WCAG

QA Consultants is an Industry Leader in WCAG Conformance Testing

Our experienced compliance solutions teams ensure that an organization’s website content and user interface complies with the principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. We apply our proven tested methodology, pre-built test cases, and industry expertise to quickly and effectively evaluate a website and determine risks and ideal fixes.

Specialized WCAG 2.0 Accessibility Testing Practice includes:

• Strong and deep pool of Accessibility Testing QA and Consulting (SME) Resources.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of the WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
• Strong experience delivering WCAG conformance testing services to various clients including Ontario government agencies, Fortune 500 corporations, web design agencies, etc.
• Proven methodology for bringing web content up to conformance.
• Advanced and industry-leading testing techniques which optimize efforts and timelines.
• Utilize a real-user environment with the appropriate hardware, software, tools and process that emulates the environment in which people with disabilities operate.
• Provide detailed reporting which enables concise and focused code changes to address defects and ensure client WCAG conformance.
• Specialized solution model which guides clients through the WCAG 2.0 conformance process, including working with creative and web design agencies, development teams, etc.

WCAG 2.0 and W3C

WCAG 2.0 is an internationally accepted standard for web accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international team of experts.

WCAG sets out guidelines for organizations to make their websites more accessible. The guidelines cover things like:

• Writing web content in clear language
• Providing alternate text for images, or
• Making sure someone can navigate your website with just a keyboard
• Each guideline has three levels of accessibility: A, AA and AAA
• Level AAA is the highest level of accessibility; level AAA requires conformance at all 3 levels (A, AA, AAA)
• Level AA requires conformance at both A and AA

4 Foundational WCAG 2.0 Principles for Web Content Access & Use

1. Perceivable – Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
   • This means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can’t be invisible to all of their senses)
2. Operable – User interface components and navigation must be operable
   • This means that users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform)
3. Understandable – Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable
   • This means that users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding)
4. Robust – Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies
   • This means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible)
   • If any of these are not true, users with disabilities will not be able to use the Web

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools

Web accessibility evaluation tools are software programs or online services that help determine if a web site is accessible.

What evaluation tools can do:

• Web accessibility evaluation tools can reduce the time and effort required to carry out evaluations.

The following are ways in which tools can assist users in evaluating web sites for accessibility:

• Determine the conformance of web sites to accessibility checks which can be executed automatically;
• Effectively assist reviewers in performing accessibility checks which need to be evaluated manually.

What evaluation tools cannot do:

• Many accessibility checks require human judgement and must be evaluated manually using different techniques.
• Evaluation tools are prone to producing false or misleading results such as not identifying or signal incorrect code.
• The results from evaluation tools should not be used to determine conformance levels unless they are operated by experienced evaluators who understand the capabilities and limitations of the tools in order to achieve accurate results.

Web accessibility evaluation tools cannot determine the accessibility of web sites, they can only assist in doing so.

Proven Methodology for Bringing Web Content up to WCAG 2.0 Conformance

 

STEP 1: Initial High-Level Discovery Meeting to complete the QAC Web Content Accessibility Questionnaire which identifies:

• Test Scope
• Web Content URLs, Listing, Starting Points, etc.
• Desired Conformance Level (A, AA, AAA)
• WCAG 2.0 Applicable Web Content Details (Languages, Audio, Video, Live Media, etc.)
• Test Devices, Platforms, Browsers
• Test Cycles

Initial Technical Details

• Firewall / Lock-out Gate considerations
• Usage of Custom Controls, etc.
• Feeds from 3rd Party Websites

Project Details

• Current status
• Development Methodology (Agile, Waterfall, etc.)
• Target timeline

DELIVERABLES:

1. Completed QAC Web Content Accessibility Questionnaire

STEP 2: Accessibility Scope Assessment (ASA) – Detailed Analysis of the Web Content in order to:

1. Identify and confirm all of the web content in scope
2. Determine the WCAG 2.0 Level A, Level AA and Level AAA Guidelines that are applicable for each piece of content (identify the applicable Accessibility Test Cases)
3. Assess the complexity of that piece of content with respect to the validation of the applicable guidelines
4. Estimate the associated effort for performing that validation for all of the applicable guidelines for that piece of content
5. Prepare an Accessibility Test Plan based on the identified applicable Accessibility Test Cases which outlines the identified
6. Prepare a formal Quotation Estimate which clearly outlines the solution, the scope, the effort and the associated cost

DELIVERABLES:

1. Accessibility Test Plan Document
2. QAC Accessibility Testing Quotation Document

STEP 3: Formal Accessibility Testing Cycle(s)

• Project Setup
• Environment, tools, etc. access setup
• Identify project roles and responsibilities (including project support)
• Setup status meeting and reports
• Obtain Test URLs, Test Data, etc.
• Setup of devices, platforms and browsers
• Test cycle(s):
• Test execution for validation of all applicable WCAG 2.0 guidelines across all content on all devices/platforms/devices
• Defect capture and Test Progress reporting
• END OF CYCLE

DELIVERABLES:

1. WCAG 2.0 Conformance report document
2. Defects in defect management system

STEP 4: Accessibility Project Management and Consulting Engagement (Optional)

Provide QAC Project Management and Accessibility Subject-Matter Expert to:

1. Collaborate with the customer and any applicable vendors (development, creative, web design, etc.) to develop the project plan to bring web content up to conformance.
2. Manage and lead project to update web content to address all identified accessibility defects:
   1. Work with creative and web design teams to walk through the Defects, and to provide guidance and consult on whether suggested solutions would meet Accessibility Guidelines.
   2. Work with the Development Teams to provide guidance and consultation on the technical solutions and whether they would meet Accessibility Guidelines.
   3. Drive and Manage the Project Tasks to ensure Timely Delivery and to provide Project Reporting, Issues/Risk Management, etc.

DELIVERABLES:

1. Accessibility Defect Remediation Project Plan
2. Accessibility Consulting Services

STEP 5: Final Formal Accessibility Testing Cycle

• Test Cycle:
• Retesting of all Fixed Accessibility Defects to confirm Fixes
• Regression Testing of Web Content with Defects to confirm WCAG 2.0 Conformance
• Defect Capture and Test Progress Reporting
• END OF CYCLE

DELIVERABLES:

1. Final WCAG 2.0 Conformance Report
2. Defects in Defect Management System (if applicable)

WCAG Compliance Services

Contact us and find out how QA Consultants can help you achieve A Level and AA Level compliance.

 

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