Accessibility and Inclusion

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, WCAG 2.2, is introduced in the WCAG 2.2 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 daily roles and activities.

What is Accessibility?

We do not choose the bodies we are gifted with. All of us come in different shapes and sizes, sometimes filled with blemishes and imperfections. Accessibility ensures inclusion for all.

What We Do

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

Automation Testing

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 provides a quick overview of accessibility but cannot catch every 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 screen reader for visually impaired users
Keyboard-only navigation testing
Checking color contrast for readability
Testing with assistive technologies

Manual testing is essential for catching accessibility issues that automated tools miss and assessing overall usability.

Guidelines We Follow

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

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

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016

Overview

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) Act of 2016 is a crucial piece of legislation in India that focuses on digital accessibility. However, it does not provide specific technical guidelines like WCAG.

RPWD Act and Accessibility

Promotes and protects the rights of people with disabilities, including access to ICT.
Section 42 mandates the government to ensure accessibility of information in various formats.

Accessible Content Requirements

Audio descriptions for visually impaired users.
Sign language interpretation and closed captions for hearing-impaired users.
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
Digital products must ensure equal access.

RPWD Act and WCAG

RPWD Act does not explicitly mention WCAG but supports digital accessibility.
WCAG provides internationally recognized guidelines for accessibility.
Following WCAG ensures compliance with the "reasonable accommodations" principle.

Key Takeaways

The RPWD Act establishes a legal obligation for digital accessibility in India.
WCAG offers a practical framework to achieve accessibility goals.

UGC Notice

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages that education is the foremost primary measure to achieve economic and social mobility, inclusion, and equality. The Government of India launched the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) to ensure the equal participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all activities. Recognizing, accommodating, and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities from diverse backgrounds, it becomes the primary responsibility of higher education institutions (HEIs) to provide facilities that enable persons with disabilities from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of their educational life at HEIs.

To know more, visit: UGC Portal