will enable you to prioritize improvements that enhance your product’s usability and success.

2. Improve accessibility reporting efficiency by creating different ACRs for different user experiences

It might feel like overkill to request new accessibility reporting on your entire product when the updates you’ve made only affect one subset of users. Many software solutions, for instance, offer different capabilities for administrators and general users. By obtaining separate ACRs for these two groups, organizations ensure that when they make changes to non-administrative features, they only need to update the ACR associated with general users’ experience—they can leave their ACR for administrators’ experience as-is.

Similarly, if you maintain different versions of the same software for different operating systems (for example, an Android app and an iOS app), and update these versions separately, obtaining a unique ACR for each will streamline accessibility reporting.

3. Use monitoring tools to make informed decisions about revamping your ACR

As your product evolves, you’ll need to update your ACR to reflect its new state of accessibility. A general rule of thumb is to update your ACR every six months to a year, depending on how frequently you update your software. Conducting ongoing accessibility monitoring makes it easy to understand when it’s time to refresh your report. Monitoring tools track the volume of and severity of accessibility issues across your product over time, and a meaningful reduction in issues is a strong signal to update your ACR.

Outside of resolved accessibility issues, reasons to request an updated ACR include:

• The age of your ACR: a report older than a year may be perceived as outdated and unreliable by buyers.
• You’ve made significant changes to the content of your product, including the addition of new features.
• You want to demonstrate conformance with new or additional accessibility standards (like WCAG 2.2).

4. Request supplemental documentation to reinforce your commitment to inclusion

Chances are, not all the improvements you’re making to your product’s accessibility can be captured within a VPAT. And as buyers continue to require accessibility reporting in the procurement process, documenting the full extent of how your offering supports diverse users’ needs is key to gaining, and maintaining, a competitive edge.

In addition to an ACR, it’s wise to obtain supplemental documentation with details about your product’s accessibility that fall outside the scope of a VPAT. This additional reporting is an opportunity to share more in-depth information about product usability (the diverse ways in which users can engage with specific features of your product) and your accessibility testing practices.

If your organization is using an agile development methodology, as well as embracing an agile approach to accessibility, user feedback likely plays a central role in your development process. Your supplemental documentation may outline your approach to obtaining and addressing users’ input on accessibility, including your timeline for responding to accessibility concerns from customers or users.

Stay flexible

Constantly innovating and improving your product is the ticket to expanding procurement opportunities, and embracing agile digital accessibility is an important part of this plan. By treating accessibility as an ongoing practice, rather than a one-time project, you can ensure you continue to meet buyers’ accessibility requirements—and provide equitable experiences for people with disabilities—as your product evolves. And with a strategic approach to accessibility reporting, you can keep the documentation you need to close deals up to date. For more guidance on adopting efficient, sustainable digital accessibility, visit our agile accessibility content hub, which offers thought leadership and how-to resources for organizations of all sizes and maturity levels.

A trusted partner for efficient, accurate accessibility conformance reporting

As the market-leading digital accessibility solution provider, Level Access has more than two decades of experience helping organizations achieve, maintain, and report on product accessibility. Our approach to conformance reporting includes a thorough evaluation of your product’s critical user flows, including testing with assistive technologies, and we’ll help you resolve any identified barriers before delivering a completed VPAT (ACR). We can also supply additional forms of accessibility reporting, including supplemental documentation, and even work with you on a public accessibility statement.

What’s more? Our advanced monitoring and analytics tools make it easy to track your product’s accessibility over time, so you know when it’s time to update specific reports. To learn more about how Level Access supports an agile approach to accessibility, visit our knowledge base.

The post Four Tips for Reporting on Accessibility Conformance as Your Product Evolves appeared first on Level Access.

As the velocity of web accessibility lawsuits continues to increase, more and more organizations are facing the consequences of non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other anti-discrimination laws. For corporate general counsel, determining if, and how, to respond to legal action in this area can be challenging. But with a thoughtful and strategic approach, counsel can not only reach a favorable outcome, but also turn lawsuits and accessibility complaints into a springboard for company-wide efforts to ensure long-term access for all.

To better understand how general counsel can navigate web accessibility litigation effectively and mitigate future risk, our Chief Innovation Officer Karl Groves spoke with Vince Castiglione, an in-house attorney with consumer products companies since 2006. Drawing on his personal experience, Vince shared practical guidance to help other in-house counsel address legal concerns surrounding digital accessibility and champion inclusion within—and beyond—their organizations.

For more insight on compliance from Castiglione and others, access our on-demand webinar: Navigating Digital Accessibility Compliance: Midyear Legal Trends. 

Karl Groves: You’ve mentioned that, for some organizations, web accessibility litigation can be a “wake-up call.” Why do you say that? 

Vince Castiglione: Companies don’t make an intentional decision to turn away consumers. It doesn’t make sense for any for-profit business to exclude potential customers. So, I consider web accessibility lawsuits a wake-up call. Once you’re made aware of accessibility barriers, you begin to realize just how broad some of the underlying technical issues are, and you gain clarity on what you need to do as an organization to resolve them.

Start your journey toward accessibility compliance.

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Groves: What advice would you give general counsel at an organization that has just received a digital accessibility lawsuit? 

Castiglione: When a lawsuit lands on their desk, the natural reaction of most lawyers is to start pounding the table. But sometimes, pounding the table is the worst thing you can do. If the issue is valid, undue defensiveness signals a lack of empathy and awareness on behalf of your organization. If your company truly aims to serve all customers, my advice is, thank the plaintiff for bringing the issue to your attention, and then move on to addressing their concerns.

Acknowledge that your organization may need to address legitimate concerns and work on them to improve accessibility. When you’re transparent about the actions you’re taking toward compliance, people are less inclined to pursue legal action against the organization, because they know you’re not ignoring accessibility barriers.

But, maintaining momentum is key. Compliance isn’t “one-and-done”—it’s an ongoing process, and to make continued progress, you need to build internal knowledge. I recommend making accessibility training a requirement for all employees and building it into onboarding for new employees, especially in the creative departments.

Groves: What process does an in-house legal counsel need to take in order to successfully navigate web accessibility litigation? Who do they need to work with? 

Castiglione: When navigating lawsuits, an in-house counsel needs to know where their limitations lie and bring in the technical help and expertise they need. From there, you can build up a core internal team focused on digital accessibility. You don’t know what you don’t know, so it’s crucial to bring together stakeholders from different levels and teams across the organization.

Every company has different internal processes. At matrixed organizations, addressing digital accessibility lawsuits involves bringing in multiple departments. Marketing is generally responsible for published content, but you’ll likely also need to work with the IT teams that manage your relationships with external developers and contractors. So, the first step is getting everyone on the same page.

Groves: Are there any challenges legal staff should be prepared to overcome as they work to bring their organizations into compliance with accessibility requirements?

Castiglione: Lawyers may receive pushback that their company doesn’t have the budget for digital accessibility. Well, you have to make room in the budget for it, just like you would with any other priority that might have caught your business unaware. To prove this point, you could conduct a return-on-investment analysis, which many organizations do to evaluate their spending on other compliance obligations. With accessibility, you’ll want to consider not only what web accessibility litigation itself will cost, but also the reputational damage it can bring to a company, and the potential revenue the organization may be missing out on by excluding people with disabilities, along with, perhaps, their friends and families.

Groves: How can corporate counsel be a champion for accessibility, both within and outside of their organizations?

Castiglione: Don’t end your conversations with, “because the law says so”! Advocating for accessibility compliance in a business environment means translating legal obligations into practical terms that people can understand. You could explain that accessibility needs to be given the same level of consideration as any other compliance area, like privacy or data security. Ultimately, we’re talking about more than risk and compliance—we’re talking about quality of access for your customers and potential customers.

You can also tie accessibility to business objectives, like advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In the U.S. especially, companies are very focused on DEI, and accessibility needs to be part of that goal. It’s really about DEIA, not just DEI.

When it comes to championing accessibility externally, lawyers need to keep talking to one another. Many of us are part of bar associations and counsel organizations where we educate and train each other. The more we discuss our experiences with accessibility and its importance, the more effectively we can influence change.

Start your journey toward accessibility compliance.

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About Vince Castiglione

Vincent (“Vince”) Castiglione began practicing law in 1989 and has served as the in-house general counsel at consumer products companies since 2006. He is currently the Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for the U.S., Canada, and Australia businesses of Tata Consumer Products (TCP). Outside of law practice, Vince has been active with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), having been Chapter President for the New York City Chapter and awarded the Association’s Robert I. Townsend, Jr. Member of the Year Award in 2013.

Tooling, training, and legal support for lasting compliance

As the market-leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, Level Access combines advanced software with expert support to help organizations become, and remain, compliant with anti-discrimination legislation such as the ADA, AODA, Section 508, and other U.S. and international laws. Our platform’s testing, monitoring, and governance capabilities allow teams to track conformance with established accessibility standards. Additionally, our managed services—including manual evaluations, training, and legal expertise—equip our customers with the knowledge and resources necessary to mitigate risk and remain inclusive, long-term. To start your compliance journey, engage with our team today.

The post Navigating Web Accessibility Litigation: Advice from a General Counsel appeared first on Level Access.

In contrast, poorly written link text derails a digital experience, leaving users puzzled and unsure where to turn next. It’s also inaccessible to people who use assistive technologies, making it difficult, if not impossible, for many individuals to find the information they’re seeking.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of accessible link text for both website owners and users, and provide practical tips for writing it effectively.

What is link text?

Link text, also known as a hyperlink or anchor link, is a clickable element on a web page that redirects users to another page, resource, or section of the same page. Ideally, the text references relevant information about the topic being discussed on the page it leads to.

Why is accessible link text important?

Using clear and relevant link text is crucial to maintaining the accessibility of your website and meeting web accessibility standards.

Specifically, meaningful link text aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Success Criterion 2.4.4: Link Purpose. This criterion is aimed at helping users understand the objectives of links, so they can make informed decisions about what to click on.

Additionally, adopting accessible link text contributes to improved search engine optimization (SEO) for your site, because it communicates the context of a link to search engines. Search engines can use relevant anchor text to index and rank your web page, increasing potential site traffic.

Does your website meet accessibility guidelines?

Access our WCAG checklist

Who benefits from accessible links?

An accessible link is a line of link text that makes sense without any additional context. Links that clearly convey their purpose or function are easier for users to understand and navigate. They can be especially important for people with cognitive disabilities who may need additional context to help them understand what action to take.

Clearly written link text also benefits people who use keyboard-only navigation and assistive technologies like screen readers. Some people with mobility disabilities have trouble gripping a mouse or using a touchpad, and access digital content with the keyboard alone. Because keyboard-only users typically rely on the “tab” key, rather than a mouse, to move through web content, descriptive anchor text is necessary for these users to quickly identify and select relevant links.

Meanwhile, many people with visual disabilities navigate the web using screen readers, which convert on-screen text into speech. Properly written link text enables screen reader users to understand a link’s destination before they click on it, saving valuable time and preventing confusion.

Of course, accessible links aren’t just helpful for people with disabilities: well-written link text ultimately enhances user experience for everyone. In turn, it benefits website owners by boosting common web performance metrics like time-on-site and conversion rate.

Best practices for writing accessible link text

To be accessible, link text should explain the information that a user will receive by clicking on a given link. Imagine that there’s no surrounding text, and ask yourself if the meaning of the link text is still clear. Here are some more quick tips for writing effective and accessible link text:

• Clearly communicate the purpose of a link as well as its destination. Do not use vague link phrases such as “click here,” “here,” “more,” “read more,” or “info.” This overly general language has no stand-alone value and provides no concrete information about where users who click through a link will end up.
• Don’t use words like “link to.” Screen readers often say “link” before reading links, and users of this technology don’t need to hear “link link to more information.” This redundancy may cause unnecessary confusion or frustration.
• Don’t include verbs in link text. For example, write, “Learn more about the Level Access Platform,” not “Learn more about the Level Access Platform.” After all, the focus here isn’t on the action of reading—it’s on information about the Level Access Platform.
• Never use a URL as link text. A URL, consisting of its protocol, domain, and path, conveys little meaning to users. For example, instead of using “visit our website at https://www.levelaccess.com/,” as link text, use “visit our website” as the link text.
• Differentiate links from other text with a combination of color and underline. Color should not be the only method used to distinguish links. Rather, underline links for users who can’t perceive a full range of color. Additionally, underlines should be reserved for links only. Using an underline for emphasis on a word that isn’t a link may confuse a user who’s reading web content.

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What role do ARIA labels play in accessible links?

When it comes to link functionality, the code behind the link text is just as important as the text used to describe the link. This is where ARIA labels come in.

AnARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Application) label is an HTML attribute used to provide an accessible name or label for a web element that lacks inherent labeling, or that needs a more descriptive one than its content provides. They are primarily applied to web elements—such as links, buttons, and other interactive controls—to help assistive technologies understand the purpose of these elements. So, just as some users may glance at the content around a link to understand its destination, assistive technology users, for example, screen reader users, can glean this additional context through ARIA labels.

However, simply providing an ARIA label isn’t enough to make a link accessible. While ARIA attributes are intended to enhance accessibility, their incorrect implementation can lead to confusion and frustration for people who use assistive technologies. If an ARIA label is applied to a link improperly, assistive technology users may have to traverse up and down a page to understand the link’s destination.

Here are some ways to make sure your ARIA labels are accessible:

• Use an ARIA label as an attribute within the HTML tag. Don’t overuse ARIA labels and prioritize semantic HTML elements whenever possible. For example, <a aria-label=”…”>.
• Keep the ARIA label content clear and concise. Avoid using long ARIA label text that could distract from the purpose of a link.
• Maintain meaningful link text. Strive to maintain meaningful link text while supplementing it with an ARIA label when necessary. For instance, <a href=”..” aria-label=”Learn More”>Learn More</a> should be<a href=”..” aria-label=”Learn More about Dolphins”>Learn More</a>. It’s better to provide additional context than to replicate the visible link text.

Lead your team to success

Accessible links are essential for all users to interact with content successfully. By adhering to link text best practices, web developers and content creators can contribute to more inclusive and user-friendly digital experiences.

If you still have questions about accessible link creation, we can help. Our Access Academy learning platform can help teams build role-specific knowledge with training on:

• Buttons and Links for User Experience Designers: This course covers the importance of accessible buttons and links in digital experiences. You’ll learn how to design in accordance with WCAG, how to allow users to interrupt accidental button activations, and how to incorporate skip links for improved navigation.
• Buttons and Links for User Interface Designers: This course explains the role that color plays in accessible web design, and how to meet requirements related to contrast, use of color, in-text hyperlinks, and flashing content.
• Formatting and Other Considerations for Content Designers: This course highlights formatting best practices for content designers based on WCAG standards for web-based content.

Engage with our team today and let us support you on your digital accessibility journey.

The post Enhancing Accessibility: Link Text Best Practices appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, August 16, 2023 — Level Access, the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions, announced today that it has once again been named among the fastest-growing private companies in America by Inc. magazine. This is the eighth year Level Access has been on the annual Inc. 5000, which exists to demonstrate the success achieved within independent business—the American economy’s most dynamic and vibrant sector.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies by Inc. This accomplishment is a testament to the relentless dedication and innovative spirit of the best team in the industry,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “More organizations are realizing the fundamental truth that everyone deserves equality of access to digital information, and as technology progresses, the needs of people with disabilities evolve. We provide a unique and agile solution that allows organizations to create and maintain accessible and compliant digital experiences.”

With the number of web accessibility lawsuits targeting the private sector on the rise and a driving emphasis by the public sector for digital accessibility compliance, organizations require strategic solutions that can keep pace with their ongoing digital needs. Level Access credits its continued growth with this increased pressure on compliance, coupled with stronger organizational commitment to creating inclusive digital experiences as part of their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and its strategic merger with eSSENTIAL Accessibility in 2022.

“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”

In addition to being recognized among the Inc. 5000, the merged organization was recently named a “Next Big Thing in Tech” by Fast Company, among the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and has earned multiple 2023 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence awards.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc 5000

The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremonyis an annual event that celebrates the remarkable achievements of these companies. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions. For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit //conference.inc.com/.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications, embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, two leaders in the digital accessibility solution space, announced the completion of their mergerin August 2022. To learn more, visit www.levelaccess.com.

Media Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

The post Level Access Once Again Named to Inc. 5000 List of Nation’s Fastest-Growing Companies appeared first on Level Access.

In fact, according to research by Karen Hawkins, Principal of Accessible Design at Level Access, teams can begin addressing 96% of the criteria in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) before development. That means product managers and designers have critical roles in guiding the creation of inclusive digital experiences. And for developers and quality assurance (QA) professionals, proactive collaboration with these teammates is integral to an effective accessibility practice. In this article, we’ll cover what agile accessibility means for different practitioners who help bring digital products to life.

Making “shift left” stick

We’ve previously written about how accessibility can be embedded earlier in the creative process, passing work “left” in development to include more stakeholders. Adopting agile accessibility means finding a way to make this shift a permanent, ongoing part of teams’ daily work and having each team member commit to continuous improvement. By embracing ongoing learning and feedback around accessibility, teams can avoid spreading the work left of development only to re-bottleneck accessibility in design—which can lead to inefficiency and negatively impact product success.

Your five-step roadmap to agile accessibility

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Let’s explore how four teams supporting digital experience creation—product, design, development, and QA—can work together to tackle accessibility early and often throughout the SDLC. (Feel free to navigate directly to your team’s section for role-specific advice.)

Best practices for agile accessibility, by role

Product management

As a product manager, you are in a unique position to weave accessibility into the earliest stages of digital experience creation: research and ideation. By ensuring people with disabilities are included in UX research and personas, you can make certain your product roadmap accounts for the full diversity of users’ needs. When planning a new product or feature, embed accessibility into the acceptance criteria for user stories, or clearly outline accessibility standards in project requirements (depending on your development methodology). But don’t assume your work is done once a product or feature launches. Processes need to be put in place to continually monitor live digital properties for accessibility issues and triage them in order of priority, focusing first on barriers that impact key user flows.

UX and UI design

If you’re in UX or UI design, you may already know that collaboration between design and development teams is a pillar of agile, accessible product design. Before approaching a new project, connect with developers to understand what is technically feasible from an accessibility standpoint. And as you make progress on a concept, maintain an open line of communication with technical teams. Involving developers in design reviews, specifically, will reduce rework and make the hand-off seamless.

It’s also important to proactively check your work for accessibility barriers before passing it on to development. Several accessibility tools and plug-ins can help you check color contrast, focus order, and other accessibility considerations. Finally, be sure to annotate your designs with accessibility requirements, including keyboard interactions and the templated experiences provided to screen reader users.

“Inclusive design is not just font-sizes, color contrast and alternate text. It’s understanding semantic structure that affords all users, including users of assistive technology, the ability to navigate any experience. And it’s being able to articulate this structure to development teams. Communicating the overall UX intent of your design by using annotation kits can really help advance accessibility at your organization.”

– David Franklin, Senior Solutions Engineer and Inclusive Design Leader, Level Access

Apply agile accessibility to your design practice

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Development

Often, developers are told to “stay in their lane” when it comes to refining product requirements and weighing in on design. But if your team is taking an agile approach to accessibility, you, as a developer, need to take the opposite tack. Work with product managers to ensure that accessibility considerations are accounted for in the requirements for any new project, and actively participate in design reviews. Don’t hesitate to push back on design concepts that can’t be accessibly created with available resources.

When it’s time to build, use tooling to embed accessibility checks in your process. Adding an accessibility-specific software development kit (SDK) to your integrated development environment (IDE) will make it easy to catch issues while you code. You can also test for barriers in locally deployed projects with browser extensions and integrate accessibility testing into your framework for automated unit testing. Bridge the gap between the set of common issues that automated tests flag, and the intricacies of your specific product, by writing and running functional tests for accessibility.

Quality assurance (QA)

QA professionals might believe that their role in agile accessibility begins and ends with testing. And it’s true that embedding accessibility into automated end-to-end testing is one of the most impactful actions QA teams can take to support inclusive experience creation. But like developers, QA teams shouldn’t “wait their turn” when it comes to ensuring digital experiences are accessible. As a QA professional, you can help your product team stay agile and improve accessibility by working with product managers to ensure accessibility is included in project requirements—or in the Definition of Done used by your agile scrum teams. You can also play an active role in educating UX and UI teams about the specific accessibility checks that will be applied to new features and components, so designers know what to account for when drafting concepts.

Testing user flows is the new accessibility audit

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No executive buy-in? Just start

What if your organization lacks the leadership initiative / buy-in to shift existing ways of work? The good news is, many of these changes can start with just one individual, and grow from there. Embed the practices we’ve outlined in this blog into your day-to-day and be generous with your knowledge. By building small habits, individuals can set new standards for their teams and eventually shift processes.

For example, an individual designer who prioritizes accessibility in their own work can begin to educate their peers and hold them accountable on accessibility in reviews. Similarly, a developer could offer team members a tutorial on checking for and fixing common accessibility barriers while coding. A proactive product manager might help other team members understand why accessibility is critical to achieving organizational goals—like improving usability and maximizing market share. And inclusive QA professionals can explain to designers and developers exactly when and how they’ll test for accessibility, so these teams have more clarity on what they need to prioritize.

“Product managers have the power to get the buy-in they need for accessibility improvements by building big momentum across their organizations. Go all-in on a roadshow and take an advocacy approach when you talk to stakeholders about why accessibility is an important investment. Help your stakeholders understand what it’s like for customers to use an inaccessible website by showing examples. And, don’t forget, money talks. Share what percentage of your consumer audience has disabilities, and the earnings potential they represent for your brand’s bottom line.”

– Kate Spalla, Senior Technical Product Manager, Level Access

Set every team member up for success

Passionate accessibility champions are key to a sustained digital accessibility effort. But if you want a shortcut to ensuring maximum accessibility and compliance, every team member involved in the development life cycle needs the tools, training, and support to prioritize accessibility in their work. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Level Access’ solution is built to support an agile approach to accessibility, equipping organizations with advanced technology to address accessibility at any stage of digital experience creation, from design to QA and testing. We also upskill your team through live and self-paced role-specific training, and provide expert guidance on prioritization, program management, and strategy.

Ready to make digital accessibility a team effort and set your organization up for sustainable success? Get in touch with us today.

The post Play Your Part: Role-Based Advice for Agile Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

This month marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a hallmark piece of legislation for the disability community in the United States. On July 26, 1990—more than a quarter century after the Civil Rights Act of 1964—the rights of people with disabilities were finally given equal protection by the U.S. government when the ADA was signed into law. But in the decade following, the internet exploded in popularity, opening a new frontier for disability rights: web accessibility.

The struggle to ensure equal access to digital information, products, and services for people with disabilities is ongoing. But thanks to advocacy from the disability community and allies, the U.S. has made significant strides toward equity and inclusion in an increasingly online world. Let’s take stock of the major developments that have moved web accessibility law forward from the signing of the ADA to today.

1996: The U.S. Department of Justice rules the ADA applies to the internet

Many people first think about ADA compliance in the context of physical spaces. (For example, a fifth-floor office without elevator access probably registers as an obvious ADA violation.) Making physical infrastructure, such as buildings and transportation services, accessible was a key priority for the advocates and legislators behind the ADA in 1990.

But as individuals and organizations rapidly adopted the internet in the mid-1990s, the inaccessibility of many digital spaces became a growing problem for the disability community. And it was unclear what, if any, portions of the ADA protected the rights of people with disabilities online. In response to this confusion, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified in 1996 that websites could be considered “public accommodations” under Title III of the ADA—meaning website owners have a legal obligation to ensure these digital properties are accessible.

Unfortunately, despite the DOJ’s guidance, some U.S. circuit courts still do not agree with this interpretation of the ADA. Circuit courts’ differing interpretations have prompted legislators to criticize the lack of clarity regarding web accessibility in the ADA itself.

1998: Section 508 is amended with digital accessibility standards

Widely considered one of the most important pieces of legislation for disability rights outside of the ADA, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that federal agencies create, purchase, and use information and communication technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities. But by the late 1990s, U.S. government organizations relied on radically different types of ICT than they had in the 1970s, when the law first went into effect. To account for the widespread adoption of digital technology, like websites and intranet systems, Section 508 was amended in 1998 to include specific technical standards for digital accessibility.

1999: WCAG 1.0 is published

As the millennium approached, the internet was no longer a new phenomenon. It was a major channel for communication, reshaping how entire industries—from retail to health care—operated. And much of the internet remained inaccessible to people with disabilities. In 1999, the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) sought to change this paradigm by publishing the first edition of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

WCAG 1.0 provided a set of clear, technical criteria for accessible HTML content, offering designers, developers, and publishers a framework for creating websites that could be used by everyone. Because the ADA itself does not include specific technical guidelines for digital accessibility, WCAG 1.0 also offered the first set of standards for courts to use when assessing whether a website violated the ADA. And when Section 508 was updated with digital accessibility requirements, WCAG 1.0 formed the basis for the standards provided.

Ultimately, WCAG 1.0 marked the beginning of an ongoing project. These 1999 guidelines are now widely regarded as limited, and WCAG 1.0 was retired following the publication of WCAG 2.0 (which we’ll cover later in this blog).

2006: The National Federation of the Blind sues Target Corp.

Following the DOJ’s ruling that the ADA applied to websites, organizations that neglected to prioritize digital accessibility began facing legal consequences. However, it wasn’t until 2006 that the first high-profile web accessibility lawsuit citing the DOJ’s decision made headlines. In a 2006 case before the Northern District Court of California, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) filed a class action lawsuit against major retailer Target regarding the inaccessibility of its website, which did not contain alt text for images and could not be navigated with a keyboard instead of a mouse. Because of the DOJ’s clarification about websites constituting “places of public accommodation,” the NFB claimed that the accessibility barriers on Target’s website constituted a violation of Title III of the ADA.

The Court upheld the NFB’s claims, and Target and NFB reached a settlement in 2008. To satisfy the terms of this settlement, Target agreed to make its website accessible within a three-year period, and to pay $6 million to impacted individuals.

2008: WCAG 2.0 is published

WCAG 1.0 was far from perfect. In particular, its focus on HTML web content felt increasingly narrow as digital technology evolved rapidly at the beginning of the new millennium. WCAG 2.0, released by the W3C in 2008, introduced more robust and versatile guidelines for creating and evaluating the accessibility of digital content.

While still created primarily for HTML content, WCAG 2.0 criteria are broadly applicable to a range of web technologies. WCAG 2.0 also uses clearer language than WCAG 1.0, and automated tools and manual evaluation can test for WCAG 2.0 requirements more precisely—making it easier for regulators to identify websites that fail to conform with these standards.

Since the release of WCAG 2.0, WCAG has been updated periodically to reflect changes in digital technology and the diversity of users’ needs. WCAG 2.1 was released in 2018, and tWCAG 2.2 was released in October 2023. To learn more about WCAG, access our Must-Have WCAG Checklist.

2015 — 2020: Lawsuits proliferate as frustration mounts within the disability community

Beginning in 2015, organizations faced a tide of litigation surrounding digital accessibility. The number of web accessibility lawsuits citing Title III of the ADA jumped from just over 800 in 2017 to roughly 2,300 in 2018 and continued to climb in subsequent years. With digital technology only growing more integral to day-to-day life, the disability community was no longer willing to wait for organizations to wake up to the importance of digital accessibility. Plaintiffs increasingly took it upon themselves to hold organizations accountable for ADA compliance.

2020 — and onward: The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the real stakes of digital accessibility

The COVID-19 pandemic raised the profile of digital accessibility as a fundamental human right, bringing widespread attention to challenges that the disability community had been emphasizing for years. As digital connection replaced face-to-face interaction as a matter of public health protection, organizations and government officials could no longer deny that inaccessible websites and digital platforms—particularly those providing essential services—constituted a serious injustice.

Correspondingly, the DOJ began to involve itself in the enforcement of private settlements. In 2021 and 2022, the DOJ reached settlements with many vaccine distributors including CVS and Kroger concerning the inaccessibility of their COVID-19 vaccine registration portals.

2022: As lawsuits reach record numbers, the DOJ offers official web accessibility guidance

The number of web accessibility lawsuits filed under Title III of the ADA reached a record 3,255 in 2022 as plaintiffs continued to advocate for their rights through legal channels. Class action lawsuits accounted for many of these cases, and federal government officials showed solidarity with the disability community. After reaffirming its position that the ADA applies to websites in 2018, the DOJ issued specific web accessibility guidance in 2022, signaling more involvement and action. In fact, the DOJ recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking announcing its intent to update Title II of the ADA (which applies to state and local governments) with specific technical standards for web accessibility. Experts anticipate that similar regulations under Title III may be on the horizon.

Navigating the road ahead

Given the continued velocity of web accessibility lawsuits—and the DOJ’s growing prioritization of digital accessibility—organizations need to be more proactive than ever about making their digital experiences accessible to everyone. But legal risks aside, online inclusion is foundational to equality for the disability community in our digital world. By prioritizing digital accessibility, organizations help ensure that all people have equal access to information, services, and opportunities.

Level Access was founded with the belief that digital accessibility is a human right. Our team includes experts and advocates who have actively participated in the W3C’s WCAG working group and served on the FCC’s Disability Advisory Council. Over the years, we have regularly provided public comment on accessibility standards and regulations and supported thousands of organizations—from global enterprises to federal government agencies—in providing equitable digital experiences to all.

To learn more about our approach, engage with a member of our team today.

The post Key Milestones in Web Accessibility Law: From the Signing of the ADA to Today appeared first on Level Access.

To better understand the steps teams can take to implement a manageable, impactful accessibility practice, our Chief Innovation Officer Karl Groves spoke with Meryl Evans, a professional speaker, trainer, consultant, and author who specializes in accessibility and inclusion. When it comes to digital accessibility, Evans champions a “progress over perfection” approach. She encourages organizations to focus on consistent improvement instead of racing toward unrealistic end goals. In our conversation, Evans outlined the key benefits of this approach, and shared actionable guidance to help teams shift their processes and culture for lasting, meaningful change.

Full interview

Full interview (audio descriptions)

Conversation highlights

Note: The following portions of the interview have been lightly edited for readability and concision.

Karl Groves: What does a “progress over perfection” approach to digital accessibility mean to you?

Meryl Evans: “Progress over perfection” is about taking that first step toward digital accessibility, no matter how big or small, and recognizing that progress isn’t always a straight line. The key is to keep moving. For digital accessibility professionals, this approach means educating, not berating. It means forgiving mistakes and being flexible. It’s a mindset that makes you more open to civil conversations, and to working to effect change.

Groves: What would you say to organizations that want to reach a specific end-goal?

Evans: Accessibility should not be the end goal, because it never ends. You can have a perfectly accessible website today, but tomorrow the marketing team may ignore all accessibility best practices with their new blog post. So instead of thinking about accessibility as an end goal, organizations should set specific, incremental goals to make progress toward accessibility.

These goals will vary by department. A marketing team’s goals might include implementing accessibility training for employees, and documenting processes for blog publishing and video creation (including steps to make this content accessible). Meanwhile, a human resources (HR) department might work toward ensuring job applications are accessible, establishing a process for candidates to share accessibility requirements prior to interviews, and training interviewers on how to fairly evaluate candidates.

Groves: What are some examples of progress with digital accessibility that make a meaningful impact on users?

Evans: When companies are getting started with digital accessibility, one of the first steps I advise is creating an accessibility statement that contains at least two modern contact options and putting it in the footer of their website. This way, people can easily get in touch if they encounter accessibility barriers. It’s important for organizations to acknowledge these messages quickly and use this feedback to prioritize fixes.

In terms of digital content, simply capitalizing the first letter of each word in hashtags, user IDs, and links makes a big difference in terms of improving readability for everyone—not just screen reader users. Describing images is also important, and don’t worry about getting it perfect. A simple, accurate image description is much better than automatic alt text, which is often meaningless.

Groves: Do you have any advice for accessibility champions who are looking to drive adoption of accessibility across their organizations? How can they use the “progress over perfection” approach to accomplish this?

Evans: It depends on the champion’s role, and the team’s current maturity level with regard to accessibility. But it’s important for individual champions to keep in mind that their colleagues may have a lot on their plates, even in their personal lives outside of work. Being mindful of their teammates’ capacity can help champions make a stronger case: you want to show that accessibility doesn’t require extra time and effort when it’s baked into existing processes. As an example, a developer could demonstrate how they incorporated accessibility checks into their workflows and teach their team how to do the same.

Another powerful way to make the case for accessibility is to share videos of people with different disabilities interacting with a website or digital product. Individual users’ stories have a way of really tugging the heartstrings and building empathy.

Achieve sustainable progress with an agile approach to digital accessibility

Digital accessibility is an ongoing practice, not a one-time project—and committing to consistent learning and improvement, rather than immediate perfection, is key to sustaining momentum. In fact, embracing progress over perfection is one pillar of agile accessibility: an approach in which teams proactively incorporate accessibility into digital experience creation, and continually iterate on their success. Access our five-step guide to getting started with agile accessibility and begin identifying small steps toward your long-term goals for online inclusion.

A five-step roadmap to agile accessibility

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About Meryl Evans

Meryl Evans, CPACC, is a TEDx and professional speaker, trainer, author, and accessibility consultant who was born profoundly deaf. She is a highly regarded speaker on diversity, equity, and inclusion who focuses on people with disabilities and accessibility. She has spoken at many events including SXSW and TEDx. Meryl has authored, coauthored, and appeared in books and publications including The Dallas Morning News, Morning Brew, AdAge, AdWeek, and The Wall Street Journal. Meryl is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC). Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn as she’s a Top Voice.

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The post Progress Over Perfection: Advice for Sustainable Digital Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

By prioritizing color blindness accessibility, designers can ensure that users who are unable to perceive or distinguish between certain colors can navigate digital platforms without encountering barriers. In this post, we explore the importance of accounting for color blindness in web design, and offer tips for providing a more inclusive user experience.

What is color blindness?

Color blindness, otherwise known as color vision deficiency (CVD), is characterized by the inability or decreased ability to see and differentiate between certain colors. Approximately 13 million Americans experience color blindness, and it’s more prevalent among men than women.

There are many forms of color blindness, each characterized by a different range in individuals’ perception of color. To create accessible experiences, designers need to understand and account for this diversity. Here’s a quick summary of the most common types of color blindness.

Red-green color blindness

The most widespread form of color blindness, red-green color blindness makes it challenging to tell the difference between red and green. Red-green color blindness may be experienced in two ways:

• Deuteranopia: makes green look more red
• Protanopia: makes red look more green

Blue-yellow color blindness

Blue-yellow color blindness makes it hard to distinguish between blue and yellow. People with the most common type of blue-yellow color blindness, tritanopia, also have a difficult time telling the difference between blue and green, purple and red, and yellow and pink.

Monochromacy

People with monochromacy, also called complete color blindness, only see black, white, and shades of gray. Monochromacy is extremely rare and can be accompanied by a sensitivity to light.

What barriers do people with color blindness encounter online?

To create digital experiences that are accessible to people with color blindness, designers first need to understand the barriers that individuals with this condition encounter on the web. Let’s explore some of the digital elements that may be inaccessible to people who are color-blind, drawing on the firsthand experience of Joshua Nolte, a Level Access salesperson with deuteranopia—the most common form of red-green color blindness.

Charts, graphs, maps, and infographics

Color is often used to indicate different data sets and categories within digital charts and graphs. But without proper labeling, or alternate means of differentiation, these graphics can be nearly impossible for people who are color-blind to interpret independently.

Other visuals, like maps and infographics, may also rely on color alone to convey meaning. Someone who is color-blind, like Nolte, will need additional information to understand the visual accurately. Whether they use alternative cues or ask for assistance, their experience is now different from that of someone who isn’t color-blind.

“I came across a territory map that showed where people were located geographically, but the whole thing was color-coded,” Nolte says. “I had to ask for a text version instead and it just became a longer process.”

Signifying errors

When an error in an online form is only indicated with a red highlight or underline, people who are color-blind may struggle to identify the specific field where the issue occurred.

“I was filling out a form for work, and it said there was an error on the page, but I couldn’t figure out where I went wrong,” Nolte says. “The only indicator of an error was highlighted in red, which I couldn’t see. I spent hours going through and re-typing each section but ended up asking a friend to point out to me where I went wrong.”

This example touches on a common theme in the experiences of people with color blindness: wasted time. It takes more time for people with color blindness to maneuver through inaccessible site features because they often need to utilize additional strategies to work around barriers.

Text

For people with color blindness, website text can become inaccessible when the color contrast between the text and its background is low. Nolte gives an example:

“If you have a dark screen, the difference between blue and dark red text on a white backdrop with small font is going to be difficult or near-impossible to see.”

Insufficient contrast between text color and background is particularly problematic in hyperlinks. When hyperlinks don’t provide sufficient contrast, it becomes hard for people with color blindness to distinguish between clickable and non-clickable text. This may lead to missed opportunities to access the information presented in links.

Color-coded indicators

Web elements, such as buttons and status icons, that are only identifiable through color can be disorienting to people with color blindness.

Both buttons and status icons often use the same colors, red and green, to convey meaning. On buttons, green often signifies “next” or “submit” and red signifies “stop” or “close.” The same framework applies to status icons. Red usually means a person is “offline” or “inactive” and green means a person is “online” or “active.”

For individuals who are unable to distinguish between red and green, this color-coding system is meaningless—and can lead to confusion if there is no other way to differentiate between elements.

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Why is color blindness accessibility important for designers to understand?

Now that we’ve discussed why color blindness accessibility matters to users, let’s dive into its benefits for designers.

It results in more inclusive experiences

A web designer’s goal is to create an enjoyable experience for all visitors. If a group of users can’t engage with a website, it’s anything but a success.

Dana Randall, the Head of Accessible UI Design at Level Access, advocates for all kinds of disabilities through her inclusive design practices. As a UI design leader with over 23 years of experience, she is well-versed in the field, and has explored what it means to design for color blindness.

“I come at this from more of an emotional perspective,” Randall says. “I’ve spent a lot of my career building brands and learning about the role that color plays when it comes to conveying an emotion. But if you’re looking at this from an accessibility standpoint, your site either follows the rules or it doesn’t, it’s very pass/fail from a WCAG [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines] perspective.”

WCAG is a set of technical requirements for making web-based content, like websites, accessible for users of every ability, including people with color blindness. It provides a common global standard for web accessibility. Color blindness accessibility is usually assessed based on two WCAG criteria, Use of Color Alone (1.4.1) and Minimum Color Contrast (1.4.3). Neglecting these criteria can lead to a frustrating and time-consuming user experience for people who can’t perceive certain colors.

It expands business opportunities

Accessible design also has financial benefits for businesses. Ensuring color blindness accessibility allows an organization to serve a wider range of people, maximizing revenue.

Additionally, many organizations now prioritize accessibility in their procurement processes. By incorporating color blindness accessibility best practices, businesses will align with these requirements, making themselves more appealing to new clients who require documented proof of accessibility in the form of a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template® (VPAT).

It mitigates legal risk

Designing for color blindness helps mitigate the risk of a discrimination lawsuit regarding the inaccessibility of a website. In other words, ensuring color blindness accessibility in web design is one step toward ensuring compliance with regulations such as Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws aim to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including those with color blindness.

Failure to comply with both Section 508 and the ADA can have costly legal consequences, damaging a brand’s reputation and relationship with its audience. Because scanning tools can pick up whether a website is accessible for people with color blindness right away, color contrast failures make organizations easy targets for lawsuits.

Tips and best practices for making your website accessible for people who are color-blind

There are many factors to consider when making sure your website is accessible to people with color blindness. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind as you review existing designs or create new ones.

1. Use sufficient levels of color contrast. Choose color combinations that provide adequate contrast between text and background. This ensures that information will be legible, regardless of the color palette employed. WCAG criteria 1.4.3 provides minimum contrast requirements.
2. Don’t convey meaning through color alone. Incorporate alternate means of communication—use labels, texture, shapes, and patterns—to prevent confusion among people with color blindness. Any use of an alternate signal to convey meaning is acceptable. If you are unsure that your website will be usable for people with color blindness, Randall recommends flipping your design or website into grayscale. Reviewing the design in grayscale will allow you to identify any elements that become more challenging to understand when color is stripped away.
3. Avoid toggle options. Many websites offer a “color blindness friendly mode,” a feature that can be turned on and off. This toggle option changes certain colored elements into subtle patterns that signify meaning. While a great start, these features do not provide a universal experience for users and drive up operational costs. Rather than creating a separate option for people with color blindness, apply inclusive design principles to your work from the beginning.

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Designing for color blindness benefits everyone

Designers strive to create experiences that people find beautiful, intuitive, and usable. And functionality is just as important as aesthetics when it comes to accessible web design.

Designers like Randall are driven by empathy for users and understand the repercussions of neglecting color blindness accessibility. “We fail at our jobs when we create things that are difficult to use or unpleasant to engage with,” Randall says. “With that lens, we may forget that not all people experience color the way we do, which is why it’s important for us to check our work through an experience beyond our own.”

By understanding web accessibility barriers and integrating color blindness accessibility best practices, designers will foster inclusivity, meet legal requirements, and improve the digital experience for all customers and users. However, until UI and UX designers understand the importance of color blindness accessibility, people with color blindness will continue to face frustrating barriers on the internet.

“If you ask just about anybody, they’re probably going to tell you that in an ideal world, everyone has the same access to the web,” Nolte says. “But this isn’t the case in our world. It’s not hard, it doesn’t take any more time or effort, it’s just a different way of doing things.”

Designing for everyone, including people with color blindness, is key to a successful digital accessibility practice. If you’re unsure whether elements on your site meet accessibility standards, you can test your website against our WCAG checklist.

The post Color Blindness Accessibility: What Designers Need to Know appeared first on Level Access.

Since the creation of the web, users with low vision have sought ways to resize text without adding horizontal scrolling to the page. Additionally, fixed, non-fluid sizes cause overlapping or cutoff text when a web page’s text is resized. Similarly, tables and non-fluid pages used to lay out content cause reading order issues for users of screen readers. One size fits all sites do not fit the needs of users with disabilities. Responsive design principles, including fluid layouts, benefit users with disabilities on desktops as well as on mobile devices.

Effective RWD uses responsive (multiple fluid grid layouts) rather than adaptive (multiple fixed width layouts) design. Responsive web design targets the width of each user’s web browser to determine how much space is available and how it should display the website. Resolution breakpoints are set up to target ranges that define specific types of displays. For example, one set of CSS is used when the screen width is more or less than a certain size.

@media all and (max-width:480px){
#container{
// styles here
}

In a December 2012 post on RWD, the Internet news blog Mashable called 2013 “The Year of Responsive Web Design,” in large part due to the increasing sales of devices such as tablet and smartphones causing a major shift in how consumers are viewing websites such as theirs. Mashable projected that by the end of 2013, in excess of 50% of their website’s traffic will come from mobile devices. Users with disabilities have also been flocking to mobile devices such as Apples iPhone and iPad, as well as Google-powered Android smartphones and tablets. These mobile platforms contain accessible browsers and support accessible features and assistive technology. Recent laws in the U.S. (such as the CVAA) help to ensure access is available to advanced communication services (ACS) on mobile devices.

With literally thousands of different devices accessing the Internet, designing native apps to work on all of those platforms is not always feasible. In addition, many users simply prefer to use a browser instead of an app. According to a study on the future of mobile news by the Pew Research Center published in October 2012, roughly 60% of tablet and smartphone users prefer to use their browsers to access news on their devices. Similarly, users with disabilities do not want separate sites in order to access content. Well-designed websites can be responsive to a user’s device as well as to a user’s needs. For example, the related techniques such as progressive enhancement and progressive disclosure are common on mobile devices and benefit users with disability.
There are four key components to the heart of responsive web design:

• Media queries and media query listeners — helps a device decide how to view the website depending on screen size
• Flexible grid-based layout – uses relative sizing, allowing content to resize and rearrange as the percentage-based width of a webpage grid expands or contracts
• Flexible images and media, through dynamic resizing or CSS
• Establishing the viewport

Each one of the above components can have an impact on accessibility.

• Media queries can be used to provide different CSS based on device properties. There is a CSS media type for “aural” as well as “braille”. These two media types, however, are not well supported by browsers and assistive technology. In general, though adapting the site to the device size by using breakpoints will help users who require magnification and reduce the amount of zooming required. Additionally, customizing the amount of content on the site based on the device width will ensure a more focused view of the content for users with cognitive disabilities.
• Fluid design promotes reflow of content when it is resized and helps to ensure a correct reading order. Fluid layouts tend to render content in the order it appears within the document object model (DOM). This is the same order that screen readers render content to users who are blind or visually impaired. Fluid layouts also call for relative sizing of content and containers allowing text and content to enlarge and automatically shift other content down the page. Most modern desktop browsers zoom feature magnifies the entire page (not just text) and forces scroll bars and not just text. While this provides access it promulgates a lot of horizontal scrolling. More effective magnification requires a relative unit based fluid layout. Users with low vision can benefit from this by instructing their desktop browser to “resize only text” when a zoom command is performed. In theory media listener may be used to detect changes in a device and update the layout. Currently this is used to change the layout of a site when the user changes from portrait to landscape mode on a mobile device but the concept could be applied to checking for user scale checking on mobile devices.
• Flexible image use will allow images to resize to the area that is available to them. This allows images to take up more room if it’s available and to not overlap other content if less room is available.
• Establishing and correctly setting the viewport is important. It may be necessary to specify a viewport on mobile sites to ensure the site is displayed to the correct device size. Unfortunately, many RWD sites restrict whether the viewport can be changed by the user and may limit the scale level. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2 Level AA success criteria 1.4.4 requires that sites be scalable without assistive technology up to 200%. This means that in the case of the mobile browser the browser’s pinch zoom feature must allow for zooming up to 200% without using the assistive technology zoom on the mobile device.
  In the code example below the meta tag is set properly to allow the user can scale the page and it sets a maximum scale of 2.0 allowing the user to zoom to 200%.

Considerations for RWD and Accessibility

On Desktop Browsers

• Scroll bars must appear when content does not fit on the screen. Preventing scroll bars by hiding overflow without a means to access content when it is resized is a accessibility violation.
• Pages must respond correctly to custom CSS and removal of CSS. Enabling high contrast mode in browsers such as Internet Explorer will turn off background images to ensure the proper contrast level of text.
  • The page must still be understandable without CSS Background-images.
• The page must still be readable without specified colors.
  • When a background color is specified, a foreground color must also be specified, and vice versa.
• Position and reading order of content must remain correct.
• Using CSS to hide content in different contexts may not always provide the desired results with assistive technology. Manipulation of the DOM to add or remove page content should be used (e.g appendChild).

On Mobile Devices

• The viewport must allow users to pinch zoom (scale) up to 200%.
• The minimum level of contrast between foreground and background colors may need to be greater when displayed on a mobile device. For example, the luminosity of standard text must be a ratio of 4.5:1 for WCAG Level AA conformance. On a mobile device the contrast needs will likely be more, for example a luminosity ratio of 7:1 indicated by WCAG 2 Level AAA criteria.

Developers must still consider accessibility guidelines and standards such as WCAG 2 when developing mobile websites. For example, it’s a common misconception that focus order (AKA tab order) is not important on touch screen devices. Focus order is still important to users of assistive technology and alternative input devices. For example, the swipe gesture with a mobile screen reader will move to the next content unit such as a link, form field, or text based on the DOM order. Users with mobility impairments may likely use an external keyboard or device that simulates a keyboard to access a tablet.

Ideally the concept of responsive web design will be extended past device widths to device capabilities and users’ needs. For example, a truly responsive site could know the users’ preferences, automatically turn on closed captions for multimedia, zoom the page automatically to 200%, or present content with larger line spacing based on user preferences.

More information

Progressive Enhancement

Progressive enhancement techniques prescribe a basic implementation that works across multiple devices and with a wide range of assistive technologies and platform accessibility features. Rich interactivity is added automatically when supported by the device allowing users with capable devices or in the case of accessibility capable assistive technology to benefit from enhanced web content.

Progressive Disclosure

Progressive disclosure is a user interface principle aimed at removing clutter on sites focusing users to a given task. Sites with less focused content can help users with cognitive disabilities stay focused and can alleviate navigation issues that users who are blind or have mobility impairments find common on complex sites. In the past users of assistive technology often visited mobile sites with their desktop browser as they were more accessible and less cluttered when mobile versions of sites were first introduced before acceptance of RWD. It may still be useful to allow the user to switch between mobile and desktop versions of a site even when RWD is used. For example, some users with disabilities may use special browsers on specialized AT with no screen and thus may not accurate reflect the screen width — but the user may want or need access to the mobile site.

The post What Does Responsive Web Design Have to do with Accessibility? appeared first on Level Access.

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The mistaken belief is that if users cannot interact with these controls in Dragon as expected, then they aren’t programmed properly. Often, things are confused even further when ARIA widgets are not programmed properly to begin with, causing accessibility issues for all users, including screen reader users.

However, even assuming that ARIA widgets are programmed properly with full keyboard support so that the ARIA attributes appropriately match the movement of focus, the widgets still won’t work as expected in voice navigation software like Dragon.

Developers can test examples of this issue with any of the ARIA widgets in the Coding Arena included in the archive at https://github.com/accdc/tsg, which have been fully verified for both keyboard and screen reader accessibility, and which are specifically programmed according to spec.

The reason why the ARIA widgets don’t work as expected using voice navigation software is because there is no ARIA support built into Dragon. This is because of a deficiency in Dragon NaturallySpeaking, not in any of the correctly programmed ARIA widgets. This means that ARIA Links, Buttons, Checkboxes, Radio Buttons, Menus, Listboxes, Tabs, Sliders and many other controls are not intuitively operable using voice navigation software.

Here is a simple example of this issue, using an ARIA Button:

<a href=”#” role=”button”> Test </a>

The class uses CSS to make this link visually look like a button, and the role=”button” specifies through ARIA that this element should act like a button for assistive technology users, so screen readers like JAWS, NVDA and Voiceover identify this as a button as expected. However, Dragon does not recognize this as a button, only as a link, because the ARIA attribute role=”button” is ignored. Therefore, it is vitally important to ensure that all ARIA widgets and simulated controls are fully accessible from the keyboard. This is the only way to mitigate this deficiency in Dragon.

Mitigating this deficiency makes it possible for voice navigation users to voice standard keyboard commands to interact with controls, such as “press tab,” “press enter,” “press down,” “press space,” and “press escape.” Ensuring full keyboard accessibility also makes it possible for other assistive technologies like Switches for people who are quadriplegic to tie into standard keyboard commands by interacting with virtual keyboards. This is another reason why keyboard support is a critical component of accessibility for all web technologies.

Please note that Dragon 13 now contains support for ARIA. The issues discussed in this post still apply to Dragon Naturally Speaking versions less than 13. For more information on this topic please refer to this Dragon 13 ARIA Support post.

The post The Importance of Keyboard Accessibility & Why ARIA Widgets Don’t Work as Expected in Voice Navigation Software appeared first on Level Access.

To better understand how digital accessibility is enhanced by agile design, we connected with Tim McLaughlin, Partner at strategic research and design firm Craft Studios. In our conversation, we explored why Craft prioritizes accessibility and how the firm employs agile principles to create inclusive, engaging experiences for its clients.

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Level Access: As a design leader, why is digital accessibility a priority for you? 

Tim McLaughlin: Accessibility aligns with our clients’ requirements and goals. For example, we do a lot of work in financial services—and in that industry, there are often requirements that organizations are legally or ethically obligated to adhere to. And for other types of organizations, especially start-ups, accessible experiences can be a competitive differentiator.

Level Access: How, if at all, are your clients’ expectations around accessibility changing? 

Tim McLaughlin: I often connect accessibility with usability. Today, a focus on intuitive user experience (UX) is a requirement from a user’s perspective, when just 15 or 20 years ago it was a new concept. I think accessibility is now in a similar place to where usability was five years ago. Organizations are increasingly understanding the importance of digital accessibility and incorporating it into their design processes—not just as an afterthought or last-minute fix, but as a core part of the process itself. And approaching accessible design in an agile way allows teams to have significant early-stage success with accessibility.

Level Access: What exactly do you mean by “agile” when you talk about accessible design? 

Tim McLaughlin: Agile can be a bit of a buzzword nowadays. But at the simplest level, it’s about breaking things up into digestible pieces, delivering those pieces, and continually testing and refining them. It’s a philosophy of cyclical delivery. Agile design means you’re not creating a feature set for the next 18 or 24 months—you start by creating a feature set for the next three months, and then you iterate on that. You can easily infuse accessibility into this cycle, so not only are you designing for context and function, but you’re also confirming and testing accessibility in a thoughtful, deliberate, and continuous way.

I’ll add that you don’t need to have an existing agile development process to start taking an agile approach to accessible design. We have clients that are extremely mature in scrum-based methodology, with traditional user stories, sprints, and daily scrum sessions. We also have clients that just aspire to be more agile. With this latter group, we start by breaking projects up into two-week, four-week, even three-month pieces—and that’s a huge victory for them.

Level Access: What’s the primary way that agile design differs from more traditional approaches to UX design?

Tim McLaughlin: I think the main difference is that with agile, you don’t have to be “done” to release or deliver a product. It’s an organic delivery—a living delivery. I mean, with digital experiences, you’re never really “done,” right? There’s always an opportunity for refinement. There’s always an opportunity for more evaluation with end users. There’s always an opportunity to push the envelope of what this experience can be, based on the available technology.

There’s a philosophical shift that happens as part of adopting this delivery method that can be pretty substantial. Some clients think, “Why did we wait so long to adopt agile?” Others are more reluctant to embrace this idea that they’re not delivering a final product. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re delivering an incomplete product—just that with agile, you’re iterating; you’re delivering in a release-based way.

Level Access: How does accessibility fit into agile design—and what are some of the advantages of approaching accessible design in this way? 

Tim McLaughlin: There’s a baseline level of accessibility that should be folded into every design process. And in my opinion, accessibility should be an inherent part of any agile design effort.

With agile, organizations can be proactive, flexible, and efficient in their approach to accessibility. It really comes down to: do you want to pay a lot to fix something later, or do you want to incorporate it into your early planning and execution? In a static delivery model, it can be difficult and complex to fix accessibility issues that are identified after an experience is built. Whereas, if you test for accessibility early on, and embrace an iterative process, you’re not only making an impact from day one—you can also identify additional opportunities to improve accessibility later in your roadmap.https://www.levelaccess.com/blog/web-accessibility-issues/

Level Access: Craft focuses on design—but I’m curious, what other roles do you work with in your agile approach to creating accessible experiences for clients?

Tim McLaughlin: Our lifeblood is collaboration, plain and simple. When we partner with clients, we typically work with a product owner, a development leader, and, depending on the type of experience, someone on the brand side. Collaboration with development, specifically, is crucial in agile design. Our clients usually have well-established development teams, and we expect—if not require—that they’ll be involved in our design process from the beginning. If we’re designing in a vacuum, and they can’t deliver the design we create, we have a problem.

Level Access: We’ve talked a lot about the benefits of accessible, agile design for organizations. What are some of the benefits of this approach for users?

Tim McLaughlin: Ultimately, the user receives accessible, well-designed, smart experiences. And I don’t mean just in terms of aesthetic considerations. Every user can get the information they need on a regular basis, and in the way they want to get it.

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About Tim McLaughlin

Leveraging 25 years of experience in the user experience (UX) design industry, Tim joined Craft Studios as a Partner in 2020. Craft is a strategic UX research and design agency with offices in Philadelphia and Boston. Tim works with Craft’s multidisciplinary team and clients across industries who leverage Craft’s capabilities to help define and execute on their strategic digital goals and objectives. Tim’s expertise lies within leading multidisciplinary teams while defining the research and design phases of user experience engagements for Craft’s clients across various industry verticals including banking and financial services.

The post Accessibility and Agile Design: Insights from a Leading Creative Firm appeared first on Level Access.

Self-service kiosks are rapidly reshaping the way we shop and engage crucial services in daily life. From self-checkout stations in grocery stores to automated ticketing systems at transportation hubs, kiosks are increasingly replacing traditional face-to-face interactions. In fact, a Walgreens location in Chicago recently made headlines by unveiling a kiosk-only shopping system for all but two aisles’ worth of goods.

There are plenty of reasons for this transformation. Kiosks offer convenience and efficiency for consumers and organizations alike and may support companies’ anti-theft efforts. But when self-service machines aren’t accessible, they can undermine the privacy and security of people with disabilities and expose organizations to legal risks.

In this post, I’ll define what I mean by a “kiosk,” and underscore the growing importance of kiosk accessibility. I’ll also outline key considerations that organizations designing or procuring kiosks should keep in mind to provide barrier-free experiences for all people.

What counts as a “kiosk”?

Self-service kiosks, also called self-service transaction machines (SSTMs) or simply self-service experiences, are machines that individuals can use to complete specific transactions without engaging a human representative. Common examples of kiosks include:

• ATMs
• Vending machines
• Check-in and ticketing stations for air travel and rail, bus, and subway transportation
• Self-checkout machines at grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail locations
• Check-in stations for specialized services—such as obtaining medical tests or renewing a passport or driver’s license

Why self-service experiences need to serve everyone

Kiosks are everywhere in our daily lives. And as we come to rely on them more, the negative consequences of inaccessible self-service experiences—both for users and organizations—become even more serious.

Inaccessible kiosks compromise users’ privacy and security

Accessibility barriers in some types of kiosks may present an inconvenience for people with disabilities—for instance, an individual who encounters an inaccessible vending machine might have to shop elsewhere for a snack or beverage. But in other cases, they make people vulnerable to serious privacy and security threats. If a hospital visitor is unable to successfully check in for scheduled blood work, for example, they may be forced to disclose sensitive medical information in order to ask for help.

Importantly, SSTMs aren’t the only types of transaction machines that need to be accessible to all users. Even when point-of-sale (POS) devices like PIN pads are managed by people, accessibility barriers may still expose customers with disabilities to risks, from accidentally overtipping to disclosing credit card details. And consumers aren’t the only individuals who are negatively affected by issues with these systems: organizations that rely on inaccessible POS devices also create barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

Kiosk accessibility errors can result in lawsuits

Many organizations have a legal obligation to ensure kiosk accessibility for all users. Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal government agencies must ensure that all information and communication technology (ICT)—including SSTMs—is usable for people with disabilities. And some individual states, such as California, have adopted their own accessibility laws mirroring Section 508. Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes specific accessibility standards for ATMs and fare card machines, and the Air Carrier Accessibility Act (ACAA) outlines accessibility requirements for airlines’ kiosks.

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Laws surrounding kiosk accessibility are only positioned to tighten. In September 2022, the U.S. Access Board announced its intent to create specific accessibility guidelines for electronic kiosks, which would apply to both public and private-sector organizations that employ these devices. While these guidelines for kiosk accessibility will not be laws, it’s likely they will be used in future rule-making.

Key considerations for kiosk accessibility

Whether your organization is in the process of developing new kiosk solutions or evaluating options for procuring and installing them, it’s essential to provide an inclusive experience for all users. And because it’s difficult and costly to retrofit kiosks for accessibility, organizations need to ensure that the kiosks they produce, or purchase, are already built with users’ diverse needs in mind. But what key factors make a kiosk accessible? In this section, I’ll explore kiosk accessibility best practices, spanning from hardware and user interface (UI) design to assistive technology.

Hardware must reflect users’ diverse physical needs

Before they can engage with the digital content of a kiosk, users must be able to interact with its physical infrastructure. After all, even if the software powering a kiosk is barrier-free, if users need assistance from someone else to operate the machine itself, the resulting experience is anything but convenient and secure.

To be accessible, kiosks’ displays should be easy to locate and identify, and positioned at an appropriate range for those who may be seated or have low vision. Controls should also be easily located and placed within reach of all users, and users should also be able to operate controls with minimal force, and with one hand only. Additionally, kiosks should include a speaker or headphone jack for audio output.

Software should be intuitive and adaptable, supporting various types of user interaction

Just as kiosks’ hardware should align with users’ different physical abilities, their software must account for the unique ways in which people experience and engage with digital content.

Unlike other types of digital technology, like websites, kiosks have closed functionality—meaning that, except for a headset, users can’t bring and apply their own assistive technologies (AT) to their kiosk experiences. For this reason, accessibility features like screen reading output and large text need to be built into kiosks’ software, so that users can easily activate them.

Touch targets like buttons must be large and clearly labelled, and color contrast for all user interface (UI) elements should align with accessibility standards. And when video content is part of a self-service experience, organizations should take care to provide captions and audio descriptions, as well as to avoid rapid animation and flashing, which can trigger seizures in some users. Finally, it’s important that kiosks give users sufficient time to complete their transactions. Before a transaction times out, an accessible kiosk will ask a user if they want more time—and then provide additional time as needed.

Additional best practices for kiosk accessibility

When implementing accessible self-service stations, organizations shouldn’t stop at kiosks’ hardware and software—they also need to consider a user’s holistic experience. For instance, it’s important to ensure that all users have enough clear floor space in which to operate a kiosk, and direct staff not to move or block access to kiosks. Organizations also can’t assume self-service experiences are self-explanatory: users should be able to find accessibly formatted instructions (with large-print and braille options) for navigating a system, including directions for activating voice output. And in the case that issues arise with the kiosk’s functionality, users need to be able to obtain assistance from a knowledgeable and trustworthy professional.

Improve convenience without sacrificing compliance

If current trends continue, kiosks will play a key role in the future of customer service. By prioritizing these stations’ accessibility, teams can ensure that this future holds far less risk for consumers and organizations alike. So, what actions can you take to provide accessible self-service experiences?

If your organization purchases kiosks from a vendor, make the accessibility of both hardware and software a guiding factor in your procurement decisions. Consult with an expert accessibility solution provider to gain clarity on the specific requirements your vendor should meet and make an informed decision about the best solution for your users.

Meanwhile, organizations that produce kiosk technology should incorporate accessibility reviews into all stages of design, development, and quality assurance (QA) for hardware and software and perform use case testing with native users of AT. A third-party accessibility expert can conduct these evaluations thoroughly and effectively, and help you quickly resolve any identified issues. By bringing experts into the kiosk creation process as early as possible, vendors can ensure that they proactively address accessibility in design, minimizing the need for retroactive remediation.

A trusted partner

As the market-leading provider of digital accessibility solutions, Level Access’s team of experts will thoroughly review the accessibility of kiosks at any phase of development. Our approach to evaluation consists of functional testing with native AT users, as well as testing for compliance with relevant legal requirements such as the ACAA, Section 508, the ADA, and EN 301 549.

If you’re aiming to purchase a pre-built kiosk, and haven’t yet done so, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and insight you need to make a responsible and inclusive buying decision. If you’ve already procured a solution, we’ll guide you through the conversation you need to have with your vendor. Engage our team today to learn more.

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Digital accessibility lawsuits are not slowing down. And, when coupled with proposed rulemaking on the horizon, organizations across industries should be paying attention to the accessibility of their websites, apps and platforms. That’s according to leading disability rights attorney, Eve Hill, a partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy. We caught up with her to discuss notable cases since January and the trends they indicate, impending regulations around web accessibility compliance, and how organizations should prepare to meet them.

Level Access: How would you describe the first half of 2023 in the digital accessibility legal landscape?

Eve Hill: The word that comes to mind is “constant.” Things aren’t slowing down. In fact, we’re seeing a bounce back in the number of lawsuits this year from a slight dip we saw in volume in 2022. We’re also still seeing suits emerge in many different industries—including retail, hospitality, and education.

Across the board, it doesn’t seem like any particular industry has gotten the message on the importance of making their digital content accessible for people with disabilities. So as Plaintiff’s firms, we’re still fighting the same fight as we have been continually.

Level Access: As this volume continues, are there trends you’re paying close attention to?

Eve Hill: One issue we’re keeping tabs on is the presence of overlays in the cases being brought forward. Website accessibility overlays are more and more prevalent online, so I think more and more lawsuits are going to be filed that challenge the accessibility of overlays—possibly to the extent that those will no longer be considered as solutions for achieving accessibility.

What’s interesting there is the recent joint statement issued by European Union Disability Forum and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals explaining that overlays don’t guarantee compliance with European accessibility legislation. They recommend that organizations work with digital accessibility experts and people with disabilities to learn how to fix their websites’ code, rather than installing an accessibility overlay or plugin, which can actually make things more frustrating for users of certain assistive technologies.

Level Access: Until recently, organizations have mainly been brought to court for the alleged inaccessibility of their websites or mobile apps. Are you starting to notice new technology companies, like those producing extended reality (XR) or virtual reality (VR) experiences, become defendants in these cases?

Eve Hill: In a word, yes. There was actually a relevant case this April, Panarra versus HTC Corporation, in the district court in New York. That court found that a VR gaming service, VIVEPORT Infinity, was covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), under Title III. So, the company reached a settlement agreement, stating that HTC is now going to caption its virtual reality programs and to make sure that the developers who provide other third-party programs also caption theirs.

Another new technology area where we’re seeing litigation is with kiosks, such as check-in kiosks. These have mostly been prevalent for labs and health-care settings.

What this demonstrates is, we’re not going to ignore these developing technologies, and the companies who produce them can’t pretend that they don’t have these obligations around accessibility. Basically, if you thought you were exempt, you should reconsider that!

Level Access: What are some other particularly notable cases from the first half of 2023?

Eve Hill: There are a couple very notable cases that speak to the same question: who has the right to sue over the online discrimination they’ve faced?

First, there’s the Orozco v. Garland case that came down from the DC circuit about Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It said that federal employees have a private right of action to sue for Section 508 violations by federal agencies. So, I expect that that will open some floodgates for federal employees to challenge the accessibility barriers that they’ve been facing at work for years now and that agencies have not been taking seriously.

Then, under the ADA, there’s actually a case just filed with the Supreme Court, called Acheson Hotels v. Laufer. That case is going to answer the question: do you have standing to sue an organization for inaccessible digital experiences purely as an accessibility tester? Right now, people can go to a website as a tester and discover that it’s inaccessible even though they didn’t really want to go to that location or didn’t really want to buy anything from that vendor. But the Supreme Court might say that you can only file suit if you were an actual customer of that restaurant or hotel, for example, or buy something from the website on which you experienced discrimination.

That’s a problem because that would mean that more discrimination actually has to occur before these accessibility issues can be addressed in court, and testers won’t be able to try and prevent it by proactively seeking out websites that contain barriers.

Level Access: As we look ahead to the next half of 2023, what are you and your team paying attention to when it comes to the digital accessibility regulations?

Eve Hill: Two things. First, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services have announced that they’re going to put out regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and we expect those to include digital accessibility as well. This will impact organizations receiving federal funding or assistance, like universities and hospitals. And those are supposed to be out by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. Second, the Justice Department (DOJ) has announced that it will put out a regulation about web accessibility for state and local governments under Title II of the ADA.

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Level Access: Based on this public sector activity, should private-sector organizations be paying attention?

Eve Hill: Definitely. The DOJ’s rulemaking under Title II will be important in and of itself, but it will also be important as a precursor to what they might do under Title III, which is the Title under which most businesses are sued for inaccessible websites, apps, and other digital experiences. It’s very, very important because when that happens, it will set a baseline for new websites and for websites going forward so we can stop having these arguments all the time about whether the ADA applies to websites (which the DOJ has already affirmed), and what standard they have to meet, and everyone can just really get down to the business of complying.

Level Access: Looking ahead, what advice do you have for organizations thinking about web accessibility and compliance? What actions should organizations take to keep their names out of court filings?

Eve Hill: The first thing I’d say is, find out whether your website is accessible. If you don’t know, that probably means it is not accessible. I’ve spoken a lot here about impending rulemaking from the DOJ. And rulemaking is really important for setting a standard down on paper. But it’s already clear right now, based on case law and the DOJ’s guidance, what the standard is: to avoid legal risk, websites and other digital experiences must conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—usually with version 2.1 level AA. So, there’s really no reason to wait for the rulemaking to get started.

Organizations should know that when courts do take these cases all the way to a decision, the timeline for compliance is very short. In some cases, those found non-compliant will have no more than a year in which to become compliant. The question is: wouldn’t you rather control your own compliance timeline? If you start now, you’re in control. If you’re taken to court, you lose control.

Then the other point to make is, stop digging. Stop trying to unearth every possible issue that may exist on your website or digital property—it’s an easy way to get overwhelmed fast. Instead, start by making sure everything new that goes onto your website is accessible from the beginning. That’s the cheapest, most effective, most efficient way to comply with the law and to make yourself open to all of the nearly 2 billion people with disabilities worldwide. And then, by adding a feedback mechanism to your website, you can get help from within that community to determine where to focus your efforts when it comes to what already exists.

Level Access: The message we share with organizations is: stay agile. Focus on the key tasks users or customers are trying to accomplish in your digital experience and start fixing there.

Eve Hill: Exactly!

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About Eve Hill

Eve Hill is a partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy and founder of Inclusivity Strategic Consulting. Eve has decades of experience implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability rights laws through consultation, technical assistance, training, guidance, and enforcement. She has served as a senior federal government official at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, as the Director of District of Columbia Office of Disability Rights, at the Burton Blatt Institute, and in academia, nonprofit, and private practice. She also has experience helping entities go beyond compliance to include disability as part of their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She is the co-author of a treatise and a casebook on the ADA.

The post Midyear Digital Accessibility Legal Landscape: Trends, Tips, and Predictions appeared first on Level Access.

Here’s the good news: there’s a much more sustainable approach to digital accessibility that will save your team time and resources. By taking an agile approach to accessibility—that is, proactively embedding it in the existing agile life cycle for your product—you can drastically reduce the number of bugs caught in regression, accelerating time-to-market for releases and driving down development costs.

In this post, we’ll provide practical tips for product leaders to align accessibility with the development and release of new features, improving the efficiency and predictability of processes and expanding the market for your product.

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Four steps to embed accessibility in your agile life cycle

Most product teams today rely on agile methodologies like scrum to build user-centric products. Agile accessibility draws on key principles of these philosophies, inviting teams to address accessibility early, often, and iteratively throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC). As a result, this approach aligns well with agile teams’ existing workflows. Let’s explore four best practices for proactively incorporating accessibility into your sprints.

1. Advocate for embedding accessibility in your definition of “done”

Building accessibility testing and documentation into your Definition of Done (DoD) for all new components and features is one of the simplest and most impactful steps you can take to maintain a consistent level of accessibility across your digital experiences. Of course, most agile teams align on DoD together—so you’ll want to ensure all product managers and engineers are aligned on why accessibility is essential to your product’s success. (If coming to this agreement takes time, individual product leaders can still make meaningful progress by taking the next three actions covered in this section.)

Once your team agrees to include accessibility requirements in your DoD, it’s time to define these requirements. For example, you’ll need to determine which version and level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) your product needs to meet, and when in the SDLC you’ll test for conformance with these standards. As a best practice, organizations should aim for Level AA conformance with the most recent version of WCAG and incorporate automated accessibility testing in development as well as in QA.

2. Make accessibility part of the acceptance criteria for user stories

When creating the acceptance criteria for user stories, teams need to consider diverse use cases. For example, not all people navigate digital experiences with a mouse, so stories should account for how users of keyboard-only navigation and assistive technology (e.g., screen readers, dictation software) will perform tasks.

To reduce accessibility bugs in development (and prevent costly delays), ensure that accessibility-related acceptance criteria are written before designs are passed off to development. Because UX teams often have the best understanding of how users should interact with a digital experience, it’s smart to hold designers accountable for drafting accessibility requirements. Then, product managers should check their work to ensure these criteria reflect the full range of possible use cases.

Once accessibility is embedded in the design and development of user stories, you can improve the agility of your QA process by encouraging QA analysts to test individual stories for accessibility, rather than waiting to test entire features.

3. Set sprint goals that reinforce the importance of accessibility

To keep accessibility top-of-mind for your team, set sprint goals directly related to digital accessibility. For example, you might set a goal that no new accessibility bugs will be introduced during your sprint cycle, or that every developer will test their code for accessibility—and proactively fix flagged issues—prior to submitting it to QA. While these goals should align with work that your team is already doing, rather than introduce new objectives, they can help to keep the team focused on accessibility and its importance throughout the agile life cycle.

4. Treat issues that emerge as opportunities for iteration

No process is perfect, and even with a proactive, agile approach to accessibility, some new bugs will likely slip through the cracks. It’s crucial to recognize, and communicate, that everyone on the software team is learning to improve the accessibility of their work. As a leader, frame these mistakes as opportunities to reinforce your team’s knowledge and processes, and equip team members with additional education or tooling to prevent the same bugs from emerging in the future. For instance, if your team consistently struggles to make radio buttons accessible to keyboard navigation users, you might schedule a team-wide training session focused on best practices for form accessibility.

Some of the roadblocks that your team faces might not stem from gaps in tooling and technical training. Often, product leaders also need to take a proactive role in changing the culture around accessibility at their organization. It’s important to be sensitive to misunderstandings that may be holding your team back, and work to gradually improve awareness and empathy through ongoing education.

Start where you are

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to incorporating accessibility into your agile life cycle. And as you weave accessibility into your sprints, you’ll need to apply the best practices outlined above in a way that aligns with the maturity of your existing SDLC.

If your SDLC is still unpredictable, which is common at start-ups, establishing team-wide processes around inclusion may feel challenging. But it’s never too early (or too late) to ensure your product works for the widest possible audience. You can make it easier for individuals to address accessibility by:

• Using plug-ins and browser extensions to integrate accessibility into your existing processes for testing code in development and QA
• Investing in role-specific accessibility training for team members

If your organization’s SDLC is more mature, you can take a more comprehensive approach. Build accessibility checkpoints into every stage of the SDLC, starting with ideation. These might include:

• Including people with disabilities in your focus groups for UX research
• Enlisting a third-party accessibility expert to review all new designs
• Setting up quality gates to ensure developers are effectively addressing issues prior to QA
• Investing in an accessible design system

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Streamline accessibility and innovation with a trusted partner

No matter the scale and structure of your SDLC, with the right tools and support, you can adopt a faster, smarter approach to accessibility—better serving both your users and your organization.

Level Access’ suite of digital accessibility solutions equips software teams with the tooling, training, and guidance needed to tackle accessibility early, often, and iteratively throughout the SDLC. Our automated testing tools enable developers and QA teams to test code in any environment—pre-production, staging, or live—to proactively identify and fix accessibility issues. Plus, our experts will provide detailed accessibility feedback on new designs through our Design Evaluations, helping you address potential barriers before features are in development.

And to help you ensure long-term success, we’ll educate and upskill every member of your team through live and self-paced role-specific training and offer strategic support with prioritization. If you’re ready to make the shift to more sustainable and effective accessibility, engage with our team today.

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ARLINGTON, VA, May 24, 2023 — Level Access, the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions, announced today that it has earned five 2023 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence awards for Leadership, Innovation, Compensation and Benefits, Work-Life Flexibility, and Purpose and Values. The company has also been rated as a 2023 Top Workplace for providing meaningful work. These awards, based solely on employee feedback, underscore the value of the company’s positive, mission-driven culture, which is fueled by a shared organizational commitment to inclusion and equity in the online world.

Top Workplaces Culture Excellence awards are issued by Energage, the research company with more than 16 years of experience surveying more than 27 million employees at 70,000 organizations. Level Access was previously named a Top Workplace in Technology in 2021 and a Top Workplace in the Washington, D.C. area in 2018, prior to becoming a remote workplace.

“At Level Access, we believe a company can succeed in business and be a positive force in the world. That positive change starts with our fundamental commitment to maintaining our internal culture,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “Receiving these five awards, on the recommendations of our own employees, demonstrates that our commitment to making a difference is truly recognized and reciprocated by our staff. We are immensely proud to be among the Top Workplaces for 2023.”

The Top Workplaces awards for Culture Excellence are based on a research-backed, 24-item employee engagement survey, which Level Access employees completed in February 2023.

“Top Workplaces is a beacon of light for organizations as well as a sign of resiliency and impressive performance,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business.”

The Level Access leadership team is particularly proud to have received the Culture Excellence recognition for Purpose and Values, which are used to drive many initiatives within the organization. For example, one of the company’s core values is “build together.” This value was recently used as a springboard for a company-wide day of service observed by the Level Access staff on May 18, Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). During the day of service, employees signed up to “build together” toward a more inclusive, accessible digital world by engaging in positive awareness-raising activities. These activities ranged from speaking to students at local colleges about the importance of making technology accessible to creating and sharing transcripts for popular uncaptioned online videos so that everyone can enjoy them equally.

“At Level Access, we have an extremely important mission to make the world a more accessible place, and our culture makes that world-changing work possible,” said Colleen Wood, Chief People Officer at Level Access. “We will use our 2023 Top Workplaces recognition to inspire our efforts as we continue working to build a dynamic, supportive workplace for all employees.”

For more information, visit www.levelaccess.com, and for the latest, follow Level Access on LinkedIn.

About Energage

Energage is a purpose-driven technology company that powers Top Workplaces, the nation’s premier employer recognition program. Analyzing data from a research-backed employee engagement survey, Energage identifies people-first Top Workplaces across the country, and regionally, in partnership with 60 of the nation’s most reputable media outlets. Quarterly national awards include culture excellence and industry recognition. Energage empowers organizations to exceed the competition, evaluate their stand in the market, and engage with employees. Over 27 million employees across more than 70,000 organizations have completed the Workplace Survey, including some of the nation’s leading brands: Accenture, Ace Hardware, The Atlanta Hawks, Go Daddy, Facebook, and Progressive Insurance. For more information or to nominate your organization, go to topworkplaces.com.

Public Relations Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

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Over the past few years, organizations have rallied around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As of July 2022, every one of the Fortune 100 companies had publicly stated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), according to research by HR Dive. Additionally, consultancy Semler Brossy reported that 28% of S&P 500 companies included DEI in their 2021 executive incentive plans.

Meanwhile, other entities—primarily in the public sector—are championing an expanded version of the acronym: DEIA, or diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Organizations ranging from the U.S. Department of Energy to the Cincinnati Arts Association have public DEIA statements on their websites. And in 2021, President Biden issued an executive order aimed at promoting DEIA within the U.S. federal workforce.

But what do these acronyms mean? And how, if at all, are they different? In this post, we’ll define DEI and make the case for why accessibility—and digital accessibility, in particular—is integral, not additional, to any effective DEI program. We’ll also explain why DEIA needs to be a top priority for any organization aiming to foster a fairer and more just culture and succeed in today’s market.

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What is DEI?

By championing DEI, organizations aim to create workplaces and communities where all individuals can fully participate and thrive. They recognize and address structural and systemic barriers to equity and inclusion, while valuing and celebrating the differences that make us all unique. Corporate DEI initiatives typically focus on internal practices such as:

• Supporting affinity-based employee resource groups and proactively seeking out feedback from these groups to foster a more inclusive company culture.
• Establishing unbiased recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes, so that their employees and executive leadership reflect the diversity of their customers and potential customers.
• Educating employees about the importance of fairness and bringing awareness to discriminatory behavior.
• Prioritizing vendor diversity and choosing vendors that embrace DEI when procuring new products and services.

In addition to internal DEI efforts, many organizations have made DEI part of their brand identities, letting these values guide everything from marketing strategy to product design and development. External DEI efforts drive community engagement, educate audiences, and demonstrate social responsibility.

Importantly, discrete DEI initiatives—whether internal or external—are aimed at achieving a much larger goal. DEI isn’t just about changing a company’s culture, supporting equal employment opportunities, or ensuring diverse representation in marketing materials. It’s about building robust, resilient, and sustainable, global, and competitive organizations powered by diverse thinking and experiences.

“DEI” should already imply an “A”

By expanding DEI to include accessibility, the acronym DEIA explicitly calls out the need to empower people with disabilities as part of the broader movement toward socially just organizations and workplaces. But in reality, accessibility is already integral to—not separate from—the work that goes into creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Put simply, there’s no “D,” “E,” or “I” without an “A.”

One key intention of corporate DEI initiatives is to empower communities that are under-represented in the workforce. The disability community falls squarely into this category: many people with disabilities are underemployed. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21% of people with disabilities in the U.S. were employed in 2022—a figure well below the 65.4% employment rate for people without disabilities. This disparity was even greater for individuals with certain types of disabilities. Yet despite these statistics, many people don’t actively think about disability as part of diversity, nor do they consider the impact of accessibility on equity and inclusion in DEI. The addition of an “A” brings the often-missing awareness of disability in DEI conversations back into focus.

How digital accessibility fits into DEIA

The widespread underemployment of people with disabilities can be partly attributed to the fact that many organizations rely on inaccessible technology. And digital technology, specifically, is shaping more and more of what we do in daily life. (In fact, just about everything we do at Level Access happens online).

To uphold the values of DEIA, organizations need to ensure that their digital experiences are accessible to all people. But what does that mean in practice? Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and explain how digital accessibility, as part of broader accessibility efforts, factors into an organization’s commitment to each.

Diversity

Organizations that commit to diversity, the “D” in DEIA, embrace differences. Internally, they hire, upskill, and promote employees with different racial, gender, and ethnic identities, different class backgrounds, different abilities, and who are neurodiverse. And externally, they account for users’ varied needs and priorities in their products and messaging. Responsibility for upholding this commitment is shared throughout the organization. Senior leaders consider questions about diversity and representation in executive decision-making, and continuously monitor and refine their efforts.

To maintain a diverse workforce, organizations need to hire and retain employees with disabilities. Now that much—if not all—of the recruitment and hiring process takes place online for many organizations, teams must confirm that the platforms they use to source and evaluate talent are free of accessibility barriers. And in today’s digital-first workplaces, equipping employees with accessible tools and resources is critical to retaining diverse talent.

Meanwhile, product and marketing teams that prioritize DEIA know that digital accessibility is critical for catering to diverse audiences. By designing and developing digital experiences for a range of use cases—including users of assistive technology like screen readers—they make sure everyone can engage with these experiences in the way that suits them.

Equity

Equity is about fairness. An equitable organization offers its employees equal opportunities to succeed, and the support they need to do so. These organizations also ensure that all current and potential customers can benefit fairly from the products and services they provide.

While non-discriminatory compensation, promotion, and mentorship practices are staples of equitable workplaces, equity also means all employees have the same level of access to the resources necessary to perform their day-to-day responsibilities. When organizations expect employees to use inaccessible technology, people with disabilities confront unfair barriers to performance. In fact, even if employees with disabilities can ultimately complete a task using an inaccessible system, they may need to work longer and harder than their peers to achieve the same results. And they may not receive recognition or compensation for this additional work.

These inequitable circumstances, which may stem from inaccessible technology created in-house or outside the organization, don’t just limit individuals’ career growth. By absorbing employees’ time with tedious workarounds and failing to tap into teams’ true potential, organizations ultimately interfere with their overall productivity and growth. Similarly, failing to prioritize the accessibility of consumer-facing digital properties doesn’t just result in inequitable experiences for people with disabilities—diminishing their quality of life—but also limits the marketability of these offerings.

Inclusion

Inclusive organizations make their employees and audiences alike feel valued for their diverse backgrounds, identities, abilities, and skills. More than the other tenets of DEIA, inclusion speaks to an organization’s culture: how do people communicate with and treat one another?

Even in the office, much workplace communication—both internal and external—now takes place through digital platforms. And If email, messaging, and video conferencing systems aren’t accessible, people with disabilities are excluded from conversations. But including the voices of all employees, customers, and prospects means more than buying and building accessible products. Team members need to make sure that all information that is communicated—whether in the form of a slide deck, or a Slack message—can be received by its intended recipients, regardless of whether they have a disability.

Many of the largest providers of workplace communications technology, such as Microsoft and Adobe, offer built-in tools for checking content accessibility. However, individuals need to be accountable for using these tools and addressing flagged issues. Establishing this accountability requires building a culture of awareness and allyship.

Beyond communication, teams can embed inclusion in their product development process by taking steps like including people with disabilities in user experience (UX) research, which ensures organizations don’t unintentionally exclude users from new digital experiences. And by adopting accessibility standards and inclusive marketing best practices (for example, providing closed captioning for webinars), teams invite all audience members to engage with and participate in an organization’s story.

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DEIA is a long-term commitment

Accessibility can’t be neatly separated from the first three letters in DEIA. It’s essential to make them a reality. And in our increasingly digital world, organizations need to prioritize the accessibility of digital experiences in order to achieve their goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion. But embracing accessibility—both on and offline—as part of DEIA is not a one-time project. It’s an ongoing process.

Organizations may score excellent marks on indexes that measure DEI but fail to actually be accessible to people with disabilities. Too often, organizations outwardly champion accessibility by releasing a statement, or even establishing a policy, but don’t take the practical action required to follow through on this promise. And among those that do act, efforts can be short-lived. For example, a company leader might make sweeping organizational changes in support of accessibility, only for this work to unravel following their departure. Or an organization might invest heavily in accessibility in response to an ADA lawsuit but abandon these efforts once they’ve met their settlement obligations.

To make meaningful, lasting progress towards accessibility, and further their DEI efforts, organizations need to embed it in their day-to-day processes. Only then can they build a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, and a better world.

Have you incorporated accessibility into your DEI policy? Engage with our team to get started making your digital experiences accessible to all.

About the author

Jonathan Avila (CPWA) is the Chief Accessibility Officer at Level Access. He has invested two decades in the digital accessibility field guiding organizations to create inclusive experiences that are usable to a wide range of people with disabilities. Through this work, he has supported accessibility across many different environments including web, mobile, documentation, extended reality, kiosk, and gaming, to empower people with disabilities to live their best lives. Jonathan is a member of the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group of the World Wide Web Consortium and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. At Level Access, he focuses his time on testing methodology, thought leadership, and internal accessibility program policy to grow and sustain the company’s implementation of an inclusive workplace.

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Nearly all of us rely on the internet to meet our day-to-day responsibilities. But we don’t all engage with digital experiences in the same way. Many people with disabilities don’t use a mouse, or they leverage assistive technology like screen readers to browse and interact with web content. And in today’s digital world, understanding different users’ needs is essential for recognizing the material impact that investing in digital accessibility—or failing to do so—has on peoples’ lives. Let’s explore a few of the ways in which people with disabilities access the internet, along with common barriers they encounter.

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Using keyboard navigation

Individuals with some types of disabilities navigate websites exclusively through a keyboard, as an alternative to a mouse or touchpad. People use keyboard navigation for a variety of reasons. Blind individuals and those with low vision may not be able to see a cursor’s position on the screen, while some people with motor disabilities find it easier to type than to manipulate a mouse. Keyboard-only users typically move through different elements on a web page with the “tab” key. So, for web content to be accessible, it needs to incorporate logical tab order. That means that when a user hits “tab,” they should progress to the next link, button, or form control on a given page. Notably, web developers don’t need to explicitly script tab order using tabindex attributes—they just need to write clean, semantic code. If tab order is not considered, keyboard-only users may be unable to complete critical tasks. For example, if pressing the “tab” key after completing the “name” field in a check-out form brings a user to a completely different form—rather than to the next line—their purchase process will be interrupted. Radio buttons or checkboxes that can’t be intuitively selected via the keyboard also pose significant accessibility barriers. Quick tip from our experts: Always check the keyboard operability of radio buttons and checkboxes, particularly those with animated styling.

Using a screen reader

No, not everyone in the meeting can “see your screen”—but if you share your deck, screen reader users can interact with it by listening to synthesized speech or reading it on a braille display. Instead of visually processing digital information, people who are blind or have low vision often use screen readers: a type of assistive technology that communicates the contents of a computer, tablet, or mobile phone display in an audio or braille format. Desktop screen readers are typically operable via keyboard commands, while screen readers for mobile devices (like smartphones and tablets) are operable through touch gestures. On an accessible website, screen reader users can easily navigate to any element on a page with their keyboard or mobile touch screen. They’ll then receive an accessible description of that element’s purpose, including whether it’s a heading, a button, or an editable field. Inaccessible websites, however, can cause immense frustration. For instance, if form fields aren’t properly labelled, a screen reader user may input information in the wrong place—triggering a barrage of error messages with no guidance on how to resolve them. Quick tip from our experts: Clearly and accurately label all interactive elements of a page, including form fields and call-to-action buttons, paying particular attention to those “learn more” links.

Using magnification software

Some people with low vision opt to access web content using magnification software, assistive technology that enlarges the elements on a web page. Navigating the resulting zoomed-in version of a website should be intuitive. But when elements are spaced illogically or too far apart, users of magnification software can get lost in blank space, resulting in wasted time and confusion. Additionally, poor color contrast between the text on a page and its background can render information illegible. Quick tip from our experts: Choose text and background colors that meet the color contrast requirements outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Using dictation

Rather than navigating a website via the keyboard or mouse, people with certain types of disabilities, including quadriplegia, may use dictation software: programs that allow individuals to interact with digital experiences through voice commands. Many dictation users verbally deliver keyboard commands, like “tab,” to efficiently move through websites, making keyboard navigability a critical accessibility consideration even for those who don’t use a literal keyboard. To meet the needs of dictation users, all buttons on a page must have accessible names (that is, the names read aloud by a screen reader) that match their on-screen content. If the visible text on a button reads “yes,” but its accessible name reads “accept,” dictation users won’t be able to select it—at least, not without a lengthy trial-and-error process. It’s also best practice to programmatically associate other interactive form elements, like radio buttons, with their on-screen labels so dictation users can quickly make selections. Quick tip from our experts: Always check that the accessible names that are assigned to buttons match these buttons’ on-screen labels.

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As the market-leading digital accessibility solution provider, Level Access equips organizations with the advanced software and expert support required to create and maintain inclusive digital experiences. Our automated testing tools allow teams to rapidly surface web accessibility barriers and track and manage remediation efforts directly on our platform. Additionally, we provide actionable manual evaluations by digital accessibility experts, including functional accessibility testing by people with disabilities, so you can ensure your website and other digital products remain barrier-free for all. Ready to learn more? Engage with our team today.

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However, as organizations scale, providing aesthetically consistent—and consistently accessible—UX design can become challenging. The solution? Accessible design systems.

In our webinar with CarMax, we explored how the largest used car retailer in the U.S. prioritizes accessible UX while rapidly innovating online. Our panel included:

• Molly Covert, Manager of CarMax’s Horizon Design System
• Robertson Odom, Principal Software Engineer at CarMax
• Karen Hawkins, Head of Accessible UX Design at Level Access

Drawing on our conversation, this blog will explain the basic elements of design systems and how they relate to accessible UX design. We’ll also unpack the advantages of design systems for all organizations committed to online inclusion.

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What is a design system?

A design system is a complete set of standards for managing design at scale through reusable components and patterns.

A design system encompasses:

• Reusable design elements: the full set of designs for all components and patterns including all permutations / variations, from smaller elements like buttons and links to larger elements like toolbars and interactive charts.
• Reusable coded elements: the full set of code for all the reusable design components.
• Documentation for the use and application of both in different contexts (e.g., dos and don’ts, etc.).

Essentially, a design system is a set of building blocks that can be used again and again to efficiently create digital experiences that are both aesthetically and functionally consistent.

What do design systems have to do with accessibility?

Not all design systems are accessible—and no design system can guarantee accessibility. However, they can be built with accessibility in mind. To do this, organizations need to make accessibility part of the acceptance criteria for all design elements and coded components embedded within a design system. They also need to incorporate accessible UX design requirements into supporting documentation. For example, documentation should include instructions for how an element would function to support keyboard and pointer interactions and provide context as to how the element should operate for screen reader users, etc.

When created in this way, design systems codify accessibility throughout the digital experience creation process. They not only integrate accessibility into organizational standards for design and development (such as conformance with a certain level and version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), but also equip teams with practical, easy-to-use resources that are built to conform with these standards, and documentation for how to apply them consistently.

How organizations benefit from accessible design systems

From a designer’s point of view, then, it’s clear how design systems can streamline and simplify daily work. But to find, assemble, audit, and codify all existing (or future) design elements within a brand is a significant time and capacity investment. So, from a broader point of view, why should an organization’s leadership sponsor such an initiative? In this section, we’ll explore the advantages of design systems—both broadly and in the context of digital accessibility.

Improved efficiency

• Design systems empower product and development teams to operate more efficiently by equipping them with a set of pre-built components for new experiences. Rather than creating from scratch, teams can simply stitch together pre-existing blocks of code to produce aesthetically cohesive, fully functional properties. This significantly reduces time-to-market for new products, features, and capabilities.
• When accessibility is integrated into design systems, it’s already a part of digital experiences from day one. This means teams can spend less time testing for, and remediating, accessibility issues in development and QA.

Consistent user experiences

• The elements and code components in a design system are already optimized for UX—so when teams leverage these building blocks, the resulting products and features will reflect a consistent, cohesive experience, a mark of quality that enhances an organization’s brand.
• From an accessibility standpoint, a consistent experience is easier to learn—it’s easy to remember how to interact with a consistent experience—and as a result, it is more efficient for users. So, consistent UX supports all users by providing a smoother, simpler way to achieve their goals. In particular, it ensures that a user of assistive technology, or a user who relies on a particular accessibility feature, can engage successfully across their entire user journey.

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Scalability

• Teams can create countless new experiences from a single design system, making these systems ideal for organizations operating at scale. Additionally, because design systems empower teams to operate efficiently while maintaining a unified brand identity, organizations can operate at the same velocity as they grow—they don’t need to incorporate additional checks for quality or consistency.
• When using an accessible design system, accessibility is built into—not built on top of—new experiences, so teams can scale rapidly without generating an unmanageable mountain of accessibility issues as they do so. They won’t have to pay back that technical debt by halting innovation down the road.

Embed accessibility in your design system

Accessible UX design is an ongoing responsibility. To sustain momentum, organizations need to integrate accessibility into their existing processes rather than constantly solving for it after-the-fact. Design systems streamline this practice, enabling teams to operate efficiently and scale quickly, while serving all users.

While accessible design systems drive a variety of positive outcomes, creating them can be a complex process. To ensure an efficient yet thorough approach, it’s helpful to lean on a trusted partner. Level Access’ Design Evaluations can help teams vet the accessibility of their design system’s building blocks—ensuring the accessibility of choices in color palettes and typography as well as component or pattern libraries. And, with role-specific accessibility training for designers and developers, we can help upskill your teams to ensure they’re learning the “why behind the what” when it comes to implementing accessible UX design.

Reach out to our team to learn more.

The post Design Systems: The Key to Accelerating Accessible UX Design appeared first on Level Access.

Whether you’re a visual learner or not, images can add an extra layer of richness to digital content. Photos and illustrations create a more approachable experience by providing context and breaking up blocks of text, while charts and infographics enable learners to quickly digest new concepts and data trends. But without meaningful alt text, individuals with visual or cognitive disabilities miss out on these benefits.

In this post, we explore the importance of alt text for accessibility (and beyond) and provide practical tips for writing it more effectively, so you can ensure that your content is reaching its full potential and benefiting all users.

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What is alt text?

Alternative text, also called alt text or a text alternative, provides users with a brief yet informative description of the information conveyed by images such as photos, charts, graphs, maps, and infographics. It allows people who use screen readers or other assistive technologies to understand the context of on-page visuals. Additionally, alt text will populate on a webpage in the event that an image doesn’t load. Alt text is housed in the alt (alt=) attribute of an image in HTML content.

Why use alt text?

Alt text is important for accessibility

When images are accompanied by alt text, everyone can understand the content of a web page. Let’s explore some of the types of users that benefit from alt text for accessibility.

1. Screen reader users: Many people who are blind or have low vision use screen readers to consume online content. Without alt text, screen reader users may miss out on important information that’s being communicated by images. Since screen readers typically read out the file names for images that lack alt text, failing to provide these descriptions also causes unnecessary disruption to users’ experience.
2. People with cognitive disabilities: Some individuals with cognitive disabilities may find an abundance of images distracting, overwhelming, or difficult to parse and process. Many web browsers have features that enable users to turn off all images on a site. Alt text enables these users to experience a page without gaps in context.
3. People with limited internet bandwidth: Finally, alt text is helpful for those who have a slow internet connection, especially those in geographic locations with unreliable internet service. Individuals who turn off images to reduce page loading time can still understand their contents if alt text is displayed on the page.

This is just a small sample of the types of users that benefit from alt text for accessibility. 

Alt text keeps websites compliant

Including alt text for accessibility is necessary for conforming with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the universal standard for evaluating the accessibility of digital content. While WCAG itself is not a law, it is frequently cited in ADA compliance lawsuits concerning web accessibility. Additionally, WCAG conformance is mandatory for entities covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the U.S., and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in Canada.

Alt text boosts SEO

Alt text is a powerful tool for boosting your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. While it’s well-known that including alt text helps make your content more accessible, it also has a measurable impact on your site’s search engine rankings. By providing meaningful alt text for images, you’re giving search engines a better understanding of the content on your site, which can lead to higher rankings in search results. Additionally, recent updates to search engine algorithms have made user experience a top priority in determining page rankings, and alt text for accessibility is a key factor in optimizing for this metric.

Tips for writing effective alt text

We’ve established the importance of including alt text for images. However, an image with poor alternative attributes can be just as unhelpful as one with none at all. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when writing alt text:

1. Keep it short. Excessively long alt text can be a source of frustration for screen reader users, and may be cut off. As a rule of thumb, keep alt text to 125 characters or less. If anything more than a brief phrase or sentence is necessary, use one of the long description methods detailed later in this post under “complex images and images of text.”
2. Include important details. While concision is a priority, don’t omit information that is crucial for understanding an image’s context and purpose.
3. Structure alt text with the most important information at the beginning.
4. Be mindful of tone and language. Writing should be neutral and free of superfluous, subjective adjectives like “beautiful,” “terrible,” and “funny.”
5. Keep the context of the page in mind and what the image is meant to add to this context.
6. Avoid including “image of,” “picture of,” or “graphic of,” as the user already knows you’re describing an image. However, information about the type of image (such as a chart, photo, illustration, or screenshot) may be useful, depending on context.
7. Keep alt text free of spelling and grammar mistakes. These errors defeat the purpose of crafting alt text for accessibility.

Alt text examples

Let’s examine a few photos, along with examples of effective—and ineffective—alt text for each.

Context: Imagine that this image is included in a campus news article on a university’s website. The piece details preparations that four of the university’s runners are undertaking for an upcoming track and field meet.

Poor alt text: Runners training

This alt text doesn’t provide sufficient information about who are the runners are, or why they’re training.

Okay alt text: Four female runners train on a sunny day for Saturday’s track and field meet.

This description provides a little more information, but not necessarily the right kind. If the post were about the benefits of exercising outdoors, mentioning the weather might be relevant. However, this post focuses on the activities of a specific sports team.

Better alt text: Emma G., Alexa A., Lorna D. and Becca T. do training lunges using black step-up boxes near the track field in preparation for Saturday’s meet.

We now know exactly who is training, along with how, where, and why this training is taking place.

Context: Imagine that this image will be used to showcase a new product from a fashion designer.

Poor alt text: A pair of trendy sneakers, sitting on a white podium in front of a white background.

While this alt text isn’t inaccurate, it doesn’t reflect alt text best practices. It is not tone-neutral, and it describes unnecessary details while leaving others too vague.

Okay alt text: A pair of leather basketball sneakers featuring purple, yellow, grey and pale green detailing. The shoes have chunky white rubber soles with red accenting, and red laces. On the side of each sneaker, a beige canvas strap extends up from the sole to the laces.

While this is very descriptive, it’s too long, and is likely to be cut off by a screen reader. Remember that alt text needs to be succinct.

Better alt text: Leather basketball sneakers with purple, yellow, grey, and green detailing, chunky white rubber soles, and red laces.

While alt text accessibility should provide a meaningful description of an image, it’s important to strike the right balance between concision and detail. In this example, shoppers will benefit from additional information about these shoes—but an accessible product web page would use body text, rather than alt text, to share more granular details.

Alt text for complex images and images of text

Photographs are not the only visual elements that require alt text for accessibility. So do graphs, charts, maps, infographics, and images of text. However, thorough descriptions for information-heavy images typically exceed the recommended character count for alt text. So, how should you approach alt text in these cases?

To write alt text for charts and graphs, include the chart type (for example, line graph, bar graph, or pie chart), the type of data the chart displays, and a summary of the main trend in the chart. Alt text for maps and infographics should contain a brief summary of the information. Provide more detailed information in surrounding body text, or include in-depth text descriptions directly below these images.

For images of text, such as promotional banners, alt text should repeat, verbatim, the text displayed in the image. However, there is one exception to this rule. In some cases—such as a banner that contains a heading followed by a list—users need semantic structure to understand the information that’s conveyed by the text in an image. In these situations, it’s best practice to include a separate text description below the graphic, offering only a concise summary in the alt attribute.

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Types of images that don’t require alt text

While most images require alt text for accessibility, there are a few exceptions to this rule. When an image serves a purely decorative purpose, or when the content of an image is already described in the accompanying copy, the alt text field should be left blank. A blank alt text field is also known as an “empty” or “null” alt attribute.

If unnecessary or redundant alt text is added to a decorative image, it can create a disruptive and frustrating experience for screen reader users who rely on alt text to understand the content of a page. In these cases, it is best to use empty or null alt attributes (i.e., alt=””) instead, which indicate to screen readers that the image is purely decorative and should be skipped over. This allows the screen reader to move smoothly and seamlessly through the content without any unnecessary interruptions.

For example, imagine you’re writing an article about cat health and include a colorful banner with paw prints at the top of the page. While the image is relevant, it does not provide additional context or information—someone could read the article without the banner and absorb the same knowledge. But if the same article provides a graph displaying the five most common illnesses for indoor cats, alt text is necessary for all users to access the graph’s content.

Not sure if an image is decorative? Certain testing tools will hide images on a page and display their alt text instead. If a page provides the same amount of value with an image hidden, that image is likely decorative. The Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C)’s alt Decision Tree is also a useful resource for determining how specific images should be treated in different scenarios.

How to add alt text to images

Now that we’ve covered best practices for writing alt text for accessibility, let’s explore a few ways you can add alt text to images in digital content.

Adding alt text in HTML

If you’re familiar with HTML, you can embed alt text directly into the HTML code of a document. First find the code for the relevant image, which should follow this format: <img src=”imagetitle.jpg”>. After the src attribute, input your alt text in the “alt=” attribute.

Adding alt text in a content management system (CMS)

Most CMS platforms make adding alt text easy. When you insert an image into a web page, you’ll find a field where you can type in your description. Some CMS platforms even provide a link with a few alt text pointers.

Adding alt text on social media platforms

Social media sites including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook now support the addition of alt text. As soon as you upload a photo to post, you’ll find an “add description” button. Like many CMS platforms, most major social media platforms also provide handy links to alt text best practices.

Effective alt text benefits everyone

By following alt text best practices, you can ensure that everyone who encounters an image receives the same information. And if you’re on the path to making your website more accessible, adding alt text is a great place to start.

However, alt text is just one of many accessibility features teams need to consider when creating accessible websites. Level Access’ digital accessibility solution can accelerate your progress by combining advanced software for testing and monitoring your digital properties with expert managed services including manual evaluation, design reviews, and strategic support. To learn more about what we can accomplish together, engage with our team today.

The post Alt Text for Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

Digital accessibility isn’t just about meeting compliance requirements. It’s about creating rich, enjoyable user experiences for everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability. As teams set out to accomplish this goal, they often seek to better understand how people with disabilities navigate the digital world. One common approach involves disability simulation activities: exercises in which individuals artificially limit their use of physical or sensory abilities to simulate the experiences of people with certain types of disabilities. An example of this type of simulation might be wearing a blindfold to simulate blindness and trying to use a computer.

There’s a reason that disability simulation activities are so popular. These exercises tend to be highly effective at helping participants empathize with people with disabilities and inspiring teams to prioritize digital accessibility. However, when conducted without the proper research and nuance, disability simulations can be essentializing. And even when conducted thoughtfully, they don’t tell a complete story.

In my years as an accessibility leader, advocate, and consultant, I’ve become very familiar with these kinds of trainings. In this post, I’ll examine shortcomings of disability simulations, and explain why these point-in-time exercises aren’t enough to help teams foster the type of understanding needed to succeed at digital accessibility, long-term. For lasting results, teams need to move beyond empathy and into informed action by considering the lived experiences of people with disabilities throughout the digital experience life cycle.

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Short exercises don’t capture long-term experience

One advantage of empathy training is that it invites participants to think more deeply about the challenges that people with disabilities face online. However, disability simulation activities take place within a finite window of time—only offering a brief taste of what it’s like to confront digital accessibility barriers. The real experience of living with a disability, in a world increasingly mediated by digital technology, can’t be accurately felt in a single session. Let’s explore a few examples of disability simulations and how time constraints limit their impact.

Using a noise-canceling headset to simulate deafness or hearing loss

When an individual limits their hearing with noise-canceling technology and plays a video out loud on an unconnected device, they can immediately comprehend that video content is only accessible when it’s captioned. However, they don’t face the day-to-day struggle of scouring the web for accessible video content at a time when videos are rapidly replacing written material. For instance, many consumer products today don’t come with instruction manuals, just video tutorials. When providers don’t offer accessible tutorials on their website, Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may spend hours searching for a captioned version. Additionally, as videos dominate social media, inaccessible content shuts Deaf and hard-of-hearing people out of online conversations. These experiences can’t be appreciated in just a short training.

Using a blindfold to simulate blindness

It’s impossible for anyone blindfolded to understand what’s displayed on a screen without a screen reader. But while this disability simulation activity conveys the necessity of making digital experiences compatible with assistive technology, most participants don’t understand the host of problems that inaccessible content can pose for screen-reader users—including how irritating it can be when repetitive web content causes a screen reader to be far too chatty. Social media sites, email applications, and project management tools, for example, often repeat the same information across a page. Because screen reader users don’t have the luxury of omitting redundant content, they can wind up wasting hours of productive time. This challenge won’t be communicated by a one-off session.

Unplugging a mouse or turning off a touchpad to simulate limited mobility

People with some types of physical disabilities rely on their keyboard to navigate the internet. By removing their mouse or turning off their touchpad, individuals can quickly understand that websites and apps are only usable when all site functionality is also available through the keyboard. However, long-term keyboard-only users often encounter situations where most aspects of a digital property are accessible except for one crucial element, like a login screen or checkout function. Individuals must then spend time searching for a similar service that is accessible—if one exists. Participants in a short disability simulation activity often fail to recognize that keyboard access isn’t all-or-nothing: even if keyboard-only users can ultimately complete a task, they might not be able to do it efficiently or intuitively.

You can’t simulate diversity of experience

I’ve outlined how the short duration of disability simulation activities fails to convey many of the persistent, long-term challenges that people with disabilities confront when using digital technology. However, the way that these exercises simulate disability is also overly simplistic, missing the complexity of peoples’ real, lived experience. One-off simulations, while usually well-intentioned, and coming from a place of respect, can’t account for the full spectrum of disability. People can experience the same type of disability to different degrees, or they may have a combination of disabilities. But disability simulations typically limit participants’ abilities in a single, specific way. If participants are blindfolded, the implication is that all blind people see nothing at all—when, in reality, some blind people have no vision and others can perceive general shapes and colors.

Additionally, each person may relate to their disability differently. How an individual perceives their disability may depend on the types of assistive technology and other accommodations that are available to them, the education they have received, and their social background. While disability simulation activities tend to encourage participants to empathize with the difficulties people with disabilities face, many individuals have a neutral or positive relationship with their disability. This discrepancy stems in part from the fact that disability simulation activities tend to focus on the initial shock of losing certain abilities, rather than the ongoing experience of living with a disability. When participants only understand disability in terms of loss, they may treat people with disabilities with pity, failing to respect the rich and complex reality of their lives. And respect is crucial for moving from awareness and empathy into informed action—which we’ll explore in the next section.

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Digital accessibility requires informed action, not just empathy

Any organization that takes active steps to appreciate the experiences of people with disabilities should be commended. Team trainings on how people with disabilities use the web and explorations involving assistive technology can play a pivotal role in inspiring teams to commit to digital accessibility. However, when it comes to understanding what it’s like to navigate the internet with a disability, it’s important to recognize that most simulation activities offer an incomplete perspective. And to start creating inclusive digital properties, you’ll need to do more than put on a blindfold.

Beyond empathy, teams need to take informed action. That means making accessibility an ongoing education priority, not just the subject of a brief exploration. It also means approaching accessibility with a genuine appreciation for the myriad ways that people with disabilities experience the digital world. Without actually living with a disability, it can be challenging to foster that appreciation. Of course, you don’t need to have a disability to build accessible digital properties, but the most thorough approach to online inclusion involves consistently working with real people with disabilities to identify issues that may not be obvious after a single, short simulation. As a best practice, teams should always conduct functional accessibility testing with people with disabilities before a digital experience is launched to the market.

To reduce the number of accessibility errors identified in testing, organizations can also involve people with disabilities earlier on in the product development life cycle. When organizations include people with disabilities in focus groups for user experience (UX) research, for example, they prevent potential barriers from being incorporated into designs or written into code. Ultimately, digital accessibility must be an ongoing commitment, not a one-off exercise intended to check a box. If organizations embed accessibility into their routine processes for digital experience creation—proactively engaging people with disabilities and continually seeking out new learning opportunities—they can actively contribute to building a more inclusive digital world.

Ready to take an informed, sustainable approach to digital accessibility? Engage with the Level Access team today.

About the author

Tom Babinszki has been involved with accessibility for the last 25 years. He has served as the Vice President of Accessibility at eSSENTIAL Accessibility and an Accessibility Advisor for IBM. Tom was born totally blind in Hungary, and got his start in accessibility in high school, when he worked as a low-cost Braille embosser and created a talking dictionary to help blind students learn new languages. Since then, he has been active in accessibility education and advocacy both in the U.S. and internationally. He currently works as an accessibility consultant, concentrating on making travel and tourism accessible.

The post Rethinking Disability Simulation Activities: Moving from Empathy to Informed Action appeared first on Level Access.

Brands that lead the rest know that accessibility is a crucial differentiator when it comes to ESG. And an integrated digital accessibility program is one of the most substantive, consistent ways an organization can deliver an accessible, enjoyable experience to all customers, including people with disabilities. In this post, we’ll examine the connection between ESG and accessibility and explore what a commitment to digital accessibility says about your organization.

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What’s the connection between ESG and accessibility?

ESG is a way of summarizing and measuring the many initiatives an organization is taking to ensure it delivers on its values and responsibilities to society and the environment. It’s become a core consideration for investors looking to screen the viability of a potential investment, but it’s also an increasingly important internal metric used by company leadership to track and communicate the performance of socially conscious initiatives and policies.

“Simply put, there is no separating ESG and accessibility. Ensuring accessibility helps companies to promote social inclusivity and diversity, which is essential for building a positive reputation and maintaining customer loyalty.” — Jonathan Avila, Chief Accessibility Officer, Level Access

Accessibility fits primarily into the “S” or “social” part of ESG, which mainly refers to an organization’s efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), both externally, among consumers, and internally, among its staff. Accessibility fits into that category because it’s about people—it’s the practice of ensuring both physical and digital environments, products, services, and information can be used by people of all abilities, including people with disabilities, whether temporary or permanent. In fact, accessibility is so deeply connected to DEI that many, including President Biden, now use the acronym DEI and A, to signify that initiatives can’t be successful in any one of these areas without addressing the needs and including the voices of people with disabilities.

What an established digital accessibility program says about your organization

It’s one thing to say you’re committed to serving customers and empowering employees with disabilities. It’s another thing to demonstrate that commitment. Your organization’s commitment to ESG and accessibility might be demonstrated by policy actions, such as:

• Ensuring representation of people with disabilities on boards and other stakeholder committees
• Supporting employee resource and affinity groups made up of people with disabilities that help guide business efforts
• Enacting company practices supporting the accommodations and accessibility needs of all staff

Additionally, in today’s increasingly digitally connected world, leading organizations know that investing in a robust digital accessibility program is a particularly positive signal to those looking to measure ESG. In this section, we’ll outline what an investment in digital accessibility says about your organization.

You’re meeting your equal access obligations

Various global regulations mandate digital accessibility. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in enforcement and rulemaking around digital accessibility in both Canada and the U.S. Governments are setting out strict reporting requirements and deadlines for government agencies and federally funded organizations. Meanwhile, private litigation against organizations of all sizes for inaccessible digital experiences has risen sharply since 2017, and is predicted to rise again in 2023.

As part of an ongoing commitment to digital accessibility, organizations have to set and track compliance with internal accessibility benchmarks to ensure they are meeting legal obligations under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessible Canada Act. This tracking demonstrates a meaningful commitment to mitigating risk and maintaining accountability, a cornerstone of the “governance” component of “ESG”.

Your business is open to all

In the U.S., one in four adults self-identify as having a disability that may impact their interactions with technology. By committing to digital accessibility, you’re ensuring equitable access for all users, which is not only the right thing to do but also important for maximizing your potential client/customer base. This is especially pertinent if you’re a software or product company looking to supply government agencies, which often require proof of digital accessibility compliance before signing vendor contracts.

For B2C organizations, it’s crucial to remember that people with disabilities, along with their friends and family, control more than an estimated $13T in annual disposable income. It’s a consumer group that cuts across every societal demographic. Businesses that demonstrate their commitment to ESG and accessibility with accessible, easy-to-use websites, in-store kiosks, or e-commerce experiences are likely to be rewarded with loyalty and repeat business from within this significant segment of consumers.

And finally, organizations taking action on ESG and accessibility are more likely to stay top-of-mind for all consumers due to the fact that accessible web experiences perform better on SEO, helping search engines like Google crawl and understand your content more easily. It’s this type of attention to detail that demonstrates your organization is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to attracting business.

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You’re committed to a diverse, sustainable workforce

Organizations that outperform the rest on ESG understand that accessibility is not just an imperative for consumer-facing websites and apps—their employee-facing digital experiences, from HR software to meeting and collaboration applications and file storage solutions, must be accessible and navigable to all employees.

In the U.S., at the federal level, under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and at the state level in places like Colorado and California, government agencies are obliged to provide accessible tools and systems to their staff. But beyond government mandates, and for private employers, a commitment to accessible internal systems means you’re attracting and supporting employees from the widest possible talent pool, and you’re serious about retention and reducing churn—a metric of great interest to investors. There’s even been research to suggest that organizations investing in disability inclusion within their talent pool are, on average, twice as likely to have higher total shareholder returns than those of their peer group.

You’re invested in customer (user) experience

Finally, accessible digital experiences are not only more inclusive for consumers and employees with disabilities but are generally more user-friendly for everyone. By following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the global standard for web accessibility, organizations ensure their websites, apps, and platforms are clear and  logical, easy to navigate, and free of distraction for everyone, of every ability. And when users can complete their desired actions with minimal friction on your digital experience, they’ll keep coming back. Accessibly designed, user-friendly experiences significantly impact consumer engagement and retention, which drives revenue and other profit metrics that organizations’ leadership and investors alike must watch closely.

“No brand wants people to leave their web experience in frustration. At the end of the day, accessible user experiences are pleasant user experiences. But to ensure ALL your users can efficiently and effortlessly achieve their goals, you must understand their needs and capabilities, and design for them.” — Karen Hawkins, Head of Accessible User Experience Design, Level Access

In short, an organization’s digital accessibility program can speak volumes when it comes to demonstrating its commitment to accessibility more broadly, which is a key marker of performance on ESG. In today’s competitive brand landscape, it’s an opportunity for differentiation that can’t be missed. Increasingly, investors want to see proof that brands can support their ESG commitments and do so in a sustainable way. With a robust, integrated digital accessibility program, organizations can document and communicate their commitments to ESG and accessibility and tell a positive, compelling, and authentic brand story.

Need help telling your story?

Level Access supports clients in documenting and communicating their commitments to digital accessibility in multiple ways. With advanced expertise in program management, we can help ensure your teams are informed, aligned, and accountable when it comes to your organization’s accessibility best practices and standards. Clients are also provided with the Level Access icon and an information page to add to their web experiences, helping clearly articulate their commitment to digital accessibility to the public. Explore stories from leading brands who’ve demonstrated their commitments to DEI and ESG with help from Level Access.

The post ESG and Accessibility: What Your Commitment Says About Your Organization appeared first on Level Access.

On April 7, the General Services Administration (GSA) released its requirements for reporting on ICT accessibility in the form of a 105-item questionnaire. The GSA also established August 11, 2023, as the official deadline for agencies to submit their responses.

Have a hundred questions of your own? You’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll explain Section 752, dissect the Section 752 requirements for reporting, and provide guidance for meeting these requirements quickly.

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What is Section 752?

Section 752 is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December 2022. Section 752 of that bill mandates that all U.S. federal government agencies begin reporting on the accessibility of their ICT within 250 days of the law’s enactment. To establish a reporting framework, Section 752 calls on the U.S. Access Board, GSA, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to release specific criteria within 100 days. The latter obligation was met on April 7.

Importantly, Section 752 does not introduce new ICT accessibility standards for federal government agencies. Instead, it establishes a process to hold agencies accountable for compliance with Section 508 requirements that were signed into law on August 7, 1998. These requirements state that federal agencies must create, buy, and use ICT that is accessible to people with disabilities.

Need a primer on Section 508? Check out our Complete Guide to Section 508 Compliance.

Why is Section 752 significant?

Historically, Section 508 has not been consistently enforced, but this is quickly changing. In February 2023, the Department of Justice released its first report on Section 508 compliance in more than a decade, disclosing that only 38 percent of agencies abided by the law. In the context of this news, Section 752 is part of a concerted effort by lawmakers to close the gap between legal accessibility requirements and the current reality of many agencies’ practices.

For federal organizations, complying with Section 752 requirements is not optional. Individual agencies’ responses to the GSA’s questionnaire will be available to the public—so agencies that fail to meet Section 508 requirements and are not actively working towards this goal are likely to face reputational damage as well as legal consequences. Over time, the U.S. Access Board aims to closely monitor this public data, aiding agencies that are struggling and questioning those that state they’re furthest along.

What are the Section 752 requirements for reporting?

The 105 questions recently released by the GSA broadly fall into two categories: organizational processes and conformance metrics. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the topics covered in each category.

Organizational processes

In the first 61 questions of the Section 752 questionnaire, agencies must provide qualitative information about their infrastructure and practices surrounding ICT accessibility. They should be prepared to comment on:

• How they leverage different types of accessibility testing: automated testing, manual testing, and testing by people with disabilities
• How they track, remediate, and prioritize accessibility issues
• The impact of ICT accessibility issues on hiring and retaining employees with disabilities (such as whether full-time employees or interns have been unable to begin or continue work due to accessibility barriers)
• Processes surrounding governance, accountability, procurement, and feedback
• The guidance, templates, and tools for improving accessibility that are available to employees
• The accessibility knowledge and skills of individuals involved in the technical development life cycle, and the integration of accessibility into employees’ professional development plans

Conformance metrics

Questions 62 to 105 of the Section 752 questionnaire are quantitative. They require that agencies report concrete metrics indicating their degree of conformance with Section 508 standards.

To complete this portion of the questionnaire, organizations must use both automated and manual accessibility testing to evaluate their 10 most-visited digital properties in each of the following categories:

• Public web pages
• Intranet pages
• Electronic documents
• Videos

Additionally, agencies must indicate whether a range of other digital systems and assets—including email applications, video conferencing platforms, tax documents, kiosks, custom desktop software, native mobile apps, and even the most widely distributed multifunction printers—meet Section 508’s accessibility requirements.

Get your roadmap to Section 508 compliance.

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How to get started on the Section 752 questionnaire

You may not have enough information to properly answer all 105 questions in the GSA’s questionnaire right away. But you can put together a plan for collecting the data and insight you need. Here are a few steps that your agency can take today to build a framework for approaching Section 752 reporting requirements.

1. 1. Identify individuals with direct knowledge of your agency’s ICT, and any related accessibility practices.
   2. Interview these individuals to gather relevant information about how your agency uses different types of ICT and manages their accessibility. Brief them on Section 752 and Section 508 so they have sufficient context to answer your questions. When possible, ask for anecdotes: stories from just one or two employees may be enough to complete some questionnaire items if you don’t have robust statistics.
   3. Based on these interviews, determine the scope and applicability of each item in the questionnaire to your organization.
   4. Identify and source any additional tooling (such as automated testing solutions) and support (such as help with manual testing and prioritization) your team will need to collect information that’s not available through your existing internal resources.

We’re here to help

As the market-leading digital accessibility solution provider, Level Access has decades of experience helping organizations achieve compliance with Section 508 and other digital accessibility laws. And we’ve developed a process for our federal government customers to complete the Section 752 questionnaire efficiently.

Our suite of solutions encompasses automated and manual accessibility testing—including testing performed by people with disabilities—along with monitoring and governance tools, and strategic consulting to support with procurement and accountability. We also provide role-specific accessibility training to help teams build internal expertise.

What’s more? We hold a contract with the GSA and offer a product that has been cleared for security by the federal government’s FedRAMP authorization program, streamlining the procurement process for federal agencies.

Ready to get on track to meet the Section 752 reporting deadline? Engage with our team today.

The post Meeting the Federal Government Reporting Requirements of Section 752 appeared first on Level Access.

In December 2022, Congress passed HR 2617, which gives federal agencies until August 2023 to begin reporting on the accessibility of their information and communications technology (ICT) under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Meanwhile, states may soon be held accountable for meeting specific web accessibility guidelines to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

These tightening government accessibility regulations mean companies that do business with the government must also ensure their products are accessible—or risk losing revenue. And with buyers’ increasing focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), vendors need to establish sustainable, effective digital accessibility programs to keep government business.

In our recent webinar, identity verification platform—and U.S. government vendor—Socure discussed how a shift to agile accessibility empowered its team to swiftly achieve and maintain compliance, while creating seamless experiences for all users. Our panel included:

• Che-Bin Liu, Director of Software Engineering, Socure
• Jordan Burris, Vice President and Head of Public Sector Strategy, Socure
• Ian Lowe, Chief Marketing Officer, Level Access

Drawing on our conversation, this post will explore why it’s crucial for government vendors to prioritize digital accessibility—and why an agile approach is the only sustainable way for organizations to embrace inclusion.

Discover deeper insight into Socure’s journey.

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With accessibility a growing government priority, the pressure is on for vendors

U.S. federal government entities have long been legally required to purchase accessible digital technology under Section 508. But a wave of recent activity at the federal level—including President Biden’s 2021 executive order on DEIA, as well as HR 2617—has thrown digital accessibility, and related government accessibility regulations, into the national spotlight in an unprecedented way.

Additionally, many individual states, including California, Massachusetts, and Colorado, have adopted their own government accessibility regulations mirroring Section 508. And attention to online inclusion at the state level is only set to intensify with the Department of Justice’s proposed new ADA Title II regulations.

This heightened awareness around the importance of digital accessibility for both federal and state governments also puts more pressure on government vendors, like Socure, to create inclusive digital products. Failing to meet—and maintain—compliance can damage existing relationships with government clients, and block vendors from new opportunities.

Agile accessibility is key to staying competitive

Organizations selling to government agencies must demonstrate a genuine, lasting commitment to inclusion—or risk losing business to more accessible competitors. This means not only creating accessible products but establishing a program to ensure accessibility for the long-term.

The only sustainable way to build and maintain inclusive products is through an agile approach to accessibility: embedding accessibility into every stage of the digital experience life cycle, beginning with ideation and design, and continually iterating on progress.

At Socure, for example, designers evaluate the accessibility of concepts before sending them to development. Developers test code for accessibility issues while the product is still in a staging environment. And the team monitors live properties on an ongoing basis to identify opportunities for improvement.

When vendors incorporate accessibility into their day-to-day operations—treating it as an ongoing journey rather than a one-time project—they mitigate the risk that a product will fall out of compliance as it evolves. They also strengthen their position in the market. By ensuring that products and features are inclusive from the start, organizations minimize the time needed to retroactively fix problems, freeing up resources for building new, innovative solutions that will keep them one step ahead of the competition.

Over time, many vendors come to realize that making accessibility an ongoing priority pays off in more than revenue. Accessibility often aligns with organizations’ own missions and values. And accessible experiences are more usable for everyone.

Equip your team to take an agile approach

Agile accessibility is a team effort, and staying on top of government accessibility regulations isn’t a single person’s job. To prioritize inclusion in every phase of digital experience creation, organizations need to distribute the work. This requires making sure every role, from design to development, has the necessary skills and resources to weave accessibility into their regular responsibilities.

Level Access provides the tooling and education required for a cross-functional, agile approach to accessibility. From role-specific training to detailed design evaluations, developer tools, and monitoring and analytics, our end-to-end solution empowers organizations to do more than achieve compliance—our customers lead the conversation about lasting, meaningful inclusion.

To start your shift to agile accessibility, engage with our team today.

The post Now More Than Ever, Government Vendors Need an Agile Approach to Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

How do screen readers work in different modes?

Document Mode

The most common mode used to access web pages using Windows screen readers will be referred to here as “document” mode. This is also often called “virtual” or “browse” mode, used as proprietary terminology by specific screen readers. This is the default mode that is invoked when a page loads in the browser. This mode may be overridden by web pages that auto-focus a form field or apply certain WAI-ARIA roles.

How do screen readers work in document mode? In document mode, the user is interacting with a flushed copy of the web page. The screen reader stores a copy of the page and allows the user to traverse it as if it were a word processing document. This is accomplished by providing the user with an invisible cursor that is free to roam the document by the same units of text that would be available in a word processing application: characters, words, lines, paragraphs, etc. JAWS refers to this cursor as the “virtual cursor.” As the JAWS virtual cursor moves around on a web page, no visible indicator is shown as to its location. This allows a user to move the virtual cursor outside the range of the content currently being displayed on-screen. Window-Eyes does show a visual indicator of its invisible document navigation cursor. Document mode usually provides commands for selecting text by these same units for manipulation as well.

There are several advantages to document mode access. The primary advantage is that the invisible cursor can move to content that is not keyboard-focusable. This allows for review of content contained in between elements that receive keyboard focus. As keyboard focus is usually only provided to operable controls such as hyperlinks and form fields, text in between these elements can easily be accessed while document mode is active.

In addition to allowing users to navigate by units of text, most modern screen readers provide keystrokes within document mode to navigate by web page elements. These are frequently called “navigation quick keys.” For example, headings are a common way for users to non visually scan web pages and identify the different sections of the page. Screen readers usually provide a mechanism to navigate to the next subsequent heading element on a page, and also to navigate to a designated heading level. The letter “H” is commonly used to jump to the next subsequent heading, and shift+H navigates in reverse. The numbered keystrokes are commonly used to navigate by a specific heading level (e.g. the number 1 on the keyboard for all heading level 1 (h1) elements).

Other common element types that screen readers allow users to jump to include visited and unvisited links, lists, tables, blockquotes, images (graphics), frames, WAI-ARIA landmarks, form fields, and specific types of form controls (edit boxes, buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, drop-downs/combo boxes, etc.). Table navigation commands are usually provided in document mode as well. These commands allow the user to navigate between cells within a table and traverse the table by row or column. This is usually the mode where the announcement of the relationship between table headers and data cells by the screen reader occurs as well. Finally, many screen readers provide additional features in document mode to locate text such as searching for text strings, jumping to a specific line number or setting invisible place markers on the page.

When document mode is active, the screen reader intercepts any keystrokes that it uses for “navigation quick keys” and does not pass these onto the web page. For example, if a webmail application uses the keys “I” and “J” to navigate to the next and previous message respectively, the screen reader will intercept these keystrokes and interpret them as navigation quick keys. Similarly, the cursor arrow keys get intercepted as well and repurposed to move the document cursor around on the web page. This poses a problem when keyboard access is being provided by a website using keystrokes that get intercepted by the screen reader with document mode active if the user would normally access the site using this mode.

Another area where document mode can pose challenges is with respect to portions of a web page that update dynamically without initiating a server-side refresh. When a page updates dynamically and the screen reader is unaware of the update, the flushed version of the page the user is interacting with can become “stale,” rendering it out of sync with the version being rendered by the browser. This is the reason that client-side content changes can create problems for users of screen readers. Fortunately, there are techniques to alert screen readers that a content change has occurred on the page. One of the most common techniques involves setting focus to the new or changed content on the page. Another technique involves specifying a WAI-ARIA live region on the page to instruct the screen reader to monitor the region for content changes.

Application Mode

When users need to interact with web pages such as entering text into a form field, document mode must be disabled and the screen reader must be switched into “application mode.” This mode also goes by the proprietary screen reader terms of “Forms” and “Focus” mode. Application mode is necessary to interact with forms, dialogs, and web applications.

How do screen readers work in application mode? In application mode, all of the keystrokes which would normally manipulate the invisible document cursor are instead passed through to the web page. This allows a user to enter text into a form field or use the arrow keys to traverse the options in a drop-down. Application mode is usually invoked by placing focus on a form field and pressing a keystroke such as the Enter key. Some screen readers will automatically switch into application mode when a form field is encountered. Application mode can also be invoked by web page authors through the application of certain WAI-ARIA roles such as role="dialog" or role="application" to page elements.

Because the screen reader passes keystrokes through to the web page in application mode, users will only be able to review content that can receive keyboard focus while this mode is active. This is one reason why every form field needs to be associated with a label. When application mode is active, users navigate between keyboard-focusable elements using the tab key as there is no invisible cursor available to review the surrounding text. This becomes even more crucial when authors invoke application mode by applying WAI-ARIA roles such as role="application" or role="dialog." When these WAI-ARIA roles are used, some screen readers will switch into application mode and partially or completely disable the user’s ability to switch back to document mode. The ability of the user to revert to document mode depends on the screen reader, version, and location where the role is applied in the document hierarchy.

For example, applying role="application" to the body tag of a web page prevents users of NVDA from being able to enter document mode for any portion of the page, as this instructs NVDA to treat the entire page as a web application. When these roles are used, care must be taken to ensure that the region of the page containing these roles can be understood solely by the labels or instructions associated with keyboard-focusable elements, as users will be unable to review any content that falls outside of these while application mode is active. The corollary to this is that these roles should not be placed on portions of a web page and its descendants that are actually documents containing static, non-focusable content which must be reviewed in order to understand the page.

Testing your web page for screen readers

In testing your web page, it is important to know which mode your users will be accessing your page with and how screen readers will behave in each mode. For example, a user may review a form using document mode to glean an initial understanding of the form’s layout and content, then switch to application mode in order to complete the form. You should be aware of how screen readers work to render the form in both of these modes. Another example might involve the use of the WAI-ARIA aria-labelledby property to label checkboxes in a data table via other columns concatenated together to serve as the label for the check box. A user might use application mode to complete form fields within the table, but they might review the table itself using document mode. This is why it is important to verify that screen readers support any WAI-ARIA roles, states, and properties used on a page via the various modes that would likely be used to access it.

The post How Windows Screen Readers Work on the Web appeared first on Level Access.

Many of them are caught in a frustrating “break/fix” cycle: a never-ending battle that continues to produce accessibility barriers, no matter how much time and money teams sink into remediation. In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the problematic break/fix approach to accessibility, its causes and costs, and the potential solutions.

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What is the break/fix cycle?

The break/fix cycle is what happens when organizations audit digital experiences for errors after they’ve been developed, then work backwards to implement fixes to code-related bugs. Accessibility is treated as an afterthought—rather than embedded into the digital experience creation life cycle. Because of this, new accessibility issues emerge as code is deployed, or content is released. Let’s explore exactly how this faulty, but all-too-common, process unfolds over time. In general, the break/fix cycle for accessibility goes something like this:

1. An organization decides to prioritize digital accessibility. Generally, this happens in reaction to an external event—either a lawsuit or a threat to sales.
2. A team requests an accessibility audit of an entire digital property, obtaining a report that details hundreds—if not thousands —of issues across that digital property.
3. Developers are tasked with fixing all critical bugs.
4. Development teams work overtime to try to address the audit’s findings. As a result, the product roadmap gets derailed and new features slip.
5. A year passes. Numerous changes that don’t account for accessibility are made to the digital property. These updates effectively “break” the experience again, erasing developers’ progress and causing it to fall out of accessibility compliance.
6. …Yet another laundry list of accessibility bugs is identified using this approach for the next audit.

Organizations that take this approach wind up in a seemingly endless cycle of “breaking,” and then “fixing,” their digital experiences (hence the term “break/fix”). It’s a losing game—both for the teams that build and maintain digital properties and for the users of those properties. But unfortunately, it’s the status quo.

How did we get here?

Of course, organizations don’t consciously decide to adopt a broken process. In fact, the break/fix cycle is often the result of teams making an honest effort to solve their accessibility problems as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Many organizations believe that if they address every bug in one fell swoop, accessibility will require fewer resources in the future. The irony is, in the long run, approaching accessibility as a “one-and-done” project ends up costing teams more time and money than implementing ongoing, sustainable systems and processes (which we’ll detail later in this blog). It also doesn’t solve the problem. Few, if any, organizations manage to address every issue surfaced in an audit, especially not at the pace of enterprise development. Moreover, unexpectedly addressing accessibility causes significant disruption to organizations’ development roadmaps, damaging their reputations.

Why it’s time to quit the status quo

It’s clear that the way most organizations currently tackle digital accessibility puts a disproportionate burden on developers. But technical teams aren’t the only ones impacted by the break/fix cycle. This outdated approach creates barriers to progress for entire organizations. Here are a few of the reasons that the status-quo model for addressing accessibility should become a thing of the past.

It’s reactive

In the break/fix cycle, organizations only “fix” accessibility issues once a massive backlog of “broken” items is identified. Retroactively unwinding accessibility bugs in live properties can be extremely time-consuming, especially across hundreds of website pages. This leaves fewer development resources for building new features and capabilities.

It’s expensive

Your team’s time is valuable. The break/fix cycle drives up costs by burning development hours on repeatedly fixing already-live digital experiences, at the expense of building new features. Disrupted roadmaps and missed opportunities for innovation make it tough for organizations to stay competitive, creating financial and reputational risks. And, worst of all, organizations still fall short of their accessibility goals.

It’s frustrating

No one likes redoing work. Unfortunately, organizations caught in a break/fix cycle are consistently backtracking to fix avoidable errors, over and over again. This can take a toll on morale and motivation, and call into question the capabilities and decision-making of team leaders.

It doesn’t work

Given the time and money that organizations sink into the break/fix cycle, along with its negative impact on business and morale, many organizations in this position end up de-prioritizing digital accessibility altogether. As a result, they exclude current and potential customers and make themselves vulnerable to legal risk. They may also fall short of internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, fail to meet accessibility requirements from buyers, and lose business to more accessible competitors.

Learn how to get started with agile accessibility.

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Your path forward

For more than 20 years, we’ve worked with organizations aiming to escape the break/fix cycle and build sustainable, effective digital accessibility programs. We’ve witnessed countless success stories and failures. Here’s what we’ve learned: organizations that have treated accessibility as an afterthought (and suffered the consequences) have three options for moving forward.

Option 1: Stay in the break/fix cycle

Your organization might have reasons for staying in the break/fix cycle. Maybe a digital experience is in maintenance mode, and you don’t anticipate major updates. Maybe there isn’t enough buy-in across your leadership team to start tackling accessibility more proactively. Maybe digital accessibility work is operationally separate from digital experience creation within your organization, so a business case will need to be made for amending existing structures. Whatever your reason, staying in break/fix has consequences. A third-party expert can help you manage change and provide the training and guidance necessary to implement a more effective program.

Option 2: Address accessibility exclusively in development

Moving digital accessibility work earlier in the development life cycle is a critical first step toward a sustainable approach. For many organizations, that means starting to test for and fix accessibility issues in a pre-production environment. This is a major improvement from releasing inaccessible experiences to the public and identifying them once live. But organizations that stop here ultimately find themselves in a scaled-down version of the break/fix cycle: digital properties are still being built in inaccessible ways, to be tested and fixed afterwards. It’s only a partial solution.

Option 3: Prioritize accessibility throughout the entire digital experience life cycle

In our experience, the only organizations that successfully leave break/fix behind shift to an agile approach. This means embedding digital accessibility into every stage of the digital experience life cycle, and continually iterating to create stronger, more inclusive digital properties. In this framework, online inclusion isn’t just the responsibility of developers; it’s consistently built into the day-to-day work of designers, product managers, marketers, and every other team involved in the process of creating and maintaining a digital experience. By distributing ownership in this way, and committing to ongoing learning and improvement, you can keep workflows streamlined, workloads manageable, and digital experiences accessible for all users.

Break out of break/fix for good

The Level Access Platform is built to support an agile approach to accessibility, empowering organizations to escape the break/fix cycle for sustainable success. We offer both automated and manual testing (including the evaluation of key user flows and UX components), along with monitoring and governance. Our suite of developer tools integrates with test automation solutions like Cucumber and Mocha, embedding accessibility into your existing QA practice. Additionally, our expert managed services include detailed design evaluations and role-specific training, making it easy to prioritize accessibility in every stage of the digital experience life cycle. Ready to work less and accomplish more? Engage with our team today.

The post Why the Break/Fix Approach to Accessibility Is Broken appeared first on Level Access.

You may have heard the phrase, “You can’t bake muffins and then stick the blueberries in afterwards.” Versions of this analogy have been floating around to explain the correct approach to digital accessibility, as documented by Lainey Feingold in an article she wrote about food analogies for digital inclusion. Perhaps the initial baking reference is owed to Billy Gregory who used chocolate chips to paint the same picture.

There was a time and place for the blueberry analogy: that you can’t add the blueberries (digital accessibility) into your muffins (digital property) after the muffins are done (property is built and live). You have to bake them in (plan for and embed accessibility) from the start (well before launch).

I think this analogy and ones like it have served the accessibility community well. They demonstrate that you have to account for accessibility as early as possible in the Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC), ideally accounting for accessibility from the very beginning. However, the problem with these analogies is that they imply accessibility is a discrete “thing”—that accessibility can be considered as one separate entity or a set of distinct elements to consider in the creation of your digital property. Run through your checklist and bam! You’ve added your blueberries.

But that’s exactly what accessibility is not.

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Accessibility is the flour

To continue with the baking analogy, I’d say accessibility is more like flour. It gets woven into every aspect of the muffin, and it is core to the creation of that muffin. Fundamentally, you can’t create any muffin without flour. It’s embedded in every bite.

And, crucially, you don’t actually taste the flour—rather, the flour melds into all the other ingredients. It plays a supporting role in the experience of taste, allowing the blueberries and crumble topping to shine through.

This is just what accessibility should be to a digital property: the thing that underpins and augments each one of a digital property’s features, without taking center stage. Accessibility is vital to a useful experience, but it needs to be accounted for alongside all other functional and non-functional requirements, and seamlessly integrated into our natural processes.

Creating accessible “batter”

What does this approach to digital accessibility mean in practice? Here are just a few ideas:

Everyone is accountable for the accessibility of their output

Seamlessly integrating accessibility into the “batter” of a digital experience means each person involved in its creation should craft their portion with as much accessibility know-how as they can. That might mean that each team member:

• Commits to consistently learning something new about digital accessibility, prioritizing aspects given the current scope of work, and as time marches on, broadening their learning to other areas of accessibility.
• Takes the time to make that accessible work repeatable by using examples, code snippets, templates, pattern libraries, and other resources.
• Tests their own work early and often, especially work-in-progress deliverables, to catch potential bugs as early as possible.
• Ensures deliverables are measurably accessible, holding themselves accountable for demonstrating that their contributions are accessible through established reporting channels.

Collaborate early and often

Regardless of team makeup, what’s key to success is to reduce the separation between roles. This means that teams need to collaborate more and reduce silos. No one role can account for all accessibility considerations, and it is well documented that diverse perspectives yield the best results. Thus, having the perspectives of all primary roles throughout the PDLC can significantly increase overall productivity and reduce defects.

For example, developers should regularly attend design reviews. Not only will they be able to share their opinion, but it keeps them in the loop as to what they will be expected to work on in the coming weeks and months. They will be prepared to execute efficiently. Designers should also attend developer demos to ensure what’s being built adheres to all their design considerations (not all of which are always clearly communicated or documented). In the same vein, designers should conduct visual quality assurance. And whenever components have copy requirements, it’s best to ensure content designers are involved. This collaboration ensures that one team’s good work on accessibility doesn’t get lost in translation as an experience gets closer to launch.

The future is now

In the future of design and development, accessibility isn’t a “thing.” We don’t need to “put on an accessibility hat” when approaching our work or have a separate section for accessibility in our design systems. As a community, we’re not there yet. But we can get there faster if we each take responsibility for our own output. Work to embed accessibility considerations into everything that you do such that one day, it’s just what you do.

Get the recipe for success

Seamlessly integrating accessibility into your existing workflows can be simple, with the right tools and support. The Level Access solution is designed for full-team, day-to-day enablement: from Design Evaluations providing accessibility review of existing brand style guidelines to accessibility integrations with common test automation tools, like Cucumber and Mocha, helping developers incorporate accessibility checks into their existing test automation process, catching accessibility barriers as they code. With more than 20 years as a leader in the accessibility industry, we have the expertise to help you create a five-star accessibility program, ensuring sustainable compliance and a top-notch user experience.

To learn more, engage with our team today.

The post Accessibility Isn’t a “Thing” appeared first on Level Access.

In February 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released its first report in over a decade on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires that federal agencies use inclusive digital technology. The DOJ’s renewed commitment to enforcing digital accessibility laws is hardly surprising given President Biden’s own prioritization of the issue. Less than two years prior, the president released an executive order directing federal government organizations to embed accessibility into all their operations, including ensuring that their digital experiences are usable for all.

While Biden’s executive order sought to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce, individual states including California and Colorado have already begun implementing their own digital accessibility regulations—and others will likely follow suit. Additionally, last spring, the DOJ announced its intent to propose new regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The proposed requirements—which are anticipated to be released for comment in April 2023—would establish specific accessibility standards for the websites of all state and local governments.

Legal mandates aside, state and local governments have an obligation to their constituents to commit to digital accessibility, as well as a duty to current and prospective employees. Neglecting to meet this responsibility would mark a departure from the model of equity put forward by the nation’s leadership—and not only from President Biden, but also from Congress, which has shown bipartisan support for increased accountability around Section 508.

In this post, we’ll take a deeper dive into how the White House’s focus on digital accessibility affects governments at the state and local level and explain why these organizations need to ensure that their digital properties are inclusive.

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The Cliff’s Notes for President Biden’s DEIA executive order

Missed the news about President Biden’s executive order, or didn’t make it past the headline? Here’s a quick run-down.

In June of 2021, the president signed Executive Order 14035, titled “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.” The order intends to create a fairer and more just environment for all federal government employees, regardless of attributes such as race, ethnicity, gender, and disability. It tasks federal agencies with evaluating the current state of DEIA in their workforce, and outlining plans for removing barriers to employment faced by employees from marginalized communities.

Biden specifically emphasized that the disability community was under-represented in national leadership and charged the federal government with becoming a “model employer for people with disabilities.” To help achieve this, the order mandates that all federal workplaces and technologies are made accessible.

How the federal accessibility mandate impacts state and local leaders

Biden’s executive order on DEIA may be aimed at federal government agencies, but it has meaningful consequences for states and localities as well. Let’s explore a few of the ways that the president’s directive impacts non-federal governments.

It sets an example for states

By directing federal agencies to prioritize digital accessibility, President Biden set an example for non-federal governments across the United States. Several states, including Colorado, California, Massachusetts, and Virginia have already adopted legislation that aligns with these federal standards, and we expect that others will follow their lead—particularly given the DOJ’s proposed updates to Title II of the ADA.

Beginning in July 2024, the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology will begin enforcing digital accessibility requirements for state government agencies. Organizations that fail to comply will be considered in violation of state discrimination laws and penalized accordingly.

Meanwhile, California’s Assembly Bill No. 434 (AB 434) has mandated that all state government websites conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA criteria since 2019. To ensure sustained compliance, state entities must audit their digital assets every two years. These requirements followed 2016 legislation extending Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, a federal law, to all California state and local governments.

Curious if your website meets WCAG standards?

Download our WCAG checklist

It makes digital accessibility a nationwide priority

President Biden’s DEIA executive order called attention to the inequities faced by the disability community on the national stage, and specifically referenced the barriers created by inaccessible technology. This brought the importance of digital accessibility into the public consciousness on a new scale. Even in states where governments aren’t yet legally required to use inclusive digital experiences, constituents are now aware that accessibility is a federal priority and may take issue with practices the White House has deemed discriminatory. And as agencies, and their constituents, increasingly prioritize digital accessibility, software vendors that sell to state government agencies must be mindful that their technologies can be used by people of all abilities—or risk losing valuable business.

It establishes a new standard for equity at all levels of government

The president’s use of the acronym DEIA, rather than the widely used DEI, made it clear that digital accessibility needs to be a pillar of any government initiative aimed at broad social and economic justice. This has key implications for every state or local government official whose platform includes equity. Advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, including through inclusive technology, is no longer a separate issue from advancing opportunities for people in other marginalized communities. It’s an integral part of creating a fairer and more just world.

What state and local leaders can do to embrace digital accessibility

Ready to eliminate accessibility barriers in your organization’s technology? Start by following the two steps outlined in the federal directive. First, assess your organization’s current state of digital accessibility, and second, establish a plan for remediating issues. You should also ensure any new digital technology you procure is accessible to all.

To evaluate your existing systems and assets, you’ll want to use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—the digital accessibility standards cited by federal legislation, as well as state directives in Colorado and California. (You can find more information about WCAG in our Must-Have WCAG Checklist.) Level Access’ platform includes solutions that let you easily test for WCAG conformance and prioritize issues based on risk. Additionally, we provide the training and expert support necessary to remediate issues identified, and ensure that your digital properties stay in conformance over time.

What’s more? Level Access has a product that is already vetted and cleared for security through the Federal Government FedRAMP® Authorization.

To learn more, engage with our team today.

The post Why State and Local Governments Are Adopting Accessibility Mandates appeared first on Level Access.

If the ACA applies to your organization, deadlines for compliance are quickly approaching.

In this post, we’ll provide a brief outline of what the Accessible Canada Act specifies, along with details on the types of organizations that are required to be ACA compliant and specific deadlines. We’ll also cover why compliance matters, and how to go about making sure your organization meets the ACA’s requirements for digital content.

What are the key elements of the Accessible Canada Act?

The Accessible Canada Act applies to federally regulated employers. As background, it:

• Was enacted to remove barriers to full and equal participation in society for anyone with a disability
• Enforces accessibility in the digital world as well as the physical world
• Carries financial penalties of up to CAD$250,000 for a single violation

As part of compliance, the ACA requires that organizations prepare, publish, and regularly update accessibility plans—always in consultation with people with disabilities—to remove and prevent barriers in their policies, programs, practices, and services. Organizations must also create a way to collect feedback about their plans and provide alternate formats for those who request it. These plans must be updated and published every three years.

The ACA is focused on a number of key areas in which federal services are provided, including employment, public buildings and spaces, transportation, and information and communication technologies (ICT). ICT includes digital content and the technology used to interact with digital content. And as federal organizations seek efficiency gains through the adoption of digital services, the ICT aspect of the ACA is becoming increasingly important.

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What are the deadlines for compliance?

Three different compliance deadlines are rapidly approaching:

1. June 1, 2023: Organizations that had 100 or more employees in 2021
2. June 1, 2024: Organizations that had between 10 and 99 employees in 2021. The same deadline also applies to organizations that were established during 2022 or became federally regulated during 2022
3. June 1, 2025: All other federally regulated organizations with at least 10 employees

Why is it important to comply with the Accessible Canada Act?

First and foremost, compliance is never a matter of choice. The Accessible Canada Act is enforced through a system of financial penalties, from as much as CAD$75,000 for a minor violation (such as failing to publish an accessibility plan) to CAD$250,000 for a more serious violation. Failure to comply will also reflect poorly on any organization, suggesting to the public that the organization does not value and treat all people equally.

Financial and reputational risks aside, accessibility is good for everyone. In the case of digital accessibility, websites and apps that conform to accessibility standards are easier for all users to navigate and help ensure that vital information reaches the entire population.

How can you comply with the Accessible Canada Act’s digital accessibility requirements?

When it comes to ACA compliance for digital information, to identify, remove, and plan to prevent barriers, the first step is to understand established standards for accessibility, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG conformance)—the global standard for web accessibility.

WCAG is organized around the four P.O.U.R. principles, which state that digital content should be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users. The four principles break down further into dozens of testable success criteria, each one accompanied by guidance on how to achieve it.

Each WCAG success criterion has three different pass marks: A, AA, and AAA. A implies a base level of accessibility, while AAA represents the peak of what can be achieved with current technology. Most organizations test their web content for conformance to the current WCAG “AA” level. It’s important to note that while WCAG is specific to HTML content, its general principles can be applied to any digital experience.

Next, run a structured discovery exercise to identify the digital experiences that are in use by your organization, and then begin to test them for accessibility. Free automated testing tools are available to check baseline conformance to WCAG standards. But it’s important to remember that many issues cannot be diagnosed by technology alone. Expert advice is crucial to ensure you’re fully meeting the WCAG requirements.

Curious if your website meets WCAG standards?

Download our WCAG checklist

Based on your findings, the next step is to plan and implement remediation as part of an ongoing compliance program. As you build that compliance capability, it’s a best practice to seek guidance from a third-party digital accessibility expert. Moreover, remaining in compliance as technologies, content, and legislation change is a long-term challenge that will require a high level of digital accessibility expertise. Maintaining these non-core skills internally is typically unsustainable, so most organizations adopt a hybrid approach combining internal capabilities with external expertise.

And remember, the Accessible Canada Act requires organizations prepare and publish an accessibility plan showing how they identify, remove, and prevent barriers, and update that plan every three years. Additional reporting requirements include:

• Consult people with disabilities while preparing and updating plans
• Provide an alternative format of the plan for those who request it
• Create a way to collect feedback about the plan or barriers people may face
• Describe on your website how you receive feedback

Let Level Access help with ACA compliance

Level Access has in-depth experience helping organizations meet the digital accessibility requirements of the ACA, including preparing accessibility plans and progress reports to demonstrate compliance. Our solution offers full-featured software, backed by expert consultancy. For more information about how Level Access can help you understand and respond to the demands of the Accessible Canada Act, or other global requirements, contact us today.

The post Accessible Canada Act Compliance: Deadlines Approaching appeared first on Level Access.

Section 508 is an important accessibility law in the United States focusing on digital technology. In this overview, we’ll answer the following questions:

• What is Section 508?
• Who does Section 508 apply to?
• How does Section 508 compare to other laws?
• How does my organization achieve Section 508 compliance?

For a complete guide to Section 508 compliance requirements, access our e-book.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 is an amendment of the United States Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Rehabilitation Act was the first major civil rights act in the U.S. to expand federal protections for people with disabilities. The Section 508 amendment came about as part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which was intended to expand employment, retention, earnings, and skill attainment of members of the U.S. workforce. Section 508 addressed, in part, barriers to accessibility in federal workplaces.Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their information and communications technology—referred to as ICT—accessible to persons with disabilities. That includes not only employees of federal agencies who have disabilities, but also all of their users. This means that documents, training materials, applications, and software published by or for the use of federal agencies all need to comply with Section 508’s guidelines on accessibility.

Who does Section 508 apply to?

Section 508 compliance is required for all federal agencies and can potentially apply to their vendors as well. Government agency procurement teams specifically consider accessibility when making purchases, which means your business could be precluded from lucrative contract opportunities if your digital product isn’t 508 compliant.Worth noting, while Section 508 is specific to the U.S. federal government, there are states following suit. For example, the State of California passed legislation in 2016 that extended Section 508 regulations to all state government entities. Other states like Colorado have since passed state-specific digital accessibility requirements similar to those in Section 508.

What does ICT include when referenced in Section 508?

Per EPA.gov, ICT is any equipment or system that is used to create, convert, duplicate, or access information and data. Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to:

• Internet and Intranet websites
• PDF documents
• Content on DVDs and CDs
• Online training
• Webinars and teleconferences
• Technical support call centers
• Remote access websites and tools
• Software and operating systems
• User guides for software and tools

Remember, Section 508 applies not only to ICT used by federal agency employees, but also ICT published by federal agencies for the use of the public.

Section 508 and other accessibility laws

If you’re not part of a federal agency or a federal contractor, you may think your ICT won’t be scrutinized for its accessibility. But even if Section 508 doesn’t apply to you, there are other accessibility laws that do. This section explores the similarities and differences between Section 508 and other major accessibility laws.

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Section 508 vs. ADA

Contrary to popular belief, Section 508 is not part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, referring to Section 508 as “ADA Section 508” is a misnomer. The ADA is a separate law that was passed in 1990 to extend the rights written in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to people with disabilities. While both laws have implications for digital accessibility, the ADA is a much broader law, applying to all aspects of accessibility and all businesses in the public and private sector, while Section 508 focuses only on technology in the context of federal agencies and the organizations that do business with them.

Section 508 vs. Section 504

Like Section 508, Section 504 is an amendment of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Where Section 508 applies to federal agencies themselves (and potentially, their vendors), Section 504 prohibits any organization that receives federal funding from discriminating on the basis of disability. Examples of such organizations include universities, public and private schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and more. Section 504 is often heard in discussions of accessibility in education.Unlike Section 508, Section 504 does not explicitly address web accessibility. However, Section508.gov confirms that compliance requirements for Section 504 also include accessible digital assets.

Section 508 vs. Section 255

Those exploring digital accessibility may also have heard Section 255 uttered alongside Section 508 and Section 504 and assume they all stem from the same piece of legislation. However, Section 255 is a section of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a completely separate law from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that telecommunication products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. Examples of these products and services include wired and wireless telecom devices like phones, pagers, and fax machines, as well as devices that have telecom capabilities, like computers and modems.

Achieving Section 508 compliance

Understanding what Section 508 is and what it covers is a crucial first step, but when it comes to ensuring compliance, federal agencies and their vendors may be unclear as to what constitutes accessible ICT, and how to achieve accessibility. If you fit within this category, the following tips will set you on the right path.

Refer to WCAG

The best way to ensure the accessibility of your ICT is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG. While WCAG is not a piece of legislation, it is the global gold standard for web accessibility. In fact, Section 508 evaluates accessibility according to WCAG version 2.0 Level AA criteria. Importantly, however, a more recent WCAG version, version 2.1 is often cited as the appropriate standard by the U.S. Department of Justice in civil rights enforcement actions. Because WCAG is generally revised every few years, organizations should aim for Level AA conformance with the most up-to-date version of WCAG as a best practice. To learn more about WCAG and your organization’s path to conformance, access our interactive WCAG checklist.

Test your digital properties for accessibility barriers

With WCAG as your guide, it’s important to evaluate the current state of accessibility for your ICT. Organizations can use two types of testing, automated and manual, to assess WCAG conformance and identify accessibility bugs. While automated testing can be performed quickly and at a relatively low cost, manual testing is required to surface many issues automation can’t catch. Because each option has unique benefits, most organizations rely on a combination of the two to achieve and maintain Section 508 compliance.

Implement remediation

Once you’veevaluated the accessibility of your existing digital assets, the next step is remediating (fixing) the accessibility issues found. A trusted accessibility partner should be able to offer guidance to help prioritize the issues that pose the most severe barriers to your user experience.

Implement training

To prevent accessibility barriers in the future, it’s important to train members of your organization in accessibility best practices and formalize your accessibility program and processes. This helps ensure that accessibility is built into design and development processes by default so your assets are produced with accessibility in mind, reducing the remediation workload in the future.

Recent Section 508 activity

Over the past few years, the federal government has demonstrated a renewed commitment to enforcing Section 508 requirements for agencies. Here are a few of the most recent developments surrounding the law:

• In February of 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice released its first report on Section 508 compliance in more than a decade, demonstrating a renewed commitment to enforcing digital accessibility at the federal level.
• In December of 2022, congress passed HR 2617, a piece of legislation that holds federal agencies accountable for Section 508 compliance. The bill mandates that agencies ensure their ICT meets Section 508 requirements, and begin reporting on compliance, after no more than 225 days (August 11, 2023).
• In June 2021, President Joe Biden released an executive order that called on federal agencies to evaluate the current state of digital accessibility within their organizations, and develop plans for remediation, as part of a broader push for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within the federal workforce.

Work smarter with an accessibility partner

Digital accessibility is achievable with the right knowledge and tools, but working with a third-party expert can make the process easier. As the market-leading digital accessibility solution provider, Level Access offers the testing, technology, services, and training required to achieve and sustain compliance. Additionally, Level Access is the only digital accessibility platform cleared for security by the federal government’s FedRAMP authorization program, meaning federal agencies can implement our solution with minimal red tape. To explore how a trusted partner can help your organization comply with Section 508, get in touch with the Level Access team today.

The post Section 508: What It Covers and How to Comply appeared first on Level Access.

In Google’s search for the best web pages, page experience is essential and Google prioritizes how users interact with a site. In this article, we’ll explain the connection between accessibility and search engine optimization (SEO). We’ll also share strategies content marketing teams and developers can use to achieve favorable search rankings while creating inclusive digital experiences.

Better user experience = better SEO

Accessibility features ensure sites are usable for everyone, but they also make it easier for search engines to crawl and interpret websites. This is driven home further by Google’s December 2022 Helpful Content update. According to the update, the search engine wants to reward “people-first content”—things that are written by and for human users. To rank well, pages should provide a satisfying experience for all users.

Google’s Senior Search Analyst John Mueller has stated that quantifying ”accessibility” as one metric is difficult, beyond the reach of even what the search engine giant can do. However, he elaborated more on the subject of accessible websites and user experience on his Twitter account: “When sites are hard to use, people steer away from them anyway, so over time things like recommendations & other signals tend to drop away, resulting in the site being less visible in search too.”

A site being “hard to use” includes factors like being inaccessible to people using screen readers, poor contrast or readability of text, and not enabling people to use a keyboard alone to access every function and utility. Messy, difficult-to-navigate designs and interfaces will also render a webpage much less user-friendly.

In short: optimizing your site for accessibility will, in turn, improve user experience, which then rolls back over to SEO success. When it comes to SEO, accessibility should never be ignored.

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SEO strategies that benefit accessibility

Here are four tools and strategies that ensure an accessible user experience for everyone, including people with disabilities, that can also be leveraged by website owners to improve SEO. While these are just a few of the ways brands can build accessible websites, they’re important foundational improvements to make.

Alt text

Alternative text, also called alt text or alt attributes, describes an image or visual element on a page. On accessible websites, alt text enables people who are using screen readers to access and understand the information contained in visual content on a page.

Images that are not decorative—like maps, infographics, or photographs that add context or information—should be given alt text. This is not only an accessibility must-have, but alt text also helps Google crawl the page and learn the purpose of that content, and how to rank it. So, ensuring accurate alt text also provides a boost for SEO.

Metadata

Metadata, as found either inside a digital publication or in an external record, refers to a set of data that describes other data. Think of it as the card catalog in a library; the cards have information about the books, like the author and title, but they don’t include the text of the books themselves.

Metadata is important for accessibility because it can contain important information that will help users find accessible websites, pages, and publications. For example, metadata could denote if a page has transcripts, large print, or closed captions for videos.

From an SEO perspective, metadata also helps a search engine to further understand the purpose of a page, allowing it to be placed correctly in search rankings as a result—another example of how SEO and accessibility often go hand in hand.

Transcripts

While video is a popular format for adding interest to a webpage, it needs to be accessible for everyone. Many people may rely on a transcript to understand what information is being portrayed in the audio and visuals of the video.

A transcript provides people who are deaf or hard of hearing with an alternative means of accessing the information provided by a video, and it can be especially helpful when used as the basis for closed captions. Video transcripts also help viewers who speak English as a second language fully comprehend your content and can be useful for people who learn better by reading.

But beyond these crucial accessibility benefits, providing a video transcript also helps search engine algorithms pick up on the point of a page, and use it to rank accordingly, since search engines can’t crawl video.

Accurate link anchor text

Anchor text, the clickable text in a hyperlink, should be relevant and specific, rather than generic text. The anchor text on a hyperlink should describe what the user is going to be taken to. A page with five links that all read “click here” or “read more” is especially unhelpful for someone using a screen reader, who doesn’t have the visual context around the hyperlink. Further, screen reader users often use a link list to navigate to a page they’re looking for, so if the anchor text links are all the same, or non-descriptive, these users will need to go through the entire body of text for context.

For those without a screen reader, vague links do not allow users to make an informed decision about whether to click a link. Google uses anchor text to understand the context and relevance of a page that’s being linked—a benefit for both SEO and accessibility. For example, when anchor text on a landing page reads “learn about ebike maintenance,” the search engine understands what the page being linked to is about, allowing it to index and rank the page accordingly.

To make progress on SEO, rely on WCAG

Marketers concerned about improving SEO and accessibility should understand the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG. Working toward meeting the WCAG standards will help a site meet what Google refers to as “readable content,” thus meeting the expectations of a positive user experience that will help the page rank better in search results.

When optimizing a website for user experience and setting accessibility goals, it’s best to keep in mind the guiding principles of accessibility on which WCAG was built. These four principles are referred to as POUR:

• Perceivable — Users can identify the interface elements of a site.
• Operable — Users can successfully use a website’s buttons and other interactive parts.
• Understandable — Users can comprehend and remember how to use the interface.
• Robust — The website content can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of users and types of assistive technologies.

A website that is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust is better for everyone. In tune with the Helpful Content Update and its emphasis on “people first” content, accessible websites that fit this rubric will drive the kind of site traffic and engagement that Google’s algorithm picks up on and identifies as helpful.

Running an SEO Accessibility Check 

If you’re unsure where to start on your road to digital accessibility, the first thing you should do is see where your website stacks up as it is right now. Digital accessibility testing tools can identify areas of improvement for a site, but sometimes, a simple, automated ‘SEO accessibility check’ won’t be enough to truly lay out a roadmap. 

The Level Access solution combines software accessibility checks with the professional opinion of digital accessibility subject matter experts.

Curious if your website meets WCAG standards?

Download our WCAG checklist

Is your website accessible?

User-friendliness, SEO, and accessibility go hand in hand. Ensuring that a brand’s website is accessible to everyone through the use of alt text, transcripts, accurate link anchor text, and more, will have the added benefit of a more thorough search engine crawl and a more accurate page rank.

But, how do you know if your website, app, or product is user-friendly and accessible? Let us help. With more than 20 years’ experience as a leader in digital accessibility, we can empower your organization with the tools and understanding you need to get started. Reach out to us for a free risk assessment and let us help you get on the path to accessibility and compliance.

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In this blog, Director of Accessibility Advocacy Corbb O’Connor explains how accessibility is fundamental to ensuring individuals’ rights to privacy and security and why it’s a priority organizations can’t afford to ignore.

When it comes to web accessibility, most organizations want to do the right thing. Few teams would actively want to exclude people or cause frustration for users with disabilities. But we in the digital accessibility business also know that, practically speaking, organizations are highly motivated to deliver on their large-scale digital compliance objectives, such as privacy and security. Therefore, we meet our customers where they are. We start by comparing accessibility to other important digital compliance obligations.

“Digital accessibility is just like digital privacy and security,” we say. “You need to plan for it early, test for it often, and you can’t allow digital products to be released without it.”

We’ve been making this comparison for years, and all this time, we’ve been getting it wrong.

Digital accessibility is not like privacy and security. It is privacy and security.

This point was made by Lainey Feingold, the pioneering civil rights lawyer, in her keynote address to the Level Access team at our recent company kickoff event. As a blind person, I’ve experienced this connection throughout my life. But I never heard it put so succinctly.

Accessibility doesn’t just mitigate legal risk for organizations. It’s fundamental to protecting the privacy and security of people with disabilities.

Inaccessible experiences put people at risk

Let’s start with privacy. Take this example.

At my neighborhood pharmacy, a touchscreen shows the name of a prescription, its price, and a place to acknowledge pickup with a signature. For people without reading disabilities, this technology provides a private, convenient way to review prescription information without printing forms or squinting at labels. But if that touchscreen doesn’t have a headphone jack or can’t connect to a smartphone, people with reading disabilities (including those who are blind or have low vision) can’t access their prescription details in store—unless, like I often do, they ask the pharmacist to read this information aloud.

Sure, with help, I can get the information I need, but so does everyone else within earshot.

When it comes to security, people with disabilities are constantly forced to put ourselves at risk due to the pervasiveness of inaccessible systems.

For example, I have yet to find a self-checkout kiosk at a grocery store that’s fully accessible. And depending on the store or the time of day, these kiosks are often the only checkout option. This means people with many different disabilities may need to rely on a store employee—a complete stranger—to complete their transaction. I fear especially for my blind friends in these situations. In some cases, they may choose to hand their card to the employee to ensure it’s inserted correctly, putting their payment information at risk. There’s also not much to stop an untrustworthy employee from requesting cash back during the transaction and keeping it for themselves. In a café, inaccessible touchscreens also increase the opportunity for baristas to add a big tip without the customer’s knowledge.

These scenarios highlight difficulties for people who are blind or have low vision, but this is an issue for people with all types of disabilities. For example, few telehealth platforms support the use of captions or ASL interpretation during appointments. That leaves people who are deaf or hard of hearing either relying on lip-reading, which can lead to inaccuracies and dangerous misunderstandings, or asking family members to interpret this otherwise-private information.

When it comes to finances, many investment platforms don’t conform to the standards set out in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG ). For people who use a keyboard instead of a mouse to navigate online, this means they may need to share their password with a family member or trusted friend to set up and manage their portfolios.

From retail to health care to banking, inaccessible technology removes the right to privacy and security for people with disabilities, along with their autonomy to live independently in the world.

Accessibility is privacy and security for everyone

Privacy and security barriers caused by inaccessible experiences are certainly not new. They are, however, intensifying as more of daily life moves online.

We now go online to manage our money, connect with friends and family, book essential appointments, and access the goods and services we need. When these experiences are not accessible and compatible with assistive technology, the number of privacy and security threats increases for people with disabilities.

Even if you don’t have a disability today, these threats are likely to impact your life soon. In 2040, the Urban Institute estimates that one in five Americans will be 65 or older. As we age, more of us will inevitably need larger text, audio output, simpler interfaces, and other accessibility supports to access digital experiences privately and securely.

This means that, unless more companies start prioritizing digital accessibility, more of us will be relying on younger family members or caregivers to manage our finances and our medical affairs in the long run, as well as (let’s face it) our access to the latest Amazon original series, or that guilty-pleasure audiobook we’ve been wanting to stream. Accessibility means being able to do all this independently—it’s our human right.

Double-check your priorities for 2023

The bottom line is, we wouldn’t let a product out the door with a gaping security issue or a glitch that meant customers’ privacy was directly at risk. We should therefore also block the release of products that aren’t accessible.

Accessibility is privacy and security.

My suggestion for every organization is this: double-check your priorities. An accessible experience ensures the human right to privacy and security for millions of people with disabilities, and ultimately, for everyone. Without accessibility, the experience is not equitable. So when it comes to serving your customers and users, accessibility, privacy, and security are equally critical.

Take your privacy and security commitments to the next level

If you understand the importance of accessible digital experiences but aren’t sure where to start tackling this priority in your organization, we can help.

Our platform and services provide all the tooling, technology, and expertise to help you handle the technical aspects of digital accessibility efficiently, without constant re-work or unnecessary disruption to existing processes. Our team of experts is also here to help you launch and grow internal programs, turning passion into advocacy”¦and advocacy into action. Engage with our team today.

About the author

Corbb O’Connor leads accessibility advocacy for Level Access. He thinks like an economist, writes like a journalist, and facilitates meetings like a party host. Corbb taught himself web programming languages and Adobe Photoshop so he could build a resource hub for webmasters in 1998. Since then, he’s started a business-to-business communications firm, U.S. Bank’s accessibility initiative, and a manual testing team. Over the years, he’s educated thousands about creating inclusive environments alongside others with disabilities in the United States, Canada, and Jamaica.

The post Without Accessibility, There Is No Privacy or Security appeared first on Level Access.

Governance Dashboard and policies

Managing your accessibility program across your organization can be challenging, especially with multiple data sources. The Governance Dashboard transforms accessibility testing data into actionable insights with centralized reporting across your digital experiences.

• Build a sustainable accessibility program with policies
  Drive measurable results by defining standardized accessibility policies and metrics for your organization.
• Prioritize your portfolio of digital experiences by risk
  Action your most vulnerable digital experiences with the highest number of critical issues.
• Monitor progress and changes across your portfolio
  Ensure your teams stay on top of accessibility findings and action them in a timely manner using the integrated tools of the Level Access Platform.
• Surface your most common accessibility findings
  Access your combined results and identify key areas for improvement and training.

Start your journey toward accessibility.

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Component testing

As organizations move increasingly toward the use of design systems, it’s likely that many of the accessibility errors across your digital experiences are not unique findings, but may be repeated issues within the same handful of objects or components. Component testing, our newest testing capability, helps you prioritize and accelerate improvements to your customer experience by addressing multiple accessibility issues with a single fix.

• Find your focus more efficiently
  More prioritization tools to help focus your resources on what matters most.
• Make a larger impact, with lower effort
  Improve the user experience meaningfully while saving staff time spent on repeated errors.

Integrating Access Engine

Access Engine, our industry-leading automated testing tool, is now available in the Level Access Platform. This proprietary testing engine combines more than 20 years of experience from industry-leading accessibility experts with robust reporting, health scoring, and our Auto-Match Finding capabilities already available in the platform. With a core focus on leveraging automation wherever possible, it limits false positives, while still catching critical issues that can be missed by other tools in the market.

• Get a holistic perspective
  Detect issues, identify which issues should be investigated, and evaluate your accessibility experience with three categories of automated tests designed to give you a comprehensive perspective on your accessibility.
• Find impactful accessibility issues faster
  Access Engine enables users to spend less time on false positives. It produces a lower percentage of false positive issues reported, allowing teams to focus on accessibility barriers that are realistic and actionable.
• Test with confidence
  Make progress confidently knowing Access Engine is built on decades of experience from the industry’s leading subject matter experts. As our default testing tool, the engine is continually evaluated for accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness.

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Manual Evaluations Dashboard

Our new dashboard is an efficient way to triage, prioritize, and action results from manual evaluations of your digital properties. We’ve added user experience upgrades to this area of the platform to provide clearer insights and even more actionable information as you review your remediation progress. Plus, integration between this dashboard and our new Governance Dashboard enables accessibility program managers to review the impact of manual evaluations against organizational policies.

• Start remediation faster
  Spend less time reviewing and understanding your results and more time actioning them with a new, simplified summary of your evaluation.
• Prioritize for impact
  Maximize impact with maximum control. Now, you can prioritize issues that affect organizational policies, or prioritize issues by category and affected Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) success criteria.
• Track remediation velocity over time
  Ensure remediation efforts are on track with more ease than ever. Our improved reporting, with at-a-glance, graphically organized summaries, helps you track for all issues by severity, and provides analysis of issue severity over time to give crucial insight into progress made.

Time for an upgrade?

The Level Access Platform exists to help you work smarter, not harder to ensure accessible, compliant user experiences for everyone. And with these new features and upgrades, we’re making accessibility remediation more streamlined and efficient than ever. Want to know how to incorporate these new features into your existing accessibility workflows? Maybe you’re still building your program, or you’re not even sure where to start. Wherever you’re at, we’ll meet you there—with simple, easy-to-navigate tools and reporting to help you make an impact, fast. Schedule a demo with our team today and we’ll show you how our platform makes upgrading your user experience and sustaining compliance manageable.

The post Now Available in the Level Access Platform: Enhanced Testing, Enriched Insights appeared first on Level Access.

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Because ADA demand letters typically precede, but don’t always lead to, lawsuits, the total volume of demand letters sent to organizations—coupled with state court filings for web accessibility—would likely indicate an even greater need for inclusive technology than these federal lawsuit numbers alone.

In this post, Chief Accessibility Officer Jonathan Avila takes a deep dive into the state of web accessibility case law in 2022, exploring key factors driving the upward trend in litigation as well as notable cases. Based on developments in 2022, he also shares his predictions for the web accessibility landscape in 2023 and outlines concrete actions organizations can take to mitigate their risk and create inclusive experiences.

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Why is the number of web accessibility lawsuits on the rise?

The intensifying velocity of web accessibility litigation can be attributed to several factors. First, people with disabilities need access to usable online experiences, particularly as digital technology becomes more necessary and prolific in our day-to-day lives. Second, while the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide established benchmark standards for compliance, these have not been officially written into regulations supporting the ADA.

The absence of clear, defined regulations for web accessibility in places of public accommodation means specific expectations vary drastically across organizations and industries. To add to this confusion, different U.S. circuit courts interpret the ADA differently as it pertains to web accessibility, resulting in conflicting precedents. For example, while some courts maintain that an inaccessible website only violates the ADA if it has a “physical nexus”—meaning it’s tied to a physical location, like a brick-and-mortar office or store—others hold that the ADA applies to “internet-only” websites, like online-only retailers.

What major trends and decisions shaped web accessibility case law in 2022?

The legal landscape for web accessibility cases was as fraught as ever in 2022. A groundswell of litigation, including class action lawsuits against consumer brands, demonstrated that web accessibility remains a high priority for people with disabilities and their allies and an enticing environment for opportunists. Meanwhile, a controversial decision regarding retail giant Winn Dixie highlighted the confusion created by the absence of official web accessibility regulations. (Read more about this case below.)

Consumers hold brands accountable through class action settlements

Numerous high-profile consumer brands, including popular online wedding planning destination Zola and celebrity-led wellness giant Goop, faced class action lawsuits alleging that their websites were inaccessible to users who are blind or have low vision. Both the Zola and Goop cases were filed in New York federal courts, which saw the greatest volume of ADA Title III web accessibility cases of any state in 2022.

In a year marked by similar class action suits involving corporations across industries, from Barnes & Noble to Morgan Stanley, these cases demonstrate that today’s consumers know their rights—and won’t hesitate to hold organizations accountable when they perceive that an online experience isn’t accessible.

Court rules Winn Dixie case moot after six-year battle

In March, more than six years of litigation surrounding Winn-Dixie’s inaccessible website finally concluded when the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied the retailer’s request to revisit its previous dismissal of the case as moot.

Winn Dixie originally found itself in legal trouble in 2017, when a Florida federal trial court ruled that Winn Dixie’s website, which was inaccessible to the blind plaintiff, violated Title III of the ADA. This verdict was subsequently overturned in 2021 by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

When the plaintiff filed a request that a panel of judges reconsider the ruling, the Eleventh Circuit deemed the entire case moot because the original injunction had expired while the appeal was pending. As a result of this decision, neither the Florida court’s judgment in favor of the plaintiff, nor the Eleventh Circuit’s appeal (in favor of the defendant), can be used as precedent for web accessibility lawsuits.

While Winn Dixie sought a revised decision, disability rights advocates weren’t happy either. In February, 181 advocacy groups wrote an open letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) demanding the adoption of “enforceable online accessibility standards.” The retailer may not have had to meet the terms of the injunctive relief—but its reputation has nevertheless been mired by more than half a decade of legal drama that put its web accessibility barriers in the spotlight.

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What new developments are on the horizon in 2023?

Our dependence on the internet isn’t going away, and neither is the need for equitable, accessible solutions for people with disabilities. Correspondingly, it’s likely that the high velocity of web accessibility lawsuits filed in 2022 will continue throughout 2023, particularly in specific areas of the country. Organizations can also anticipate changes to both how the ADA is enforced, and the types of online experiences that it will be applied to.

Web accessibility lawsuits may decline in California, but will continue to surge in New York

Although the total volume of web accessibility lawsuits in the U.S. is projected to rise, recent decisions by individual circuit courts will likely mean litigation shifts out of some states and into others.

In 2022, California’s State Court of Appeals indicated that internet-only businesses are not covered by the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Federal courts in the Ninth Circuit, which includes California, have similarly ruled that internet-only businesses are not covered by the ADA. This means that fewer web accessibility cases are likely to be filed in California, unless they pertain to businesses with a physical nexus.

The Ninth Circuit’s stance toward internet-only businesses has not been shared by other circuit courts, including the Second Circuit, which includes New York. The number of web accessibility cases filed citing the ADA has consistently increased in New York, and we expect this trend to continue.

Changes in regulations and laws could impact ADA Title III

The rising number of web accessibility lawsuits, coupled with U.S. circuit courts’ different interpretations of the ADA, emphasize the need for guidelines that are more clearly encoded by the government.

In May of 2022, the DOJ announced its intent to publish proposed regulations for the implementation of Title II of the ADA. These will include, among other things, web accessibility standards for public entities, like state and local governments. While these updates would take place under Title II rather than Title III, many people believe that Title II regulations are the precursor to similar regulations for Title III of the ADA. The proposed Title II regulations should be ready for review around April or May of this year, with a comment period until June.

Meanwhile, advocates continue to work with members of the U.S. Congress to build on current laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities. The Website and Software Application Accessibility Act, which was introduced in fall 2022 by Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative John Sarbanes, promised even more readily enforceable digital accessibility regulations for entities covered by the ADA. While this bill did not become law in that congressional session, its likely reintroduction has the potential to resolve much of the confusion currently surrounding web accessibility expectations for organizations.

Accessibility will become a requirement for extended reality and self-service devices

In 2023, websites are hardly the only digital products that organizations make available to the public. As digital technology accelerates and diversifies, assets like mobile apps, video games, and virtual reality (VR) experiences may face closer legal scrutiny. In fact, several app and game stores have already received demand letters and lawsuits.

The presence of captioning in VR experiences is crucial for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate in the extended reality space. With the metaverse top of mind for many tech companies, organizations should know that any online retail space may be considered a public accommodation, whether consumers access it through a web browser, mobile device, or a VR headset.

Additionally, in September 2022, the US Access Board issued an advance notice of upcoming accessibility guidelines for self-service transaction machines, like self-checkout kiosks. These proposed guidelines are anticipated in 2023, and may be incorporated into future regulations that could be enforceable under the ADA.

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How can organizations reduce their risk of web accessibility lawsuits?

The intensified litigation surrounding web accessibility over the past few years, and in 2022 particularly, has made it evident that compliance is a requirement for every organization. Without it, both public and private entities are at legal risk.

But it’s important to remember that the benefits of web accessibility extend beyond avoiding lawsuits. After all, accessibility isn’t just a legal mandate. It’s a key part of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. An accessible website can also help differentiate your organization from competitors by demonstrating a commitment to innovation and inclusion.  What’s more? Accessible practices align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies that increase investment and growth opportunities for your organization.

If you’re ready to take steps toward creating more inclusive online experiences, keep in mind that digital accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a quick fix. Becoming, and staying, legally compliant by conforming to WCAG  can take time, and it’s wise to lean on a trusted partner like Level Access for support. No matter the industry or maturity of your program, our software and expert guidance will help you mitigate risk and improve the experience of all users.

Jonathan Avila (CPWA) is the Chief Accessibility Officer at Level Access. He has invested two decades in the digital accessibility field guiding organizations to create inclusive experiences that are usable to a wide range of people with disabilities. Through this work, he has supported accessibility across many different environments including web, mobile, documentation, extended reality, kiosk, and gaming, to empower people with disabilities to live their best lives. Jonathan is a member of the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group of the World Wide Web Consortium and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. At Level Access, he focuses his time on testing methodology, thought leadership, and internal accessibility program policy to grow and sustain the company’s implementation of an inclusive workplace.

The post Web Accessibility Lawsuits: 2022 Recap and What to Expect in 2023 appeared first on Level Access.

What are advanced communications services?

According to the CVAA, several different types of services and products are considered “advanced” communications. These fall into two groups, listed under Title I and Title II of the law. Title I (“Communications Access”) includes products and services that connect two human beings to the internet in real time or near-real time, such as email and text messaging services, web-based services, and interoperable video conferencing, as well as mobile devices and browsers. Title II (“Video Programming”) encompasses products and services involved in the delivery of videos over the internet, video playback and recording devices, video distributors, and online streaming services.

Title I of the CVAA states that covered features of laptops, smartphones, tablets, software applications, and even gaming consoles must be usable for and accessible to people with disabilities. Title II CVAA requirements state that video equipment must be capable of displaying closed captioning and video descriptions, and that user controls must be accessible to people with vision and hearing disabilities. It also sets out closed captioning requirements for online videos, audio description requirements for broadcast television, and accessibility requirements for video playback and recording features.

Why advanced communications need to be accessible

Today, it’s an everyday occurrence to watch a movie online, communicate with others over the internet, and access video playback and recording features, or use a smartphone web browser to check the news.

According to research by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), people are less likely to go online if they have a disability. That’s partly, says the FCC, because of the barriers these individuals encounter while trying to use the internet. A recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals that people with disabilities are about three times more likely than those without disabilities to say they never use the internet.

When barriers to technology are reduced or eliminated, however, people with disabilities can seamlessly engage with products and services to participate, interact, and communicate with others.

Removing barriers to using the internet

Within Title I of the CVAA, any provider of technology, whether it’s a product or a service, must ensure the covered technology is accessible if it connects to the internet—or that third-party assistive technology (AT) is made easily available and supported. This third-party AT can’t be costly for the consumer, however. It’s also prohibited to add features or functions to a product or service if these changes could make it more difficult for people with disabilities to use the technology. Providers must also document the accessibility and compatibility features of their products or services, keep records of compliance, and attest to compliance annually. In addition, contact information must be provided to ensure that people with disabilities can request information or provide feedback regarding the accessibility of a product or service.

It’s important to note that these requirements apply to more than manufacturers. Any company that provides a communications app or service over the internet is considered a “provider of advanced communications services” and is obligated, according to CVAA requirements, to ensure that the app or service is barrier-free.

The best way to ensure accessibility is to design apps and services that follow benchmark standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). It’s also important to note that the CVAA requires that people with disabilities are consulted during design.

Removing accessibility barriers in video

Video is an increasingly popular way to communicate and convey information. It’s a component of virtual business meetings, marketing, education, socializing, and entertainment. It’s also used in the distribution of news and public safety information. If video programming and communication services aren’t accessible, however, not everyone can benefit from the information the video is intended to communicate.

One frequent barrier emphasized in the CVAA requirements is a lack of closed captioning. Closed captioning is a visual display (e.g., a written transcription) of the dialogue, narration and other relevant sounds, such as a knock at the door, that are essential to understanding the video. Closed captioning is a necessity for many people who are deaf or hard of hearing. But it’s also useful for those playing video in a noisy environment or those who don’t want to disturb a quiet space. In fact, several studies conducted around the world, including one by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, reveal a significant number of people who use captions aren’t necessarily using them for hearing-related issues.

Another common accessibility barrier is the lack of video descriptions for people who are blind. A video description is an audio narration of the visual components of a video. Whenever there are pauses in a video’s dialogue, a voice-over describes what is happening visually.

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Complying with CVAA requirements for video

The CVAA details the ways in which online videos need to be made accessible. For example, any programming that is captioned on television must also be captioned when it’s streamed online. And as of July 1, 2017, any internet video clips of “live and near-live” television programming—such as sports events and news programming—must be updated with captioning within a certain time frame.

Failure to comply with the CVAA can be costly. CVAA non-compliance can result in fines of up to $100,000 for each violation, up to a maximum of one million dollars per day.

Although the CVAA requirements do not apply to all online videos at this time, it is expected that regulations will continue to evolveas more and more video content is broadcast online, without first going to television.

Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) continues to protect disability rights in situations where CVAA requirements do not yet apply. That’s because the ADA prohibits any kind of discrimination against people with disabilities. Specifically, Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. And Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation. Many courts interpret public accommodations to include the internet. If an organization fails to make its product or services accessible, it may become the subject of legal action, with plaintiffs citing violation of the ADA.

As an example, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) responded to a complaint by the National Association of the Deaf alleging that theUniversity of Berkeley was in violation of Title II of the ADA. The DOJ proceeded to investigate the university’s online course material, and subsequently instructed the University of Berkeley, in no uncertain terms, to remove barriers from videos and other website components such as inaccessible PDF documents.

It’s time to eliminate barriers

In many ways, human rights legislation is catching up to advancing technology. Companies that move quickly to eliminate barriers from their digital properties will be in an advantageous position—ahead of the curve. Not only will they be in compliance with current and future accessibility laws and rulings, they’ll also benefit from serving a wider variety of people and their needs.

Let Level Access help with CVAA compliance

Level Access has in-depth experience helping organizations meet the accessibility requirements of the CVAA. Our solution offers full-featured software, backed by expert consultancy. For more information about how Level Access can help you understand and respond to the requirements of 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, or other global requirements.

The post CVAA Compliance: The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act appeared first on Level Access.

The good news? You don’t have to tackle every issue at once. In fact, you’ll build a more effective digital accessibility program by making steady progress towards realistic goals for your organization.

In our recent webinar, “Building Your Digital Accessibility Roadmap,” Level Access Chief Executive Officer Tim Springer and Chief Innovation Officer Karl Groves discussed the typical stages of development for brands’ digital accessibility programs, and steps organizations can take to advance their maturity.

Let’s explore some key takeaways from this session that will help your team define, and execute on, attainable digital accessibility goals in the year ahead.

Know where you are (and start from there)

The first step in setting realistic digital accessibility goals for your organization is understanding the current state of your program. While every team takes a unique approach to inclusive design and development, we’ve found that most organizations progress through four key stages as they work to improve digital experiences for all users.

1. Identify

Before you can make your website or app accessible, you need to determine which aspects of it aren’t accessible. This can be the most frustrating part of implementing a digital accessibility program, as it’s likely many aspects of your product don’t meet established standards. Organizations in the “Identify” stage shouldn’t be disheartened by the length of their to-do list. Instead, it’s important to flag the highest-priority items, and set manageable timelines for addressing them.

2. Fix

If you’ve identified which components of your product limit usability for people with disabilities, you’re probably in the “Fix” stage. This means you’ve allocated internal resources toward resolving these discrete issues. Too often, teams race through this phase under the illusion that, once their immediate problems have been addressed, they can treat accessibility as a completed project. Unfortunately, this approach leads to a repetitive “break/fix” cycle, in which inevitable, new accessibility issues send teams right back to square one. If your organization is in the “Fix” stage, try to prioritize lasting impact and avoid cutting corners.

3. Sustain

It’s an exciting time for your digital accessibility program—you’ve addressed issues flagged in your initial testing. While it might be tempting to consider your accessibility work complete (after all, your team could use a break), stopping here puts you at risk of lapsing into a “break/fix” cycle. Remember that your product is constantly evolving, and your digital accessibility program needs to keep up. Your challenge now is to establish regular, repeatable processes for addressing accessibility issues on an ongoing basis—the earlier in development the better.

4. Champion

Once you’ve found a sustainable system for preventing accessibility bugs, and squashing those that arise, it’s time to share your success. You’ve experienced firsthand the benefits of prioritizing digital accessibility, from improving product usability for all customers to bolstering your organization’s reputation through a demonstrated commitment to inclusion. Now, you can champion accessibility within other facets of your organization (How is your recruiting team approaching accessibility? Are people with disabilities represented in senior management?) and in external communications to raise awareness within your industry.

Keep your longer-term goals in mind

To keep your goals realistic, you’ll want to make sure they reflect the current maturity of your program. But you can, and should, approach your short-term objectives with longer-term progress in mind. For example, if your team is in the “Fix” phase, most of your energy and attention will be devoted to resolving immediate product accessibility issues—and the goals you set should align with these priorities. As you begin establishing processes for fixing problems, however, ensure that these workflows are efficient and easy to replicate. That way, when you enter “Sustain,” you can swiftly tackle ongoing accessibility projects using systems you’ve already built.

Planning ahead to the next destination on your roadmap will prevent you from getting “stuck” in the early stages and losing momentum. If you treat every phase as an isolated project, you’ll miss opportunities to streamline your efforts further down the road. This ultimately creates extra work for your team, making it easier to give up entirely. When you approach digital accessibility not as a set of discrete tasks with deadlines, but a series of ongoing, interwoven processes, you can build manageable, streamlined processes that mature with your organization.

Know who’s accountable

Any project manager knows that clearly communicating responsibilities is key to getting the job done. But when it comes to digital accessibility, many companies struggle to assign consistent ownership. In fact, our 2022 survey found that less than half of organizations have a central party responsible for accessibility initiatives. This leads to siloed work, disorganization, and inefficiency.

As you set goals, ensure that every project has a single, primary owner who is accountable for achieving results. To determine who owns what, think about how digital accessibility projects might fit into the work team members are already doing. Does your lead product designer care deeply about exceptional usability? Do you have developers dedicated to addressing UX bugs? What about IT professionals who oversee information security and other aspects of digital compliance? By making digital accessibility a relevant part of individuals’ existing responsibilities, rather than an add-on, you can avoid the perception that you’re introducing “extra work.” Instead, you’re offering team members opportunities to grow in their respective roles.

Divvying up responsibility reasonably, throughout your organization, will also lighten your own burden as an internal accessibility advocate. Remember, not everyone needs training in everything. You don’t need to bend over backwards explaining color contrast to your web developers, so long as your UX team understands how to design for users with low vision. Eventually, individual project owners will also become accessibility champions—but first they need to know what they’re accountable for.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Chances are, you’re not a digital accessibility expert. And some of the challenges facing your team might take experience to navigate. So, it’s wise to consult a trusted third party. Beyond offering guidance on individual projects, a third-party resource can help you understand which goals to prioritize, so you can use your time and resources as effectively as possible.

As the end-to-end digital accessibility platform, Level Access offers a robust suite of software tools along with dedicated coaching from accessibility experts. From automated site monitoring to comprehensive design reviews, our solutions work alongside your team to ensure your products meet established accessibility standards.

You’re not alone

No matter where you are on the digital accessibility roadmap, you’re not alone. Are you still identifying problems? Beginning to implement fixes? Don’t get discouraged by the work ahead. With few exceptions, all organizations—even accessibility leaders—start at “Identify.” What’s crucial is that you set goals that align with the tasks at hand, stay accountable for steady progress, and sustain momentum when you reach the next phase of your journey.

For more guidance on setting goals for your organization’s specific maturity level, and direction on how to get to the next phase, request our on-demand webinar, “Building Your Digital Accessibility Roadmap.”

Unsure where your organization is on the roadmap? Need support achieving your goals? Our team of digital accessibility experts is here to help. 

The post How to Set Achievable Digital Accessibility Goals appeared first on Level Access.

ARLINGTON, VA, JANUARY 10, 2023 — Level Access, the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, the pioneer of Accessibility-as-a-Service, have completed the next step of their merger, announcing they have officially become one brand and will operate as Level Access. The convergence of these two companies is now reflected with a new corporate logo and website that combines the identities of two of the most well-known and well-respected brands in digital accessibility, featuring a unified product offering.

“When we announced our merger, we made a commitment to define the future of accessibility by combining our unique approaches, technology, and talent,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access. “After months of work, I’m thrilled to announce our path forward as the new Level Access and showcase our new website. It highlights our formidable, combined solution, now joining together the most advanced digital accessibility platform with the deepest bench of subject matter expertise. And this is just the beginning. We will continue to accelerate our pace of innovation to deliver to our customers the most advanced solution to support their individual digital accessibility programs at scale.”

The newly designed LevelAccess.com introduces the updated corporate logo, which combines the Level Access wordmark with the eSSENTIAL Accessibility icon. The icon will continue to be used by client organizations in order to demonstrate their commitment to delivering fully inclusive and accessible digital experiences. The site also includes an updated solution section showcasing the comprehensive and streamlined approach to solving digital accessibility, a more robust accessibility compliance section that draws on the company’s combined decades of expertise in the legal and regulatory space, and the consolidation of hundreds of educational resources covering dozens of digital accessibility-related topics applicable to all industries.

“We are confident that unifying as Level Access provides a solid foundation from which to communicate with the market. It enables us to continue to transform the digital accessibility solution space at a global scale, while carrying forward eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s innovative approach,” said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility, now President of Level Access. “We’re excited to continue the illustrious and well-regarded legacy of Level Access, forwarding the adoption of accessibility to make the digital world work equally for all.”

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, expert services, and training solutions, the company’s solution ensures customers’ websites, desktop and mobile applications embedded software, gaming software, digital products, and electronic documents are accessible to everyone. Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, two leaders in the digital accessibility solution space, announced the completion of their merger in August 2022.

The post eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access Complete Next Step of Merger: Unifying Identity Under the Level Access Name appeared first on Level Access.

I am a big fan of social media. I use it to highlight the value of including everyone in society, with a special emphasis on the community of people with disabilities (PwD and accessible Internet, Communications, and Technology (ICT).  I believe that we (the community of PwD) are finding our voices via social media; however, there are some significant social media accessibility issues that should be addressed.

Blogs, podcasts, social networks, and other social media platforms are increasingly becoming the communication medium of choice, allowing users to communicate, receive information, distribute content and follow updates within and outside of our networks with ease. Unfortunately, most social media applications today do not adequately address accessibility and are difficult to use with assistive technology, which makes them inaccessible to many users with disabilities. Consider that one out of every three households in the U.S. is impacted by disabilities, and according to the World Health Organization one in seven people are impacted by a disability worldwide. Do we really want to exclude as much as 15% of the population from social media? This group of over 1 billion people is a key influencer of the public’s perceptions, and while social media can bring the world to those who can use it, there are still many who cannot.

As an example, WebAIM’s May 2012 screen reader survey indicated that only 54.2% of screen reader users surveyed found social media sites to be “very accessible” or “somewhat accessible”, while 33.7% of respondents said social media sites were “very inaccessible” or “somewhat inaccessible”.  There’s certainly a lot of room for improvement there.

Some common accessibility issues with sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube include:

• Lack of section headings
• Poor color contrast
• Inability to navigate using keyboard only
• Inability to operate functionality using keyboard only
• Missing text equivalents for images
• Inability to resize text
• Videos lacking captioning

Social media is part of electronic and information technology; thus, government agencies must comply with Section 508 accessibility when using any of these web-based tools. In addition, non-governmental organizations using social media may have more responsibility to ensure accessible content in the future, as the Department of Justice may issue regulations for websites under Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Social Media Accessibility Best Practices

1. Create a Social Media Accessibility Policy

The use of social media websites is becoming an important part of the workplace. These communication tools have the potential to create a significant impact on organizational and professional reputations. It is important for organizations to develop a social media accessibility policy to properly portray, promote and protect the institution, and it is critical to blend accessibility into that policy.

The General Services Administration’s (GSA) Social Media Policy is an example of a policy statement that includes the requirement for social media accessibility. Under item 5, Guiding Principles, GSA lists the following:

“Ensure use complies with applicable mandates, such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, IT Security Policy, and the Federal Records Act.  The GSA Handbook on Social Media provides greater detail on applicable mandates.”

Including accessibility could also be as simple as adding a statement to your Social Media Policy such as,

“All [organization name]-managed social media sites should meet the organization’s Web Accessibility Policy”,

then providing a link to your Web Accessibility Policy. (You do have a Web Accessibility Policy, right?)

2. Make Your Content Accessible

Here are a few tips for making the content you put out via social media more accessible:

• Provide additional ways to contact your organization such as an 800 number, a Contact Us form or a general contact e-mail address for more information.
• Always put your main content first and put hashtags and @mentions at the end of a post — this is particularly important for screen reader users.
• Photos, Videos and Audio
  • If a tweet contains an image, video or audio indicate this at the beginning of the content using the prefix [PIC], [VIDEO] or [AUDIO].
  • In addition, if a tweet or Facebook post includes one of these items, be sure to link back to the web page that contains the image, video or audio with a full caption/transcript.
• Avoid the use of acronyms, abbreviations and text messaging shortcuts.
• If you are linking to a PDF document, make sure the document is tagged properly and accessible.  If it is not, also provide a link to a text alternative.
• For blogs, ensure proper HTML markup is used such as headings, paragraphs and lists to help orient users and ensure clarity of the content.

Social Media Accessibility Toolkit

There are some great tools available to make social media more accessible to users with disabilities:

• EasyChirp is an alternative to Twitter designed with accessibility and assistive technology in mind.
• Twitter provides a long list of keyboard shortcuts for keyboard only users.
• Facebook also provides a small set of keyboard shortcuts.
• AppleVis, a website created to collect information on the accessibility of apps developed for iOS devices, includes a free, accessible LinkedIn app.
• Easy YouTube caption creator is a content creating tool that generates a standard format caption text file which can be attached to YouTube videos.
• Google offers an accessibility app for the Hangout feature on Google+.
• WordPress, a popular open source blogging tool with many free plugins, allows you to host a page on your own server, giving you more freedom to customize the software for accessibility.

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Why do we do it? The results enable us to benchmark the general status of accessibility programs to track industry growth over time, understand where organizations are making investments, and arm individuals with data that may help them advocate for advancing accessibility within their own organizations.

What we’ve learned from our 2022 survey

Many 2022 trends are incredibly encouraging. Among them:

• Diversity and inclusion programs include accessibility. Approximately 89% of organizations have diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs. This is up from 83% in 2021. Even more encouraging—more than 64% of those D&I programs include digital accessibility. When organizations think about inclusion, more are including digital accessibility as part of that thinking.

• Program governance is more centralized. What does this mean? Digital accessibility has a home with organizational focus and accountability. It rolls into one department for 44% of our respondents. This is a big and encouraging jump from almost 31% in 2021.

• Funding is firming. In 27% of organizations, budgets also roll up to one department. This is up from 21% in 2021. With firmer, more centralized funding, accessibility is a supported organizational priority.

• Accessibility testing is taking place earlier. More than 67% of respondents test for accessibility during the CI/CD (continuous integration / continuous delivery) process, which is up from 56% in 2021. And when testing happens earlier, bugs are caught earlier, and the entire process is more efficient and less expensive.

• Accessible products are a must. Our survey reveals almost 74% of product buyers prioritize accessibility when purchasing a product, which is a steady increase: up from 55.2% in 2020 and 71.4% in 2021. Further, almost 59% of buyers require proof of product accessibility in the form of a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template—or VPAT®, which is up from 52.9% in 2021. So, heads up if you’re building a product you’re trying to sell, it’s now more crucial than ever to show how accessibility has factored into your product.

Request the full 2022 State of Digital Accessibility report.

Applying these learnings into 2023

How do you use this data to advance your organization’s accessibility program? Or, if you don’t yet have a program, how do you advocate for building one, internally?

Our CEO Tim Springer offers four key takeaways:

1. Tell the story—differently. So often, digital accessibility is a conversation about compliance: how to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; how to respond to an ADA lawsuit or demand letter; or how to avoid legal action altogether. But at its core, digital accessibility is a story about inclusion. It’s about ensuring every user has equal access to navigate digital experiences. Align accessibility with your inclusion programs, and you’re sure to garner C-suite support .

2. Give digital accessibility a home within your organization. If you tell the story effectively and secure internal buy-in, it has to “live” within a logical department. Largely, it doesn’t matter which department. And once it’s got its home—or is centralized—you can then allocate funding in order for your program to be successful. Once you have governance and funding established, you’ll have ownership and accountability.

3. Create a plan. Come up with a strategy and a roadmap, and implement them. Historically, addressing digital accessibility has been reactive, a response to getting a lawsuit or needing a VPAT. As we’re seeing the market mature, this reactive approach is not sustainable, and it does not lend itself to consistently creating the best possible user experience. Your accessibility strategy should be connected to your long-term product or content roadmap so that you’re improving the user experience over time. That maturity will get you to the state of what we call “accessible by default.” At this point, accessibility just becomes your standard approach when creating, designing, and building.

4. Shift left. Teams thinking about accessibility often do so in the testing phase of their product development lifecycle. When bugs are found in that late stage, fixing them is time-consuming and costly (not to mention frustrating). Catching them earlier in the creative process , or shifting left, is more efficient, cost-effective, and predictable. If you’re incorporating accessibility earlier and more often, it’s more likely to consistently lead to a good outcome.

To get more analysis from Tim, request our on-demand webinar, The State of Digital Accessibility: Key insights from 2022 and best practices for 2023

We’re here to help

Our platform and services provide all of the tooling, technology, and expertise to tackle the technical aspects of digital accessibility. But our team is also here to help start and grow internal programs, turning passion into advocacy, and advocacy into action. So whether you need help advocating for an accessibility program, taking the first step to get one started, or maturing an existing program, we’re on your side. Engage with our team today .

eSSENTIAL Accessibility has changed its name to Level Access! Read More

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We spent time with our Chief Marketing Officer, Ian Lowe, to better understand the value of accessible digital marketing, why he’s passionate about making accessibility mainstream, and his advice for other marketers.

Q: Why should every modern marketer be thinking about accessibility?

A: When it comes to marketing, we create our campaigns with two high-level objectives: 1) reach the maximum possible audience and 2) convert the highest percentage of that audience into customers. Most of us do that digitally. In fact, digital-first or digital-only marketing campaigns have become the new normal in our post-pandemic world.

So let’s think about our audience. There are more than 1 billion people worldwide with a disability, including about 26 percent of the U.S. adult population . While we know that not every disability impacts the way in which we interact online, many do, including hearing or vision loss, motor disabilities, and cognitive disabilities. If we’re designing, developing, and executing a digital marketing campaign, and we haven’t thought about the needs of every consumer, including those with disabilities, we’re already excluding potentially tens of millions of customers. And when customers can’t engage with our campaign, there’s no way they can convert.

Q: How is accessibility related to a brand’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)?

A: Digital accessibility is a foundational pillar of DEI. Everyone has the right to an inclusive, equitable online experience. So much of our lives are now mediated through digital experiences, whether it’s booking trips online, connecting with friends and family through social media, or shopping online. Organizations that value DEI but haven’t made their websites, landing pages, social posts, videos, or emails accessible have not met their brand commitments.

Of course, small steps are important steps. Keeping accessibility in the forefront of the digital experience design and creation process will help make sure that you reach more people and deliver against your DEI commitments.

Q: What are the risks if a campaign does not have accessible elements?

A: The risks extend well beyond the success of any individual campaign. Yes, as marketers we’re measured on ROI, but I would ask the question differently: can your brand afford not to prioritize digital accessibility?

Today’s consumer’s expectations have evolved. More than ever, buyers are aligning with brands that share their values of equality and inclusion. Consumers are more likely to spend their money with brands they trust—brands who demonstrate their commitments to those values through tangible action.

Then, we need to consider that the global market of people with disabilities controls $2 trillion in disposable income . When you consider their sphere of influence—their friends and family—that disposable income number skyrockets to almost $11 trillion. But more than dollars and cents, being publicly known as an organization that truly values the needs of every user is the reputation we’re all striving to achieve.

Q: Is legal compliance also a motivator when it comes to digital accessibility and inclusive marketing?

A: Digital accessibility is a regulatory requirement in many countries, most notably for companies based in, or doing business in, the United States. A number of prominent U.S. court rulings have made it clear that digital accessibility is a requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In fact, thousands of companies are sued every year because they have an inaccessible mobile app or website.

Because the ADA was written before the internet went mainstream, and doesn’t explicitly mention digital properties, many organizations are only realizing their legal obligations as they receive demand letters or litigation. That has caused the risk associated with non-compliance to rise over the last several years.

So why take the risk? An ADA-related lawsuit tarnish your brand’s reputation, but shouldn’t we all be motivated by equal, inclusive access for all, rather than avoiding a lawsuit or checking a compliance box?

Want a more comprehensive guide? Request our new eBook: Inclusive Digital Marketing: How to create accessible campaigns .

Q: If a marketer is new to digital accessibility, where do they begin?

A: Again, small steps can make a big difference. If you’re designing a multimedia campaign, think about the needs of every user. Here are a few helpful best practices:

• Make sure your design and developer teams understand the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) —the global standards detailing how to make web content accessible for people with disabilities. Our Must-Have WCAG Checklist offers an introduction to the guidelines and an interactive resource to help you review the accessibility of your organization’s digital experiences.
• As a marketer, it’s important to familiarize yourself with how to check for basic accessibility features in the content feeding your campaigns. For example:
• • Does the content on your website or in your emails follow a logical heading structure, and are the headings tagged appropriately? This ensures it is understandable and skimmable for the widest possible audience, and that it’s presented correctly for a person who is using a screen reader, which reads the content of a page out loud.
  • Are the images you’re embedding accompanied by accurate alternative text to provide necessary context for a person who is blind or has low vision?
  • Does the video content you’re including have captions for a user who is deaf or hard of hearing? This is also useful for those who process better by reading, or need to watch with their volume turned down or off.
  • With graphics, imagery, and text, are you following proper color contrast ratios? Higher contrast between an element in the foreground and its background color makes it easier for everyone to perceive, but is also crucial for a person who is colorblind and many people with low vision.
  • Are your forms accessible? Do they have proper labels and can a person using only a keyboard tab through them? This is especially important in the world of e-commerce. If a user is unable to populate a form to purchase your product, you’ve lost the conversion.

  These considerations apply not only to your website, but to all customer touchpoints, including emails, ads, and posts on social media.

• Remember that representation matters. Is there an opportunity to include people with disabilities in your campaign? Authentic, inclusive representation in advertising positions diverse groups of people in a positive light, undermining the stigma that has often been associated with having a disability. As an added benefit, when customers can naturally recognize themselves in your campaign, they’re more connected to it, which is likely to make your message “stick.”This diversity in representation is the reason we’ve created the “People with Disabilities” category of the annual Multicultural Excellence Awards , hosted by the Association of National Advertisers. This year’s grand prize winner, for example, was the ” Dear Fitness Industry ” campaign by Degree released in 2021. Recognizing that 81 percent of people with disabilities do not feel welcome in fitness spaces, the campaign puts a spotlight on trainers and coaches with disabilities to point out that everyone deserves the freedom to move.

Ready to create inclusive digital marketing campaigns?

Don’t be discouraged if digital accessibility is all new to you, or if your organization has not yet prioritized accessibility. Those of us at eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access are passionate, ready, and willing to help get you started. Feel free to email Ian any questions you may have. Ian is also happy to speak to your team or your organization, serving as your co-champion on your path to prioritizing web accessibility.

eSSENTIAL Accessibility has changed its name to Level Access! Read More

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TORONTO, November 18, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading digital Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, is proud to announce it has won the Enterprise category of Fast Company’s 2022 Next Big Things in Tech. This annual recognition honors technology breakthroughs that positively shape the future for the industries they serve.

eA’s digital accessibility solution equips and empowers organizations in any industry to make their digital experiences accessible to people with disabilities. Worldwide, more than one billion people have a disability, which may impact their ability to use or even access online content and mobile apps.

“It’s estimated that more than 250,000 websites are created every day, yet the overwhelming majority of them have accessibility barriers. This means that as we deepen our dependence on digital connection, more of the digital world contains accessibility barriers for people with disabilities. We believe we have a fundamental responsibility to close this gap,” said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility.”

eA has developed the market’s only fully integrated digital accessibility platform, combining all of the tools, training, and expertise organizations need to make their websites, apps, software, and other digital experiences accessible for people with disabilities and compliant with anti-discrimination laws. The eA Platform centralizes and streamlines what has previously been a disjointed, overly complex, and siloed process within many organizations. This centralization and simplification is a breakthrough in the digital accessibility industry.

“We’re incredibly honored Fast Company recognizes the tremendous impact our solution has made, and will continue to make,” Steele added. “And we’re more driven than ever to accelerate our pace of innovation, making digital accessibility a default expectation of design and development for all future web creation.”

Fueled by this innovation and momentum, in August 2022, eA announced a merger with Level Access, one of the most well-known, trusted brands in digital accessibility.

“By bringing our two teams and expertise together, we’re creating the scalable digital accessibility solution that can comprehensively meet the needs of organizations at any stage in their journey toward accessibility,” said Tim Springer, CEO of the newly merged Level Access. “We’re confident that, with our support and leadership, meaningful online access and usability for all is not only achievable, it’s an inevitable new normal.”

“Technology breakthroughs and cutting-edge advancements promise to be the solution to some of the world’s most pressing issues. Fast Company is excited to highlight some of the organizations, of all sizes and industry backgrounds, whose technology advancements today will lead to a better tomorrow,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company.

To view all the companies named on this year’s list: fastcompany.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility + Level Access

eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access empower organizations with the advanced software and expert-managed services they need to create accessible and legally compliant websites, mobile apps, digital products, and documents. The mission is to achieve digital equality for all users by ensuring technology is accessible to people with disabilities and the growing aging population. eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access announced the completion of their merger in August 2022. For more, visit www.levelaccess.com or www.essentialaccessibility.com.

Public Relations Contact

Coleman Pyeatt
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com
(214) 797-9848

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TORONTO, November 16, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading digital Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced its recognition as a winner in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™—a program that recognizes the fastest-growing Canadian technology companies based on four-year revenue growth. eA experienced revenue growth of 529 percent over the past four years, signifying a boom in the digital accessibility industry only accelerated by the pandemic’s impact on digitization.

“The momentum we have gained in recent years represents not only powerful insight into the team’s dedication to our mission but shows how strong the need for digital accessibility has become,” said Mark Steele, Co-founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. “Businesses and organizations face the need for improving the usability of their digital assets by all people across the entire spectrum of ability, at all ages, spanning through all demographics. eA is here to respond to this, and we are humbled by Deloitte’s recognition of our impact.”

This most recent recognition joins the list of accolades awarded to eA for growth and culture, including the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, its recognition as a 2022 Best Workplace for Giving Back, a Best Workplace for Today’s Youth, and its acknowledgement by The Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies due to record year-over-year revenue growth. Reinforcing these honors, eA more than tripled its employee count from 2020 to 2022 before merging with Level Access, the global leader in digital accessibility, to form the premier platform for end-to-end digital accessibility management.

“Our newly joint company is responding to the need for accelerated adoption of digital accessibility, the need for scalability, and the need for an accessibility partner that can support an organization’s ascension into a digital-first future,” Steele added. “By coming together with Level Access, we will proceed on this upward trajectory to even greater heights while driving meaningful access and usability for all.”

To qualify for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, companies must have been in business for at least four years, have revenues of at least $5 million, be headquartered in Canada, own proprietary technology, conduct research and development activities in Canada, and invest a minimum of five percent of gross revenues in R&D.

“It’s inspiring how this year’s exceptional cohort of Technology Fast 50 winners have delivered outstanding revenue growth even in the face of prevailing uncertainties in the economy and marketplace,” commented Anders McKenzie, partner and national leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. “Fueled by exemplary innovation, creativity, resilience, adaptability, along with superior business leadership, these companies are paving the way as catalysts in their respective sectors and delivering growth and value to the Canadian economy both at home and beyond.”

For more information on how eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access is building a more accessible future, visit www.essentialaccessibility.com.

About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ program

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canada’s preeminent technology awards program. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the program recognizes business growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship in four distinct categories: Technology Fast 50 ranking, Enterprise Fast 15, Clean Technology, and Companies-to-Watch. The program also recognizes companies within the North American Technology Fast 500 ranking, identifying thriving technology companies in the United States and Canada. The 2022 program sponsors include Deloitte, RBCx, Osler, EDC, CBRE, Vector Institute, Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI), Clarity Recruitment, Lafond, and TMX. For further information, visit www.fast50.ca

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility + Level Access

eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access empower organizations with the advanced software and expert managed services they need to create accessible and legally compliant websites, mobile apps, digital products, and documents. The mission is to achieve digital equality for all users by ensuring technology is accessible to people with disabilities and the growing aging population. eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access announced the completion of their merger in August 2022. For more, visit www.levelaccess.com or www.essentialaccessibility.com.

Public Relations Contact

Coleman Pyeatt anthonyBarnum Public Relations coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com (214) 797-9848

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Since announcing the completion of the merger between eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access, for the past several weeks we have been working together combining our teams, technologies, and processes in order to deliver even more innovative solutions and improved value to our customers.

Today, we’re very excited to announce the next step in this merger journey: the eSSENTIAL Accessibility name is retiring, and our new, consolidated company will be known as Level Access.

We came to this decision after a great deal of research, analysis, and introspection. We interviewed customers and non-customers, conducted market research, and analyzed the best foundation from which to communicate our values in the market. Level Access provides this solid foundation. And while we can’t help but feel nostalgia and gratitude as we retire the eSSENTIAL Accessibility name, our innovative approach and proud Canadian heritage will shine through as we bring the storied and valued Level Access legacy forward as a global solution provider. Our Canadian operations and team will continue their excellent work under the new name. In fact, we are looking forward to continued expansion and growth in the Canadian market—both in business and employee count.

To our existing customers and partners, thank you for trusting us on your journey to make the digital world more accessible. This is just another step on that journey to work with you to deliver great digital accessibility results for your organization. This name change does not impact our current product offerings, your existing contracts, or change the great customer service you’ve come to expect. We will only continue to build upon and extend the capabilities of the eSSENTIAL Accessibility Platform, coupled with the strength of Level Access’ expert services and solution.

In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be communicating this name change and preparing to update our merged company’s website, which will reflect our unified identity under the Level Access name. We expect this process to be complete in early 2023.

Once again, thank you for your support through our years as eSSENTIAL Accessibility. We are eager to continue to bring together the best of both brands to transform digital accessibility as the next iteration of Level Access.

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TORONTO, November 7, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Contentful, the leading content platform for digital-first business. Through this partnership, Contentful users will now be able to leverage the power of eA’s comprehensive solution to help achieve and maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other global accessibility regulations, and better serve all users.

More than one billion people worldwide live with a disability. If a digital experience isn’t designed and developed following accessibility standards, many people with disabilities will not be able to navigate or use that content. Creating accessible digital experiences is also a legal requirement. The number of ADA lawsuits and legal demand letters alleging non-compliance is on the rise. This partnership will improve businesses’ ability to deliver inclusive, accessible, and legally compliant experiences across all devices and channels.

“As businesses push boundaries into new digital frontiers, they must embrace inclusivity. Through our partnership, we are empowering Contentful’s customers to achieve accessibility compliance while continuing to build innovative and engaging experiences for all,” said Mark Steele, Co-founder and CEO at eSSENTIAL Accessibility. “Contentful is a leading content platform that can help organizations deliver inclusive experiences on every channel. This partnership is already delivering great value to our mutual customers by incorporating digital accessibility efficiently into their custom tech stacks.”

As business is conducted through digital channels with increasing frequency, content plays a crucial role in the success of organizations and brands around the world. Contentful unifies content in a single hub and structures it for use in any digital channel so digital teams can assemble content and deliver digital experiences faster and at scale.

“This partnership with eA means our customers and partners will have access to a comprehensive accessibility platform that we trust and can recommend,” said Jeff Blattel, Director of Technical Partnerships, Americas at Contentful. “Contentful is designed to be flexible and adapt to the needs of our customers and the demands of their customers, which include accessible digital experiences. Leveraging the eA platform will make it easier for our customers to achieve and maintain ADA compliance.”

To learn more about how Contentful is empowering companies to build exceptional digital experiences with content at the core, visit https://www.contentful.com/.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. In August 2022, eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access announced the completion of their merger.

About Contentful

Contentful, the leading content platform for digital-first business, helps nearly 30% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of brands around the world create and manage digital experiences for their customers across any channel. It enables greater speed and scale than traditional CMS solutions. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Siemens, Plaid, Goodrx, Intercom, Notion, Staples and many others rely on Contentful’s platform. For more information, visit www.contentful.com/.

Media Contact

Jeremy Warren (512) 387-3703 jeremy.warren@anthonybarnum.com

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#1 Create open channels for feedback and communication of accessibility needs

“The larger the organization, the harder it is to remember everyone’s needs,” says Dana, eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access’ Head of Accessible UI Design, “It’s helpful to have a single source of truth where that information is consistently available for people to check.” Creating consistent methods of sharing information has made it easier for team members to share what they need, and for others to ask about these needs. At eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access, we’ve also supported this culture of communication by providing ongoing training on accessibility and disability etiquette. Team members generally want to be inclusive without being intrusive, so providing easy-to-access, standard areas to check for accessibility feedback is most supportive. Simple solutions can be effective, like adding an optional custom space in a Slack profile where employees can share their accessibility needs and considerations.

#2 Avoid “one size fits all” technology policies

Enabling employees to be considerate of each other is especially important when accessibility needs may differ or even conflict. For example, when meeting virtually, you can accommodate various needs by allowing the use of preferred meeting tools, enabling closed captioning, and encouraging flexibility with camera use. The best option for a meeting may fluctuate, depending on the situation and the intersecting needs of multiple employees with disabilities. Tom Babinszki, VP of Accessibility, is blind and prefers to have his camera off for meetings—a preference that is often shared by neurodivergent team members as well. Still, when Tom hosts a virtual meeting with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing he will ask if they might find it helpful if he is on camera, since they may employ lip reading or gain context through body language. See also: How to make virtual meetings accessible Dana adds that employers can also be understanding and accommodate device requests where possible. For example, she has vestibular dysfunction and is triggered by on-screen motion, so she has previously requested a vertical monitor to reduce scrolling. For others, it may be helpful to have the option to work within a specific operating system or environment. Tom jokes, “I always tell people that since I got an iPhone, I’m only half as blind as I used to be. I’m able to be more mobile and waste so much less time.” Tom says many professionals with visual disabilities who use assistive technology to consume information may prefer working with mobile devices in certain cases because mobile apps and solutions tend to be leaner and have more streamlined functionality compared to their desktop equivalents, making them easier to navigate. Equipping employees with their preferred tools can allow them to spend more time getting work done, and less time creating workarounds.

#3 Be flexible with time

Working in an inaccessible digital environment can come at a cost, and one of the most significant costs is time. In a digitally connected remote work environment, supervisors may now be used to in-the-moment follow-up on chat apps, and quick response times for email requests. This implicit urgency is not always equitable, nor does it always result in the best outcomes for work. Understanding the time it takes for employees to access documents, or even join meetings, depending on the accessibility tools they may be using, is important. This is made more challenging due to the current pace of software updates on many commonly used digital tools, like meeting platforms. George Quarcoo, an Accessibility Specialist with low vision, has experienced the challenge of struggling to find the right link to enter a meeting on time using his assistive technology. “Something might work perfectly one day, and then not work so well the next day. It can be very time-consuming, especially depending on how comfortable you are with using your assistive devices.” See also: Is your business’s online job search process accessible for people with disabilities? In addition, supporting flexible working hours is a low-cost, high-impact way to make work more accessible. Gisela Blanco is an Accessibility Tester with a mobility disability. She says the opportunity to communicate with her supervisor and flex her working hours when needed has been a huge advantage in her work life. That’s because it may take her longer to prepare for work on some days than others, especially depending on whether she’s working in her fully accessible home, or from elsewhere. Some employees may need a later start to align with energy levels, a mid-day break to administer medication, or more frequent breaks to eat or drink regularly. Partnering with employees to build their schedules around the hours that work best for them can increase productivity, foster engagement, and help keep the focus between employee and supervisor on the quality of the work done.

Making remote work “work” for everyone

Making work digitally accessible is a win for more equitable employment. To create workplaces that truly work for all employees, we have to be intentional in designing cultures that are inclusive and empowering. Keep in mind, the tips above are but a short list of best practices that can be helpful, and specific needs for access will depend on the individual. Trust your team to know what works best for them and include them in finding solutions. The important thing to remember is that when workplaces are more inclusive and accessible, everyone benefits: people with disabilities, parents and caregivers, and those who are very busy or going through a significant life event. Work is only getting more digitally dependent. A commitment to making remote work more accessible for every employee will foster a more inclusive, and therefore, more innovative and productive company culture—setting your organization on the path to continued success. If you need more insight on how to foster accessibility at work, visit the Level Access website for an on-demand webinar on accessibility education for employees.

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Planting the seeds that grow accessibility support

A person doesn’t always choose to become an accessibility champion—more often, the role chooses you! That was the case for accessibility advocate Charmaine Madamba. Charmaine is the Director of Product Management at VF Corporation, the multi-brand enterprise that’s home to North American retail heavy-hitters like Vans, Timberland, and The North Face. More than five years ago, as she was just starting out in the company’s product team, she heard a presentation from the late inclusive design pioneer August de los Reyes that stoked her passion for accessibility. “That story pulled me in. It helped me understand that digital accessibility isn’t just something tactical, it impacts, and can improve, people’s daily lives,” said Charmaine. Charmaine is proof that to grow an accessibility program—whether across one brand, or a whole family of them—accessibility champions need to be community builders. And the first step is to listen to the concerns and goals of teams outside of their own. “It’s important to look at how accessibility can benefit your colleagues and point toward that compelling reason. Emphasize how accessibility connects to what drives them, and their team as well,” Charmaine says. Get more tips from Charmaine on how to be an effective accessibility champion by accessing our on-demand webinar: “How to Champion Accessibility in a Multi-Brand Enterprise.”

Conversation starters, by leader / department

If you’re not exactly sure how accessibility might fit into the goals of your cross-functional collaborators, we’ve got you covered. Below, we break down what will resonate with key stakeholder groups to grow your organization’s digital accessibility program.

CFO / Finance

• Accessibility progress reduces the risk of a potentially costly anti-discrimination lawsuit.
• When implemented correctly, accessibility adoption improves time-to-value and time-to-market. With an accessibility focus, we’ll be working ahead of potential customer complaints, and optimizing product delivery for highest impact.
• Accessibility integration supports inclusive HR initiatives, reducing staff churn, and therefore, supporting growth targets.

CPO / Product Development

• Accessibility has become the newest gate to contract renewals and winning RFPs. It’s a sure-fire way in which Product can demonstrate support for growth and maintain an active user base.
• If integrated early, digital accessibility standards and planning make product development cycles more efficient—eliminating time spent on remediating web barriers when an asset is already live, and therefore, freeing up capacity across your team.

CMO / E-commerce

• Digital accessibility sparks innovative user experience (UX) design and improves the customer experience (CX), not just for some customers and users, but for all.
• When our website(s) or digital products are accessible, we can be sure we are reaching the widest possible audience.
• A demonstrated commitment to digital accessibility impacts our brand reputation, helping win and retain the loyalty of the growing segment of consumers who consider brand ethics before they buy.

General Counsel / Legal

• Global accessibility legislation is only getting firmer. Making our organization’s web experiences accessible and usable for everyone is our legal obligation.
• By working toward digital accessibility goals, and tracking progress toward those targets, we’ll be avoiding legal action from customers, and from our own employees, who also deserve barrier-free experiences in the workplace. Plus, if we’re implementing accessibility correctly, with accurate documentation, we’ll be more prepared to counter web accessibility legal action if it does arise.

CEO / Executive office

• Our company’s mission / vision / purpose statement compels us to actively show our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Digital accessibility must be a part of that.
• For example, Charmaine explains, “At VF Corporation, our purpose statement says we ‘Power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet.’ And, that reference to the betterment of people is not just for some people, but for all.”

Celebrate the small wins

Bit by bit, connection by connection: this is how strong, sustainable accessibility programs take shape. It may seem far off now, but this incremental improvement drives results, and helps in keeping accessibility initiatives top-of-mind. Take it from Charmaine: if you stay committed, you’re more likely than not to look up one day and notice that your “solo mission” toward accessibility adoption isn’t so “solo” anymore. Charmaine says she’s seen major growth from the teams she’s supported over the years. “It’s exciting to see that most of them are now driving accessibility on their own. They have their own processes, and documentation, and they do their own ongoing learning,” she explains. “As an advocate, I feel a part of my role now is really getting those stories together and spreading the word about the various accessibility measures being implemented within the company and the impact that has on the end user.”

In your corner

Whether you’re an experienced accessibility professional or just beginning your journey as an internal advocate, our mission is to help you succeed. Reach out to our team today to determine your organization’s next best step in the digital accessibility journey, or to troubleshoot any roadblocks you’re experiencing. We have the advanced software, experienced expertise, and on-demand learning and training to help you and your team take your accessibility and compliance efforts to the next level.

The post How to Champion Digital Accessibility: Key Conversation Starters, by Department appeared first on Level Access.

Vienna, VA — October 27, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access, the global leader in digital accessibility solutions, in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), announced today the publication of the 2022 State of Digital Accessibility Report (SODAR). The report, representing the fourth year of the survey, asked more than 1,000 professionals in various roles related to digital accessibility, including legal, compliance, product, design, and content creation, to assess their commitment to creating and implementing inclusive technology, which includes websites, mobile apps, and software. “For the past three years, the State of Digital Accessibility Report has provided invaluable insight into how organizations are incorporating and investing in digital accessibility,” said Tim Springer, CEO, eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access. “And I am thrilled because this year’s results show accessibility is becoming a mainstream priority. Governance is maturing. Funding is formalizing. And more organizations are incorporating accessibility earlier in their development and creation processes.&rdquoa;The 2022 SODAR also highlights an encouraging shift in motivation: both individuals and organizations selected “including people with disabilities” and “providing the best user experience for all” as their main drivers. “This tells us we’re moving away from a strictly compliance-focused ‘we have to do this’ conversation, to an inspired commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of digital users. Such a shift signals maturity in the way organizations are thinking about, adopting, and incorporating digital accessibility,” Springer added.Key findings from the 2022 State of Digital Accessibility Report include:

• Diversity and inclusion: 89% of organizations surveyed have a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) program, which is up from 83.6% in 2021.
  • Of those D&I programs, 69.4% now include digital accessibility.
• Governance and budgeting:
  • 44.1% of accessibility programs roll up to one department or leader, up considerably from 30.8% in 2021.
  • 27.2% of budgets are centralized, up from 21.4% in 2021.
• Testing and monitoring:
  • 67.3% of respondents test for accessibility earlier, during the CI/CD process, which is up from 56% in 2021.
  • 40% validate accessibility requirements in unit testing, a jump from 22.8% in 2021.
  • 77.3% use monitoring tools, which is up significantly from 33% in 2021.
• Product accessibility:
  • 73.7% of product buyers prioritize accessibility when purchasing a product, which is up from 55.2% in 2020 and 71.4% in 2021.
  • 58.7% of buyers require proof of product accessibility in the form of a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template—or VPAT®, which is up from 52.9% in 2021.

Springer adds, “This data can serve as an important tool for organizations to better understand trends in digital inclusion, benchmark their own efforts to create inclusive technology for people with disabilities, and justify investments in digital accessibility. Our continued hope is that it provides the education and motivation for organizations of all sizes to make digital inclusion a top business priority.”Request the full 2022 State of Digital Accessibility Report.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility + Level Access

eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access empower organizations with the advanced software and expert managed services they need to create accessible and legally compliant websites, mobile apps, digital products, and documents. The mission is to achieve digital equality for all users by ensuring technology is accessible to people with disabilities and the growing aging population. eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access announced the completion of their merger in August 2022. For more, visit www.levelaccess.com.

About G3ict

G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies, is an advocacy initiative launched in December 2006 in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UNDESA. Its mission is to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) promoting digital accessibility and Assistive Technologies. Participating organizations include industry, academia, the public sector, and organizations representing persons with disabilities. For more information, please visit https://www.g3ict.org.

About IAAP

The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) is a not-for-profit association focused on advancing the accessibility profession globally through networking, education, and certification in order to enable the creation of accessible products, content, and services for persons with disabilities. For more information, please visit https://www.accessibilityassociation.org. Public Relations Contact Coleman Pyeatt anthonyBarnum Public Relations coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com (214) 797-9848

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ARLINGTON, VA and TORONTO — August 18, 2022  — Level Access—the trusted provider of enterprise digital accessibility solutions and eSSENTIAL Accessibility—the pioneer of Accessibility-as-a-Service—jointly announced today the completion of their merger. The two companies will combine to create a premier platform for end-to-end digital accessibility management, transforming the industry and accelerating the adoption of digital accessibility.

 “We’re thrilled to join forces with eSSENTIAL Accessibility and define the future of digital accessibility as it becomes a mainstream priority for more organizations,” said Tim Springer, Founder and CEO of Level Access, named CEO of the combined company. “With this merger, we will accelerate our pace of innovation, delivering a powerful new solution that will help organizations achieve and maintain digital accessibility, and will scale with them over time.”

 “In our digitally driven world, online engagement is more important than ever, making equal access to digital experiences a fundamental human right,” said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. Steele has been named President of the combined company. “For this reason, more organizations are committing to, and investing in digital accessibility. And whether they’ve never prioritized it, or have struggled with sustainable results, our combined company will provide the premier solution to support a long-term accessibility program.”

People with disabilities make up the world’s largest minority group, representing more than one billion people globally. Digital accessibility supports an organization’s commitment to inclusion, as well as its compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Globally, an increasing number of laws and regulations have been enacted or applied to the enforcement of digital accessibility. In the United States the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is often applied to websites, mobile apps, and other digital experiences. An ever-increasing number of lawsuits and ADA legal demand letters are being sent to organizations that do not comply. 

For these reasons, enterprises are now incorporating digital accessibility as part of their Governance, Reporting and Compliance (GRC) initiatives and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments. The newly combined company will be perfectly positioned to support this shift in prioritization.

“Changing market trends have driven digital accessibility to the mainstream. Our investment in the combined Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility is based on this sector’s strong growth prospects and the opportunity we believe this talented team has to meet customer demand through an enterprise-grade solution,” said Ben Pederson, Director on the technology growth team at KKR, the lead investor in the merged organization.

eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s and Level Access’s largest outside investors KKR and JMI Equity, respectively, will continue to support the growth of the combined company. KKR’s investment is through its technology growth fund. 

To read more about the strategic merger, visit https://www.levelaccess.com/essential-accessibility-and-level-access-finalize-merger and https://www.levelaccess.com/blog/essential-accessibility-and-level-access-finalize-merger/.

About Level Access

Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA,WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, consulting services, and training solutions, the company’s solutions ensure customer’s web, desktop, mobile, and electronic document systems are accessible to everyone. Level Access is endorsed by the American Banking Association, is a multi-year repeat winner on the Inc. 5000 list of fast-growing companies and is the only available FedRAMP authorized accessibility management platform. CEO Tim Springer was named a White House “Champion of Change” in 2014. Learn more at levelaccess.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at https://www.levelaccess.com.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About JMI Equity

JMI Equity is a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 170 businesses in its target markets, successfully completed over 110 exits, and raised more than $6 billion of committed capital. JMI partners with exceptional management teams to help build their companies into industry leaders. For more information, visit www.jmi.com.

The post Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility Complete Merger appeared first on Level Access.

Mainstream adoption

Over the past few years, digital accessibility has come to be seen as a base requirement for all digital programs. What’s driving this uptick? Four key forces:

• Regulatory Environment—Globally, we’ve seen an ever-expanding set of regulations requiring digital accessibility. Over the next few years, we expect updated regulation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the implementation of the European Union’s Accessibility Act requirements.
• Enforcement—The number of lawsuits, threats of lawsuits, and regulatory enforcement have all drastically increased. It’s a civil right to ensure people with disabilities can interact online. Those civil rights are actively being defended.
• Market Requirements—A constellation of laws, regulations, and market forces have aligned to require accessibility for all technology products sold on the market.
• DEI & A—Accessibility is seen as a fundamental component of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), to which we’ve seen accessibility added. At its foundation, making a digital experience accessible is all about ensuring it’s inclusive for every user. As more brands prioritize DEI, they’ve begun to adopt accessibility through the lens of inclusion.

The combination of these forces has driven accessibility into the mainstream. It’s been made table stakes for any modern digital assets. It’s woven into the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments of modern, forward-thinking organizations. Accessibility is going mainstream. And we’re passionate, poised, and ready to meet the needs of this increased market interest.

Better together

Together, with a united purpose, we will accelerate our pace of innovation, create powerful new offerings, and significantly expand our roster. Our team has the deepest and most experienced bench of accessibility experts in the industry. That ensures we can deliver to our customers elegant technical solutions and refined services to support and strengthen their individual accessibility programs, enabling them to better serve their end users. Simply put, we are better together. What’s most thrilling is that this merger enables eA and Level Access to double down on a long-standing shared sense of purpose—to ensure everyone can live and work in an increasingly digital world. Our job is to push adoption of accessibility further. To help organizations achieve equity in access to technology solutions. To make the digital world work equally for all. And with the talent and capabilities of these combined companies, we have an incredibly exciting future ahead!

The post eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access Finalize Merger appeared first on Level Access.

At a high level, how do you define experience design?

“To me, the term ‘experience design’ is all about design that starts with people—researching and understanding the core needs of people, and then building everything from there. It’s about making sure we’re including real-world experiences in the way we build things, and solving any problems someone may encounter. And as part of experience design, we have to remember, we’re not just trying to understand the core needs of some people, we’re designing to understand and meet the needs of all people.”

Is this where accessibility becomes part of the thinking?

“Most definitely, or it should anyway. Accessibility is all about equality of access and removing any barriers that could become problems, whether it’s a physical or digital experience. And I believe that as designers of digital experiences, in our predominantly digital society, we have a fundamental responsibility to create products and services that serve everyone equally. This includes the estimated 25 percent of the U.S. adult population that identifies as having a disability. If accessibility thinking is not part of design thinking, we’re underserving a significant percentage of the population. Organizations should absolutely prioritize accessibility if they haven’t already.”Forrester has identified accessibility platforms as one of the top ten technologies that underpin experience design, sitting at the top of the high business value category. Request the Q1 2022 Tech Tide.

Do you find more designers are thinking this way?

“I think that there’s been a definite shift over the past five years. We are more curious than we were, which is a good thing. We want to learn about each other, and we want to do better for each other. That has been driven in large part by the advocacy of the community of people with disabilities. I’ve started to see designers taking their roles as communicators and problem solvers a bit more seriously, and realizing that accessibility is not a ‘nice to have,’ but a ‘must have.’ We’ve got a long way to go, and a lot of educating to do, but I think together, we’re slowly figuring out how to build a design culture that’s more inclusive and accessible.”

Beyond designers, who else should be responsible for ensuring accessibility?

“I believe that creating an experience that’s enjoyable and will make a lasting consumer impact is everyone’s responsibility. If you’re a designer and already thinking this way, but the rest of the product development team isn’t, break down those silos. Get your product leaders, engineers, C-suite, and human resources colleagues excited about building products that will serve the needs of everyone.A good first step is to help colleagues better understand the way users with disabilities interact with digital experiences. Talk with different users. Ask questions. Get a feel for how they navigate a website or an app, and the challenges they face. When we’re more curious about different user needs, we’re more likely to prioritize building products that meet those needs. And naturally, this includes experiences that are also accessible.”

Can you share a bit more about The Stable and how you approach experience design?

“The Stable is a commerce agency that forges new pathways for brands to connect more authentically with their customers. We start every project by understanding the needs of the end user, and then we allow those needs to dictate our design. For us, you can’t have effective XD without accessibility. It’s fundamental to the products we create, and we’re proud to be partners with eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) to help us deliver on this commitment.”Learn why digital accessibility platforms like eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s top the “invest” category in Forrester’s 2022 Q1 Tech Tide on Experience Design. 

Effective XD with eA

eA partners with digital agencies, SIs, MSPs and consultancies, providing these partners, and the brands they work with, a comprehensive digital accessibility solution. Our all-in-one eA Platform is a centralized hub for accessibility technology, tooling, testing, and reporting, with access to expert managed services such as manual evaluations, design evaluation, legal guidance, code-level remediation support, and expert-led training. It’s this critical combination of technology and servicesthat will support and sustain an organization’s successful accessibility program.

The post Accessibility: A Critical Component of Modern Experience Design (XD) appeared first on Level Access.

Introducing the eSSENTIAL Accessibility PDF Accessibility Checker

With our newest product capability, the PDF Accessibility Checker, you can also leverage the eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) Platform to crawl your site, discovering PDFs that are present. You can then test the accessibility of your PDFs and request remediation with a few simple steps, supporting your accessibility program and your compliance efforts.Within our platform, a dashboard view lists documents our crawlers find. From there, you can prioritize which documents you want tested, click to test, review results almost immediately, and check the number of rules that passed or failed. Our rule library is built upon the PDF/UA standard, the universally established standard for PDF accessibility. If a document has failures, requesting remediation is as easy as one more click. Our team then gets to work validating the failures identified, flagging any that are additional, and fixing all of them for you. We then deliver back to you an accessible PDF within our platform — no cumbersome email attachments required.

Benefits of the eA PDF Accessibility Checker

Not only can you test PDFs that are already live on your site, you can test new PDFs before they’re live and introduce barriers to your users:

• Instantly catalog documents embedded in your site, as well as the pages where they’re found.
• Request document testing, and then remediation, each with a single click.
• Review detailed reporting with a passed / failed status of every rule, and in-depth descriptions of each.
• Prioritize remediation based on document importance and number of accessibility issues.
• Make your end-to-end experience more usable for more people.
• Improve your legal compliance while reducing your risk of an ADA-related lawsuit or legal demand letter.
• Consolidate all accessibility work in one location—the eA Platform.

A suite of tests, one platform

With the eA PDF Accessibility Checker integrated into the multifaceted eA Platform, teams now have a suite of automated and manual testing capabilities within one convenient interface. From PDF testing to Design Evaluations, you’re now managing all of your accessibility testing tools—and workflows—from one centralized location. Ready to get started?To explore how your organization can benefit from the capabilities of the eA PDF Accessibility Checker and eA Platform, browse our solution capabilities or reach out to our team today. [irp posts=”23947″ name=”Improved Monitoring and Analytics: Now on the eA Platform”]

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Strike while the iron’s hot

During a website redesign, and in larger rebranding initiatives, designers are asking themselves fundamental questions about the look and feel of their brand and branded experiences. These are questions like:

• What color palette are we using?
• What font will suit the experience best?
• How do we structure and place our content so it tells the right story?
• How does a user move through our content journey to their desired action?

Each of these key questions provides an excellent opportunity to take a digital experience from bland to bold. But they also have the potential to expand that digital experience to a wider audience, including people with disabilities and others with web accessibility needs. Immediate accessibility improvements can be made in the course of a rebrand or redesign by adding some extra context to each key question. For example:

• What color palette are we using? And does it provide for sufficient color contrast between elements and their backgrounds?
• What font will suit the experience best? And does it help users with reading disabilities to distinguish between characters easily?
• How do we structure and place our content so it tells the right story? And is our heading structure nested correctly to enable users with visual impairments to follow it correctly with their screen readers?
• How does a user move through our content journey to their desired action? And will that user flow operate for keyboard users, tabbing through an experience without a mouse or pointing device?

The above is by no means an exhaustive list, but it represents the kind of questioning necessary to determine whether you’re designing for the broadest audience possible, including those among the 61 million U.S. adults with a disability who are impacted most by web accessibility. Now, you’ve moved beyond “will this look good” to “will this work well,” ensuring you not only attract, but retain that broader audience once you launch your redesign / rebrand. By reviewing designs through an accessibility lens, you’re actually enhancing the experience design for everyone. After all, better color contrast, more readable fonts, and logically structured content make for better experiences for all users—period.

A designer’s secret weapon

As the old saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” To assess the accessibility of designs, you first need to know what key questions to ask, but you may not have the depth of knowledge around accessibility guidelines to be able to analyze designs appropriately to find the answers. And even if you or your teammates do have in-depth knowledge of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and accessibility best practices for optimal user experience, it’s always helpful to have a second opinion from an outside expert.Level Access’ offering, Design Evaluations, provides exactly that expertise. Design Evaluations are a fast, reliable solution for creative teams in the middle of high-priority design projects, like a rebrand or redesign, and in need of agile, actionable feedback. But they can also be useful anytime a new webpage or design element is being added to your site. This offering is by designers, for designers. We evaluate digital designs and design elements to save brands time and money by helping you identify and fix accessibility issues before designs are sent for development.And no matter what the project, there’s an evaluation option to fit your goals:

1. Digital Brand Evaluations: for incorporating accessible design into the foundations of digital brand styling (color and contrast, typography, core functional elements such as buttons, etc.). This option supports teams undertaking rebranding projects and reviewing specific elements of their brand identity.
2. Interface Design Evaluations: for incorporating accessibility requirements into everyday design practices (newly designed screens, views, pages, etc.). This option supports teams adding to, updating, or completely overhauling the design of their digital products, like websites and mobile apps.

Based on a design rule library created by Accessible UX expert Karen Hawkins, Design Evaluations help confirm designs’ adherence to WCAG success criteria. Our evaluators review:

• Color palettes
• Typography
• Fundamental elements
• Comps
• Wireframes
• Component or pattern libraries

Evaluation results are easily accessed and understood in our all-in-one platform, where we provide a clear report on issues with actionable guidance on how to resolve them, plus general guidance to help design teams embed best practices into their workflows. And the benefits will accrue over time as designers become more aware of the issues and how to resolve them.

Take the next step

Making your digital properties fully accessible to all requires careful consideration about the way they’re designed and built. Design Evaluations from Level Access empower designers to address potential accessibility issues from wherever they’re at, making the whole development lifecycle faster and more efficient, and improving digital accessibility for everyone.Learn more about the power of this market-leading, unique capability, and how it can accelerate accessibility for your organization by accessing our on-demand webinar.

The post Website Redesign? Corporate Rebrand? It’s the Perfect Time to Prioritize Web Accessibility appeared first on Level Access.

Toronto —  July 27, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced the launch of its newest solution capability, Design Evaluations. Based on the market’s first-ever design-focused Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) rule library, Design Evaluations will identify digital accessibility issues rooted in the design of a digital asset or experience, eliminating barriers well before development begins.

“With Design Evaluations, we’re fundamentally changing how design teams can improve the accessibility of digital experiences,” said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. “Helping organizations identify accessibility errors early in their creative process means teams can catch errors before they become barriers for users in a live environment. And designers will learn from this process, increasing their capacity to build inclusive designs over time.”

Accessibility errors rooted in design are present on the vast majority of websites today. According to a recent WebAIM accessibility evaluation of the homepages for the top million websites, low-contrast text was the most commonly detected WCAG issue. The study reveals it’s present on 84 percent of homepages. Low-contrast text is a design flaw and just one of the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria that relate to design. 

By identifying and solving accessibility issues in the design phase, teams can solve for the vast majority of accessibility errors. Of the 50 WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria, 41 criteria, or 82 percent, can be addressed, at least partially, in design. eA’s Design Evaluations will flag these WCAG errors, enabling designers to correct them before their website, app, or product advances further in its development lifecycle. This reduces the costs of fixing accessibility errors downstream, and preserves team capacity for other important work.

There are two types of eA Design Evaluations:

• Digital Brand Evaluations provide design feedback on an organization’s branding style guide, the foundation of its visual identity.
• Interface Design Evaluations provide feedback on any newly designed pages, screens, or product views.

Design Evaluations are supported by the multi-faceted capabilities of the integrated eA Platform. Organizations can upload designs for analysis to the platform, then monitor status, review results, and receive actionable feedback with guidance and resources, all from one convenient interface. 

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About eSSENTIAL Accessibility

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at https://www.levelaccess.com.

Media Contacts

Avery Nunez

BLASTmedia for eSSENTIAL Accessibility

eSSENTIALAccessibility@blastmedia.com 

317.806.1900 ext. 159

The post eSSENTIAL Accessibility Launches Design Evaluations Based on First-Ever Design-Focused WCAG Rule Library appeared first on Level Access.

As websites and web content evolve, so do the requirements to make those experiences accessible. Ongoing education sharpens the skills that are necessary to achieve digital accessibility for the long-term. That’s why training is a key component of any sustainable digital accessibility program.

eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access have merged! Read More

At eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), we’re committed to helping our clients ensure sustainable accessibility management. To that end, we created the eSSENTIAL Accessibility Academy. The eA Academy is a library of on-demand, expert-led training courses with content created for, and mapped to, different learning paths. For example, the Academy includes a path specific to developers, covering what they need to know to code accessible experiences. There’s also a path for designers, orienting them to accessible design fundamentals, and more. 

Our newest eA Academy courses

UI learning path:

Color Fundamentals for UI

Develop a fundamental understanding of the role color plays in designing accessible web experiences. Learn best practices for digital content, including contrast, color requirements, in-text hyperlinks, and flashing content.

Image Fundamentals for UI

Best practices when designing images for your digital experiences. Develop a deep understanding of alternative text guidelines, text on images, and images of text.

Buttons and Links for UI

Learn about the importance of making buttons and links accessible in your digital experiences. Through this course, gain an understanding of making components responsive and best practices for creating legible buttons and links.

UX learning path:

Color Fundamentals for UX

Develop a fundamental understanding of the role color plays in designing accessible web experiences. Learn best practices for using color, contrast of text, and links.

Image Fundamentals for UX

Best practices when designing images for your digital experiences. Develop a deep understanding of alternative text guidelines, how images impact user experiences (UX), and non-text content UX designers are responsible for.

Buttons and Links for UX

Learn about the importance of making buttons and links accessible in your digital experiences. Through this course, learn how to allow users to interrupt accidental button activations and why skip links are important.

Content designer learning path

Writing Alt Text for Content Designers

Best practices for crafting meaningful and effective alternative text on images. Learn the purpose of alternative text, and when and how to use it.

Writing Basics for Content Designers

Develop a deep understanding of the role content designers play in digital accessibility. This course will dive into writing responsibilities relating to accessibility and the importance of meeting accessibility requirements.

In addition to these new learning paths and courses, the eA Academy’s existing library of on-demand classes covers a broad range of topics, including accessible development, testing for accessibility, ensuring document accessibility, accessible social media, and more.

The eSSENTIAL difference

At eSSENTIAL Accessibility, we firmly believe in a holistic approach to accessibility management: one that not only provides the tools and technical guidance to make digital experiences accessible, but one that also delivers the ongoing training needed to keep up with changing standards.

The eA Academy is available to eA customers and is an integral part of our comprehensive software + expert services solution. We help businesses and organizations of all sizes, equipping them with ongoing training, as well as the software, tooling, integration, testing, and legal support needed to make their digital experiences accessible and keep them that way.

Request a demo of the eA Platform today to start your accessibility journey.

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TORONTO — June 28, 2022 — eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced the launch of its new browser extension, the eA Accessibility Checker. This next-level testing tool now enables developers to scan an entire customer user flow, bundle it into a single data set, and sync the findings with the eA Platform for analysis and actioning. Identifying and testing critical user flows, like a shopping cart checkout or online booking, is a vital component of accessibility testing. For the first time, the eA Accessibility Checker empowers developers and testers to aggregate flows as a single test so they can identify accessibility barriers that would otherwise prevent a user from being able to complete an intended action, start to finish. Coupled with the powerful capabilities of the eA Platform, teams can then sync and analyze data, prioritize based on bug severity, organize work into projects for actioning, and push specific tasks into issue tracking systems like Jira and Azure DevOps—weaving accessibility work into existing workflows. “Our browser extension is another example of how we’ve built an unparalleled ecosystem that gives teams greater visibility to accessibility issues and guidance to manage them across the entire software development lifecycle—from initial scan to remediation,” said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. The eA Accessibility Checker scans in any production or pre-production environment (including content that’s dynamically generated), pop-ups, and environments that are secured or hard-to-reach. With this end-to-end testing and remediation capability, teams can now easily and more efficiently find and fix bugs in live environments, but more importantly, they can catch them before they go live and introduce a barrier for a user with a disability. To learn more about eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s all-in-one digital accessibility solution, visit https://www.levelaccess.com.

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About eSSENTIAL Accessibility eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at s42509.p1442.sites.pressdns.com.Media Contacts Avery Nunez BLASTmedia for eSSENTIAL Accessibility eSSENTIALAccessibility@blastmedia.com 317.806.1900 ext. 159

The post eSSENTIAL Accessibility Launches New Browser Extension Making it Possible to Test User Flows for Accessibility Barriers appeared first on Level Access.

Unique to eA, teams can now use our web accessibility checker to scan a customer user flow, bundle that flow into a single data set, and sync those findings back to the eA Platform for analysis and actioning.

Benefits of the eA Accessibility Checker

Test a critical flow, aggregate as a single scan:The ability to zero-in on an important flow, like a shopping checkout or an online booking is critical to your customers’ experience. Developers can now aggregate that flow as a single test to identify accessibility barriers that would otherwise prevent a customer from being able to complete that flow from start to finish. Teams can then upload that scan as a single data set into the eA Platform for analysis and actioning (other scanners limit testing to one page at a time). Prioritize, organize, and integrate accessibility work: While eA’s new Accessibility Checker adds important capabilities to traditional automated accessibility scanning and testing, testing is just the first step in any sustainable accessibility program. With the powerful capabilities of the eA Platform, users can sync scanning data, prioritize based on bug severity, organize work into projects for actioning, and push specific tasks into familiar issue tracking systems like Jira and Azure DevOps—weaving accessibility work into existing workflows. Scan hard-to-reach environments: The eA Accessibility Checker scans any production or pre-production environment (including content that’s dynamically generated), pop-ups, and those environments that are hard-to-reach or secured. Catch bugs earlier: You’ll be able to easily and efficiently find and fix bugs in live environments, but more importantly, catch them before they go live to prevent a barrier for a user with a disability. Work smarter, not harder with the eA Accessibility Checker and its integration with the eA Platform. Here’s a demo to give you a sneak peek:

The eA Accessibility Checker browser extension is just one of the many tools included in our Accessibility-as-a-Service solution. eA combines the efficiencies of tooling, automation, and technology with manual evaluation expertise and legal support.To explore how your organization can benefit from the capabilities of the eA Accessibility Checker and eA Platform, browse our solution capabilities or reach out to our team today. Read more about the way we’ve streamlined web accessibility management with Advanced Projects and Tasks, and improved automated scanning results with Auto-Match Findings.

The post Next-level accessibility testing: Introducing the eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) Checker appeared first on Level Access.

eSSENTIAL Accessibility and Level Access have merged! Read More

Summary: eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) is proud to sponsor the 2022 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Find out more about the NFB, how the Federation is continuing to fight for digital equality, and why eA is a proud supporter.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. It is the leading advocate for the inclusion of blind people in all areas of society. Every year, the NFB holds its National Convention, bringing together members and advocates for training, support, networking, and social events, and setting the organization’s priorities for the next 12 months. The 2022 convention takes place in July in New Orleans, and will welcome an expected 3,300 people for six days. eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) is proud to sponsor this year’s convention at the platinum level, supporting the NFB’s important work to advance equality and access. We know that the NFB’s critical civil rights advocacy, including its campaigning for improved online accessibility, has far-reaching benefits for users of every ability.

A force for good

The NFB has helped advance disability rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, creating more equitable workplaces, classrooms, and communities for blind Americans. One of the organization’s main legal points of focus is access to information. As we collectively shift to a digital-first society, the NFB continues its advocacy for equal access to digital information, in particular. At eA, ensuring equality of access online is our purpose. And it benefits us all. When digital information and experiences are clearly structured, well designed, and easy to navigate, they are not only more accessible for people with disabilities, but also more enjoyable and usable for everyone. Making a digital experience accessible means it’s free of barriers that would otherwise prevent a blind user, or any user with a disability, from interacting fully with it. The NFB recognized and supported digital accessibility from as early as 1999. It was that year the organization informed AOL of the problems blind people had when using its system and software. This prompted the creation of AOL’s Accessibility Advisory Committee to “advise the company on the accessibility (to people with disabilities) of its products to ensure that they are convenient and easy to use for everyone.” And this is just one of many significant corporate shifts the NFB has influenced over the years.

Leading the charge

Thanks in part to the NFB’s work, Ticketmaster made its website accessible to blind users in 2011, and Monster.com did the same in 2013. The NFB has collaborated with McDonald’s to make its self-service kiosks more accessible. And, because of the NFB, the IRS agreed to provide post-filing tax notices in Braille, large print, or electronic formats. More recently, the organization sent an open letter to education officials in all states regarding the inaccessibility of some student-facing technology during the pandemic-related shift to virtual learning. These high-profile efforts and the NFB’s advocacy continue to raise awareness about the importance of digital accessibility.

Making the web accessible for all

Like the NFB, we believe that everyone deserves equal access to the life-changing opportunities that exist in the digital world. We push ourselves daily to develop the most cutting-edge digital accessibility solutions, equipping organizations with the tools, training, and resources they need to make their websites, mobile apps, software, and digital documents accessible. Our goal is to support and train organizations’ in-house teams to reach compliance benchmarks, then reach beyond them. We also understand the pursuit of equality and accessibility is ongoing, and that’s why we’re proud to sponsor the 2022 NFB National Convention, a gathering of like-minded community members, advocates, and leaders. It’s opportunities like this that will continue to foster sharing, listening, and learning as we collaborate to make the web—and the world—accessible for all.

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ARLINGTON, Va. and TORONTO, June 14, 2022 – Level Access  and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, two leading digital accessibility organizations, have signed a definitive agreement to merge and create an end-to-end digital accessibility solution for businesses and organizations. Combining Level Access’s decades of full-service and deep domain expertise with eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s category-defining Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, the merger will create enhanced opportunities to partner with accessibility champions within organizations of all sizes and support them through every stage of their accessibility journey. Upon completion of the merger, the combined team will contribute their breadth of expertise, advancements in technology, and expanded suite of services towards achieving a shared mission of providing a simple, direct way to create and mature accessibility programs. This will further ensure businesses and organizations integrate accessibility into how they operate and make decisions, weaving access into the fabric of digital systems and services. The combined entity will empower more customers to scale and deliver digital accessibility in ways that minimize risk to roadmaps, bringing together powerful and holistic capabilities that drive meaningful access for people with disabilities.

“Tim Springer and the Level Access team are pioneers of digital accessibility on whose shoulders the industry stands, champions of the accessibility community for over two decades,” said Mark Steele, eSSENTIAL Accessibility CEO and Co-Founder.

“Their deep bench and unparalleled support for top accessibility experts is well known and admired throughout our market. Leading enterprises are incorporating digital accessibility as part of their Governance, Risk and Compliance capabilities in the pursuit of principled performance. In an advancing Environmental, Social and Governance era, this merger would expand our presence and enable new solutions.”

“The eSSENTIAL Accessibility team has created a category-defining Accessibility-as-a-Service platform that has made digital accessibility approachable and attainable for the broader market,” said Timothy Springer, Level Access CEO and Founder. “Our mission is to make the digital world more accessible, and this match would make that vision more possible than ever before. Level Access was founded on the idea that all people should be able to live their fullest lives through equal access to technology and combining with eSSENTIAL Accessibility would catalyze that end, as we have long shared the same drive to change the world through expansion of access.

“The merged company will be headquartered in Arlington, Virginia as a hybrid entity, which also expects to invest in the growth of key offices in Toronto, Canada and Argentina. Tim Springer will serve as CEO and Mark Steele as President of the merged organization. eSSENTIAL Accessibility’s and Level Access’s largest outside investors KKR and JMI Equity, respectively, will continue to support the growth of the combined company. KKR’s investment is through its technology growth strategy. The merger is expected to be completed in mid-2022, subject to customary approvals. To read more about the strategic combination of Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility, visit www.levelaccess.com/level-access-essential-accessibility and www.levelaccess.com/blog/essential-accessibility-level-access/.

About Level Access
Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA,WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EU directives on digital accessibility, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, consulting services, and training solutions, the company’s solutions ensure customer’s web, desktop, mobile, and electronic document systems are accessible to everyone. Level Access is endorsed by the American Banking Association, is a multi-year repeat winner on the Inc. 5000 list of fast-growing companies and is the only available FedRAMP authorized accessibility management platform. CEO Tim Springer was named a White House “Champion of Change” in 2014. Learn more at www.levelaccess.com.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility
eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at www.essentialaccessibility.com

About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About JMI Equity
JMI Equity is a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 170 businesses in its target markets, successfully completed over 110 exits, and raised more than $6 billion of committed capital. JMI partners with exceptional management teams to help build their companies into industry leaders. For more information, visit www.jmi.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Coleman Pyeatt
214-797-9848
coleman.pyeatt@anthonybarnum.com

The post Level Access and eSSENTIAL Accessibility Agree to Merge, Strengthening Market Presence as an All-Encompassing Digital Accessibility Solutions Provider appeared first on Level Access.

I’m incredibly excited to share with you that eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA) and Level Access have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. This is a new era for both of our companies and the digital accessibility market.

Why this merger, and why now?

This merger will represent a huge leap for the digital accessibility community. At eA, we’ve invested over 13 years in creating and innovating our category-defining Accessibility-as-a-Service platform that combines an industry-leading unified technology platform with expert managed services.

Level Access are pioneers of digital accessibility, providing a deep bench of accessibility consultants, training for advanced accessibility experts, their Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) technology, and champions of the accessibility community for over two decades.

Together, we will be able to strengthen and broaden our technology, services and consulting offerings for organizations of every size, enabling the accessibility of digital experiences for everyone.

The market for digital accessibility is growing, highly competitive, and maturing rapidly. Organizations are increasingly aware of both the benefits of achieving and maintaining digital accessibility, and their civil rights obligations to ensure equal access in their digital experiences. This merger is happening at the right time to accelerate digital accessibility adoption across as many organizations, and therefore digital experiences, as possible, helping us drive to our goal: a digital world that is inclusive of all.

What next?

There are customary regulatory processes that need to be followed. We expect the process to be complete by mid-2022. At that time, the two organizations will work closely together to develop a unified roadmap and new offerings for each other’s clients. Current clients will still get the same great platform and services they’ve always had.

Thank you

To our new joint team — thank you. This next, thrilling step in our organizations’ future will allow us to impact even more people’s lives and our success is thanks to your dedication and contributions.

Read the full press release.

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1.There are three major factors driving accessibility adoption in 2022.

Digital accessibility is the process of making an online experience accessible for users of all abilities, including those who rely on assistive technology. The goal is to remove barriers that would prevent people with disabilities from interacting fully with a website, mobile app, online video, digital document, or any other digital experience. In 2022, web accessibility compliance remains a business imperative for three key reasons.

First, the global pandemic drove unprecedented levels of digital adoption across all industries as organizations shifted to digital to keep products and services available throughout lockdowns. And even as pandemic restrictions ease, the collective shift into the virtual world is unlikely to reverse. Digital-first engagement will remain the primary means of engagement in many instances.

Second, companies are competing for a new generation of consumers and potential employees who are socially conscious, and they’re more inclined to support companies that share their values. Organizations that take the lead on issues such as web accessibility demonstrate they are committed to equity and inclusion, and sharpen their competitive edge in the battle for sales and talent.

Third, and most pertinent to our recent webinar, the regulatory landscape has shifted, and will continue to shift following guidance issues in March 2022 from the DOJ. According to Tim Elder, “Commerce has shifted online, and there’s a huge demand from customers with disabilities who want to engage digitally, just like everyone else. Yet companies continue to be non-compliant because they aren’t paying attention to what’s required or aren’t allocating sufficient resources toward compliance. We will continue to see a surge in lawsuits and ADA demand letters unless businesses become more proactive in auditing their digital properties.”

2.The time to invest in digital accessibility is now.

Our discussion provided useful reminders about the scale of the opportunity digital accessibility presents:

• Globally, more than one billion people are living with a disability.
• In the U.S., it’s estimated to be 26 percent of the adult population.
• This community controls an estimated annual spending power of $2 trillion.

Not only is the disability community a substantial — and growing — segment of the population, but disability impacts every community, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomics. By ensuring your digital experience is accessible, you’re creating a more inclusive experience, actively catering to all consumers, and benefiting from enormous commercial possibilities. On the other hand, organizations that don’t prioritize web accessibility compliance face the risk of legal action for failing to comply with anti-discrimination laws.

Globally, there are a variety of digital accessibility laws that may apply, depending on an organization’s location and size. In the U.S., there are both federal and state laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities, many of which apply to the digital world. During 2020 and 2021, plaintiffs filed approximately 5,400 digital accessibility lawsuits in the U.S., and that number is expected to increase year-over-year. Eve Hill adds, “This is a civil rights issue about the equality of access for people with disabilities. Not thinking about accessibility, and neglecting to design experiences with the needs of people with disabilities in mind, keeps them out, and that’s discrimination.”

3.The DOJ is taking digital accessibility seriously: further rulemaking is likely on its way.

There are two main laws in the U.S. that impact web accessibility compliance: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The ADA doesn’t specifically address digital accessibility because it was enacted before the internet went mainstream. However, case-law precedent and DOJ enforcement over the years have made it clear that the ADA does apply to the digital world.  Further, the latest guidance from the DOJ makes clear it will continue to prioritize web accessibility. And while the DOJ has stopped short of putting regulations in place, Tim believes the latest guidance is merely a placeholder for future rulemaking. “I believe this guidance is just a gap filler to ensure that when a proposed regulation comes out, there’s no misunderstanding that the lack of a final regulation means that websites aren’t covered yet. This guidance is setting that standard as a placeholder. Bottom line, don’t wait to make your website accessible.”

In very general terms, the ADA applies to private entities, and Section 508 applies to government agencies and vendors doing business with government agencies. Dig a little deeper, though, and things get a lot more complex. Are purely e-commerce brand websites subject to accessibility standards? If a Texas-based e-commerce site is accessed from California, what law applies? And does a website need to be associated with a physical place of business? The answers aren’t always clear-cut, and there are differences in how the U.S. circuit courts have interpreted the laws. While every circuit court to address the issue so far believes websites need to be accessible if you have both a physical location and a website, some circuits have indicated indirectly that a website must be accessible even if there is no physical location.

Legal opinions will continue to evolve in the coming months and years, and many thousands of new lawsuits will likely be filed while we wait for greater clarity on the regulations. According to our panel, there’s only one sensible course of action: aim to comply with the highest standard rather than trying to second-guess the courts. If your organization is sued, it’s going to hurt both your wallet and your consumer relationships.

4.WCAG conformance is key, but the practical user experience is paramount.

To comply with the ADA, you need to ensure that your digital properties, such as web content, ensure effective communication with people with disabilities. The DOJ’s guidance names the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), alongside Section 508 standards, as providing “helpful guidance” on how to achieve that standard. WCAG is a single, common set of technical standards for web accessibility that is repeatedly referenced in both legislation as well as court settlements and should be seen as the benchmark.

To conform with WCAG (as a significant step in the web accessibility compliance journey), you’ll need to rigorously test your digital content using both automated tools and manual testers. The automated tools provide a great baseline, finding and identifying common WCAG errors. From there, expert testers with extensive knowledge of both technical standards and the practical use of assistive technologies will help identify other barriers, providing guidance to fix them. And because both the WCAG standards and your content will continue to evolve, it’s a best practice to embed ongoing accessibility testing into your digital workflows.

According to Kris Rivenburgh, “The best approach is to identify the most important pages or screens within a digital experience and have experts test those user paths. For example, on an e-commerce site, don’t just check your homepage. Test the checkout flow, which includes adding an item to a cart, navigating to the cart page, and successfully entering payment information. Focusing on the critical flows that would prevent or impede access to content or functionality will make a significant impact on the overall user experience.”

Most consumers simply want equal access to your digital content. An organization that is actively committed to digital accessibility, and can demonstrate a clear plan and roadmap to achieving this goal, will mitigate their legal risk. And web accessibility compliance goes beyond just your own website. If you work with digital product vendors, you should require them to show proof of accessibility conformance before integrating that product into your experience. If not, you’re increasing your risk of being sued. Kris continues, “You—as the owner, operator, and controller of a website, app, or other digital product—are ultimately responsible for any integrations that are part of your experience. This is why it’s wise to update your accessibility policy to account for the procurement of accessible products and services.”

Take the next step toward web accessibility compliance

eSSENTIAL Accessibility can help you meet WCAG standards and maintain ADA compliance, supporting a user experience that’s enjoyable, not just functional, for all. With special thanks to our legal panel and contributors Eve Hill, Former DOJ Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Partner, Brown Goldstein & Levy; Tim Elder, Founder, TRE Legal Practice, Prominent Civil Rights Attorney; and Kris Rivenburgh, Head of Regulatory Affairs, eSSENTIAL Accessibility.

The post Web Accessibility Compliance in 2022: Four key takeaways from legal experts appeared first on Level Access.

The law relating to web accessibility can be complex, with many different regulations and private lawsuits impacting the legal landscape. You may have heard about digital accessibility responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In this article, we’ll break down ADA vs. Section 508 to help you understand your responsibilities and how to achieve compliance.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 refers to a section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a U.S. federal law that mandates that federal agencies create and use information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities. The definition of ICT includes software and websites, electronic documents (such as PDFs), multimedia content, phones, call centers, and more—anything that people may use in order to access federal services.Section 508 applies only to federal agencies and departments, ensuring all people with disabilities can use federal agency resources. It may also apply to organizations doing business with federal agencies. A closely related section of the act, Section 504, similarly applies to entities that receive federal funding, such as schools, universities, hospitals, nursing homes, and more.Learn more about Section 508 and how it relates to web content.

What is the ADA?

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a U.S. civil rights law passed in 1990 that protects people from discrimination on the basis of disability. The ADA is a much broader law than Section 508, applying to any business in the private and public sector, and mandating equal access to employment opportunities and to physical spaces, for example. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and case law interpretation of the ADA have determined that it also applies to digital content. The ADA’s Title III prohibits discrimination in “places of public accommodations.” While web accessibility is not explicitly mentioned in its language, legal rulings have determined that online assets, such as websites, can be considered places of public accommodation. This means if your web content is not accessible, you can face an ADA discrimination lawsuit.Learn more about ADA compliance and how it applies to web content.

Making your site ADA and Section 508 compliant

Non-compliance with Section 508 web accessibility requirements can result in loss of funding for federal agencies, and can put product companies’ contracts with those agencies in jeopardy. And if your business isn’t a vendor of the federal government, you will likely still be required to make your websites and web content accessible in order to comply with the ADA. ADA non-compliance can result in reputation-damaging lawsuits and the legal fees that come with them.Of course, the most significant consequence of non-compliance with the ADA or Section 508 is the wrongful exclusion of people with disabilities from access to online goods and services. And that’s not to mention the negative business impacts of excluding a consumer base who, along with their friends and family, control over $13 trillion in spending, globally. So, how do you make sure your websites, software, apps, and other web content can be accessed by all? Currently, the gold standard for web accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG.

Avoiding penalties: WCAG conformance

WCAG provides technical specifications to improve the accessibility of web content, websites, and web applications for people with a wide range of disabilities including auditory, cognitive, physical, and visual disabilities. WCAG success criteria are categorized into three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Each level includes and builds on the previous one, with Level A representing basic accessibility and Level AAA representing excellent accessibility. It is recommended that organizations conform to at least level AA criteria.While WCAG standards do not constitute the law, they are designed to align with legal requirements, and in fact the refresh of Section 508 cites conformance with WCAG 2.0 AA as the standard of accessibility to which federal organizations must conform. The ADA does not mention WCAG explicitly, but DOJ enforcements of the ADA in recent years have cited conformance with WCAG AA standards as a settlement requirement.As is noticeable in the previous paragraph, the WCAG standards continue to evolve, with each version improving on the previous by adding specifications or broadening the scope. Though Section 508 cites WCAG 2.0, the W3C has updated the WCAG standards twice since then. The most recent version, WCAG 2.2 was released in October of 2023, so Level Access recommends organizations work toward conformance with this latest version. For more details on how to conform with WCAG, read our Must-Have WCAG Checklist.Learn more about WCAG conformance levels.

How Level Access helps

Together, the ADA and Section 508 help ensure that no business or agency, whether in the public or private sector, excludes individuals with disabilities from access to online content. But in the journey to an accessible internet, these laws only represent the destination. WCAG provides a roadmap to getting there. By conforming to WCAG standards, you’re well on your way to legal compliance.So how can you achieve WCAG conformance? The Level Access solution combines comprehensive automated testing and manual evaluation, accessibility tools for designers, remediation support, legal expertise, and more. Learn more about our digital accessibility solution today.

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If you’re part of a federal government agency, or you’re doing business with one, your organization is required to comply with Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973. But what does this look like in practice?In this article, you’ll find a guide to Section 508 testing. Learn about:

• What Section 508 is and why it matters
• The standards you’ll use when testing your web content
• The most common accessibility considerations for Section 508 compliance
• How an accessibility partner can provide a holistic approach to implementing your Section 508 testing results

Section 508 compliance: What it is & why it matters

Section 508 is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a U.S. federal accessibility law. It is essentially a federal government procurement tool written to ensure that all information and communications technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies is accessible for people with disabilities. Section 508 thus applies to all federal agencies and departments, as well as organizations doing business with federal agencies.

What counts as ICT?

When Section 508 mentions ICT, it refers to software and websites, electronic documents (for example, PDFs), multimedia content, phones, call centers, and more. ICT is basically any kind of electronic or web asset that people may use in order to access federal services.

Why Section 508 compliance matters

Making web content accessible to everyone is the ethical thing to do for any organization, whether Section 508 applies. Of course, it’s also a smart business move. Non-compliance with Section 508 can result in hefty fines for covered entities. Non-compliance also puts private companies’ government contracts at risk, since any ICT they sell to or provide for government agencies must be Section 508 compliant. That’s where Section 508 testing comes in. To get your organization in shape for compliance, you’ll need to test your ICT against the success criteria described by the global gold standards for web accessibility: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

Download our Complete Guide to Section 508 Compliance

Download our Guide

Section 508 testing is WCAG conformance testing

WCAG itself is not a legal requirement, like Section 508. Instead, it is a set of standards created by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which is part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The aim of WAI in creating WCAG was to create a global gold standard for accessible web content.The latest version, WCAG 2.2 builds on previous versions and was released in October 2023. So, in performing Section 508 testing, both automated tools and accessibility evaluation partners will evaluate your ICT according to WCAG criteria.

WCAG versions and levels

WCAG has different conformance levels that do not all necessarily apply to all organizations. So, which version and level should you test for? Section 508 currently cites conformance to WCAG 2.0 Level AA as its compliance standard. So, if your ICT meets all WCAG 2.0 AA criteria, it effectively meets Section 508 requirements. Level AA is the second of three conformance levels (A, AA, and AAA) and represents a strong level of accessibility. As for version 2.0, recall that this is not the most updated version of WCAG. However, we do anticipate Section 508, and other laws, will eventually adopt the most recent version of WCAG. That’s why we recommend working toward conformance with WCAG 2.2. Learn more about the differences between WCAG versions and levels in our blog on the subject.

What to focus on when testing for Section 508 compliance

Types of ICT

The aim of Section 508 testing is identifying and solving any accessibility barriers that exist in ICT used by employees and patrons of your organization. Below are some of the most common digital experiences that should be tested for Section 508 compliance, at the very least:

• Websites (internet and intranet)
• Mobile applications
• Program application platforms, or software and operating systems (web-based and stand-alone)
• PDF documents
• E-learning courses (for example, online training)
• Support documentation (for example, user guides for software and tools)

For a full list of the types of ICT you may need to test, consult the GSA’s guide to inventorying your ICT for the purpose of Section 508 testing.

Accessibility considerations

Section 508 testing should ensure that ICT is accessible from the point of view of a user with any number of disabilities that affect how they interact with technology. For example, ICT must be able to properly interact with various assistive technologies, such as screen readers and voice recognition software. Similarly, it should be able to support keyboard-only users. Websites should be designed with sufficient color contrast for users with low contrast sensitivity, and online forms should include proper input labels. Finally, WCAG standards should be followed for all of the ICT your organization uses – including all formats and file types, internal training materials, job listings, and more. These are just a few examples from a long list of potential considerations, which is why it’s important to use testing tools and methods that will detect the full range of potential barriers.

How to carry out Section 508 testing

So, what does Section 508 testing actually consist of? The process typically involves testing against WCAG success criteria via one or both of the following:

• Automated testing: There are many accessibility automated testing tools – sometimes called web scanners – available to scan your ICT and generate a list of barriers that need to be fixed. One popular example is WAVE. Note that automated tools have limitations. Web scanners typically only identify problems, but do not fix them. They may also miss accessibility barriers that could lead to non-compliance fines or lawsuits.
• Manual testing: To get a clearer picture of the state of accessibility of your ICT, you can use screen readers and other common assistive technologies to test your ICT manually – if you have access to them.

Though some organizations do choose to use just one of these methods, the best approach is a holistic one. Section 508 testing is complex, and using a combination of methods allows you to cover more bases.

Does your website meet accessibility guidelines?

Access our WCAG checklist

How an accessibility partner can help

Section 508 testing is a complex process with high stakes for your business and your users. Deciding to take a holistic approach is a great first step, but it still takes a lot of expertise, time, and resources to execute this approach. As demonstrated in the General Services Administration’s guide to testing, even identifying the right automation tools to use requires knowledge and experience, and then there’s the expertise required to run the tests, interpret results, and fix the problems identified, prioritizing those that will make the most critical impact, first. Often, the best solution is to turn to the experts. An accessibility partner like Level Access has the expertise and experience to not only guide you through a holistic approach to section 508 testing, but also remove barriers and prevent future problems.Specifically, an accessibility partner would:

• Use a combination of automated accessibility testing tools and manual evaluations for individual web pages, documents, and applications.
• Have users (including people with disabilities) of assistive technologies, such as screen readers like JAWS, test for inaccessibility.
• Test individual website functionalities such as online forms or flows such as product purchases, among others.
• Produce an in-depth report that not only gives an overall rating of the level of Section 508 compliance, but also identifies, explains and provides code-level solutions for individual violations of accessibility guidelines.
• Ensure reports are jargon-free so they can be understood, and provide personal interaction with experts who can discuss the reports and answer questions.
• Offer remediation recommendations, including periodic monitoring, and provide status reports as improvements are made.
• Help completing a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), providing a full Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for proof of conformance with accessibility requirements.
• Provide accessibility training to ensure accessibility is sustained throughout your organization’s future.

Section 508 compliance is a complex but necessary step in the journey toward accessibility for all. With eA, your organization doesn’t have to go it alone. If you’re interested in how we can help bring your organization into compliance with Section 508, get in touch with us today.

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Following the establishment of Level Access in 1997, Springer and the initial founders set their sights on the goal of enabling all people to achieve their full potential through access to digital technology. Dropping out of Stanford to pursue his dream of digital equality, Tim has devoted himself to achieving that very goal with Level Access. Tim has positioned Level Access as one of the leading digital accessibility solutions, software, and services platforms — ensuring websites and apps have the tools they need to meet compliance and create an equally accessible world.

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized for all we have accomplished for accessibility, and I am thrilled to see what the future holds for Level Access,” said Tim Springer. “Level Access has been through many ups and downs since the initial idea was conceived in a Stanford dorm room, but we stand proud of where we are today. Just like a diamond, the process of growing Level Access into an industry leader took a relentless, iterative process of pressure and time.”

Springer was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges according to the following criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact — among other core contributions and attributes. Regional winners will be announced on June 29, 2022. The regional winners will then be considered by the National independent judging panel, and National awards will be presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2023.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title.

About Level Access

Level Access provides industry-leading and award-winning digital accessibility solutions to over 2,000 corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions. Level Access’s mission is to achieve digital equality for all users by ensuring technology is accessible to people with disabilities and the growing aging population. Founded in 1997, Level Access has an unparalleled history in helping customers achieve and maintain compliance with the full scope of accessible technology regulations and standards including the ADA, WCAG, CVAA, AODA, EN 301 549, and Section 508. Delivered through a comprehensive suite of software, consulting services, and training solutions, the company’s solutions ensure customer’s web, desktop, mobile, and electronic document systems are accessible to everyone. Level Access is endorsed by the American Banking Association, named a White House “Champion of Change” in 2014, and multi-year repeat winners on the Inc. 5000 list of fast-growing companies.

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