Web Accessibility Audit

Introduction to WCAG 3

WCAG 3 is currently an incomplete draft. It is intended to develop into a W3C Standard in a few years. The current standard, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2), is introduced in the WCAG 2 Overview.

Disability and Inclusion

Stephen R Covey once said, “Strength lies in our differences, not our similarities.” Disability inclusion is the process of promoting the participation of people with disabilities in day to day roles and activities.

What is Accessibility?

We do not choose the bodies that we are gifted with. All of us come in different shapes and sizes, sometimes filled with blemishes and imperfections. These structures are normally erected without concerning those with disabilities.

What we Do

We conduct Accessibility testing in two ways: Automation and Manual Testing

AutomationTesting

Automated accessibility testing tools use software to scan your digital product for accessibility issues against pre-defined accessibility conformance standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These tools can quickly and efficiently identify a wide range of accessibility issues, such as:
* Missing alt text for images
* Low color contrast
* Keyboard navigation problems
* Missing or incorrect form labels
* Unstructured content
Automated testing is a great way to get a quick overview of the accessibility of your digital product. However, it is important to note that automated testing tools cannot catch every accessibility issue.

Manual Testing

Manual accessibility testing involves using a variety of techniques to test your digital product for accessibility issues. These techniques may include:
* Using a keyboard to navigate the entire website or application
* Using a screen reader to see how the content is presented to users who are blind or visually impaired
* Using a color contrast checker to ensure that the text is easy to read for people with visual impairments
* Testing the website or application with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and switch controls
Manual testing is essential for catching accessibility issues that automated testing tools cannot. It also allows you to assess the overall usability of your digital product for people with disabilities.

Guidelines We Follow

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies tomake their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people withdisabilities. The law (29 U.S.C § 794 (d)) applies to all Federal agencies when theydevelop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public accessto information comparable to the access available to others.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) Act of 2016 is indeed a crucial piece of legislation in India regarding digital accessibility. However, it doesn’t provide specific technical guidelines like WCAG. Here’s a breakdown of the RPWD Act and digital accessibility: The RPWD Act and Accessibility:

* The RPWD Act promotes and protects the rights of people with disabilities, including access to information and communication technology (ICT).
* Section 42 of the Act mandates the government to ensure accessibility of information in various formats, including electronic media.

◦ This translates to requiring accessible content with features like:
▪ Audio descriptions for visually impaired users.
▪ Sign language interpretation and closed captions for hearing impaired users.
* The Act emphasizes “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.
◦ This means service providers (both government and private) need to make necessary modifications to their digital products to ensure equal access without imposing undue burdens.
RPWD Act and WCAG:
* While the RPWD Act doesn’t explicitly mention WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), it serves as a strong foundation for establishing digital accessibility standards.
* WCAG offers internationally recognized guidelines for making content accessible.
* Following WCAG can be considered a way to demonstrate “reasonable accommodations” under the RPWD Act. Here’s what to remember:
* The RPWD Act establishes the legal obligation for digital accessibility in India.
* WCAG provides a practical framework to achieve accessibility goals as outlined by the RPWD Act.

UGC Notice

The National education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisagesthat education is the foremost primary measure toachieve economic and social mobility; inclusion. and equality. The Government India launched theAccessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) to ensure the equal participation andinclusion of persons with disabilities in all activities,Recognizing, accommodating and meeting the needs of the persons with disabilities coming from diverse backgrounds. it becomes the primary responsibility for the higher education institutions(HEIs) to provide the facilities that enable persons with disabilities having diverse social-economic backgrounds to live independently and participatefully in all aspects of their educational life at HEIs.To know more you may visit the link:https://uamp.ugc.ac.in/.