Originally written on Apr 14, 2020. Content was updated in October 2023.
Your company has committed to making its digital platforms accessible to as wide an audience as possible. But your team doesn’t have the resources or knowledge to conduct a website accessibility evaluation to determine the actual accessibility of your site.
You need a partner to help bring it all together. One who has demonstrated a commitment to accessibility on its own websites and apps; one that can navigate the nuances of accessible design; one whose entire team is made up of experts in the process, technology, and tools needed to implement these changes; and one that conducts rigorous testing and reporting once all the work is done.
So, how do you know which firm is right for you? Here are 19 questions you should ask when seeking a website accessibility partner.
You can learn a lot about a potential partner from how it treats its digital footprint. If the vendor hasn’t taken the time to get its accessibility in order, it may not be a good fit for your company.
Addressing accessibility can require a major investment of time and money. You want a partner who has been down this road before, preferably with clients who will rave about the partner’s performance. The firm should have a list of past clients and contacts ready.
Accessibility requires specific skills for different roles, such as Design, Development, and Testing. Because WCAG guidelines are periodically updated and changed, you want a firm that keeps its finger on the pulse of the industry.
The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) is dedicated to raising the standards of those in the accessibility profession. Ideally, the firm you choose will proudly showcase its IAAP certifications.
Accessibility is broad and deep. The partnerships that companies have with other experts will show you the breadth of their capabilities, as well as what types of complementary services or solutions they bring to the table.
There are a couple of different approaches to making your site accessible. Partners may guide you, use their technology, or combine both. Review a few different approaches to decide which is best for you. If a technology company pitches you an overlay, find another solution because it will not make your site accessible.
Ensure that your partner can work with multiple content formats.
Technology alone can’t make a site accessible. Still, it can be a massive accelerator, so understand what a potential partner offers, how it works, and how the technology covers all aspects of testing, remediation, and maintaining accessibility.
If you’re looking to build a new website accessible from the start, you’ll need a partner with design, development, and testing expertise. It should have a proven process that fits your project plan.
Let’s face it: There is much litigation in this space. Ask potential partners what they offer contractually. Some companies claim that artificial intelligence can make your site accessible, but they won't back it up in a contract.
To ensure your site conforms to WCAG and is usable, you must conduct automated, manual, and user testing with people who use assistive tech like screen readers. Many of the WCAG success criteria can only be tested by a human, so it is important to understand that automation isn’t sufficient by itself.
When conducting website accessibility evaluation, consult the experts—people with disabilities. Not only does this give your company honest usability feedback to provide a more accessible site, but it also demonstrates your partner’s commitment to the community and dedication to getting things right.
The way accessibility testing results is organized and presented can either make remediation planning efficient or cause a major headache. On a website that has never been audited, it isn’t uncommon to find hundreds or even thousands of issues. Working with Excel or Word documents can be challenging.
Does the partner make its experts available to you, does it do the work, give you tools, or all of the above?
Every development team needs the right tools to succeed, and accessibility is no exception. They should have accessibility testing software to test against WCAG guidelines and contrast checkers.
Even at the start of your accessibility journey, you want to start thinking about how to start including accessibility as a requirement for every project or change.
Your designers, developers, and testers may need training on accessibility concepts and technical skills. These are vital for remediation and ongoing accessibility.
A consistent and comprehensive website accessibility evaluation process is essential to track progress over time and identify ongoing issues that have yet to be resolved. A statement of accessibility conformance should include a clear scope of review, an assessment of the tools and processes used, and recommended actions to keep everything on track.
Accessibility is not a fix-it-and-forget-it project. Your current design, content, and functionality will likely grow and change over time. What processes will be put in place to maintain accessibility? How will this happen in the background while allowing your site to run smoothly for customers?
These questions should provide a helpful guide that allows you to find a partner who shares your commitment to website accessibility and brings the skills, experience, and expertise to make it happen. A partner that embraces accessibility challenges, from the first planning meeting to the last line of code.
Dive deeper into the different avenues for accessibility testing with our free online assessment.