Technology

Why Every Product Needs a VPAT

By Sanjay Nasta | February 27, 2023 | | 1

In today’s purchasing market, accessibility is an increasingly important factor for companies looking to sell their products and services to government agencies, universities, and other organizations that care about accessibility. Many organizations now require a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) during the purchasing process to assess the accessibility of a product or service and determine if it meets their accessibility requirements. A VPAT is a document that provides detailed information on the accessibility of a product[…]

WCAG 2.2 Update: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?

By Hiram Kuykendall | April 24, 2023 | | 1

Forecasting the Impact of the WCAG 2.2 Update Author’s Note: Idiom “Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze” means “is it worth it.” For the past few years, the World Wide Web Consortium (aka W3C) has teased the industry with the potential release of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. This likely update, now expected to be released in Fall of 2023, has led to much speculation about the[…]

Prioritizing Your IT Accessibility Program and Policy Roadmap

By Sanjay Nasta | June 8, 2023 | | 1

Accessibility Conversations: Sanjay Nasta and Jeff Kline Editor’s Note: Our CEO, Sanjay Nasta visits with accessibility consultant and author Jeff Kline in our series of accessibility conversations around the 8 Key Elements for Creating a Culture of Accessibility. In this installment the pair tackle Prioritization. Where do we start? What do we need to do the job? What is the size of the effort? There are many ways to prioritize,[…]

Accessibility Asked and Answered: What is a Web Accessibility Audit?

By Hiram Kuykendall | March 28, 2023 | |

A web accessibility audit evaluates a digital asset for accessibility to people with disabilities. The audit may be for a website, web application, mobile app, desktop application, or any product that contains a user interface. The audit typically involves reviewing the digital assets’ content, design, and code to identify any barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from accessing or using the site. Audit Motivation There are many reasons why[…]

Inclusive Design for WordPress Websites: Tips and Strategies for Accessibility

By Jamaar Cormier | April 11, 2023 | |

Since its release in 2003, WordPress has evolved as a platform primarily for bloggers to the most used content management system for business websites. The breadth of businesses utilizing WordPress for their online engagement spans brands from Barnes and Noble, to Nike and the NBA. As the platform continues to grow its user base year over year, the choices developers make from theme selection to plug-ins can have significant impact[…]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Third-Party Auditor for Your VPAT Engagement

By Hiram Kuykendall | March 20, 2023 | | 1

Potential customers frequently ask product developers to provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). It usually doesn’t take long for the developer to realize that the VPAT form is complex and contains language specific to the accessibility industry. This realization leads many developers to seek a third-party auditor’s assistance in auditing their product and creating an accessibility compliance report. This VPAT engagement checklist[…]

Find Your Perfect Match: Tips for Selecting the Right VPAT Vendor Partner

By Sanjay Nasta | February 16, 2023 | |

For companies that do not have the resources or expertise to conduct an accessibility assessment and create a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), working with an outside vendor partner can be a viable option. An outside vendor partner can provide expertise and resources to conduct an accessibility assessment and create a comprehensive and accurate VPAT. Choosing the right vendor partner to create your VPAT is critical to the success and[…]

Framing an ICT Accessibility Policy During Procurement

By Sanjay Nasta | September 27, 2022 | |

We continue our discussion on procurement in our series of accessibility conversations around the 8 Key Elements for Creating a Culture of Accessibility with Jeff Kline. We dive deeper into categories of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), tools for purchasing departments, and the roles of vendors and purchasers during the proposal and review process. Benefits of Addressing Accessibility When Making ICT Purchases Sanjay Nasta: Why is considering accessibility in purchasing Information[…]

Why Accessibility Matters When Buying Technology (and Other Most Asked Questions)

By Sanjay Nasta | September 6, 2022 | |

We surveyed our CTO Hiram Kuykendall and accessibility policy expert Kathy Keller on some of the often-asked questions we hear from both purchasers and public sector contractors faced with ensuring accessibility during the technology purchasing process. Why Accessibility Matters Josh and Lauren, who have been blind their entire lives, recount their experiences on how living with disabilities influences their everyday lives. They also discuss the significance of web and app[…]

The Role of Litigation and Regulation in Web Accessibility

By Dallas Richard | August 29, 2022 | |

In March 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The effort focuses specifically on Title II— State and Local Governments (and Public Transportation) and Title III— Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities. This summer, the DOJ followed up this guidance with an announcement of plans to update accessibility guidelines in 2023. Microassist’s CTO, Hiram Kuykendall, recently joined with Converge Accessibility’s Ken Nakata, on the[…]

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