ITAC-11

Has a third-party expert conducted an audit of the most recent version of your solution?

Explanation

This question is asking whether your organization has engaged an independent third-party expert to conduct an accessibility audit of your solution's most recent version. In the context of IT accessibility, this refers to evaluating how well your product or service can be used by people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. These audits typically assess compliance with standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The question is being asked because: 1. Third-party audits provide objective verification of accessibility claims, rather than relying solely on self-assessment 2. Accessibility compliance is often a legal requirement for organizations, especially those in the public sector or those serving the public 3. Having expert validation demonstrates commitment to inclusive design and reduces legal and reputational risks 4. VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) and ACRs (Accessibility Conformance Reports) created by third parties carry more credibility than self-assessments To best answer this question: - Be specific about when the audit was conducted and by whom - Mention the specific version of your solution that was audited - Indicate what standards were used for the assessment (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) - Note any certifications or formal documentation that resulted from the audit - If no third-party audit has been conducted, explain your current accessibility testing approach and any plans for future third-party validation

Guidance

Audit results, including VPAT/ACRs, are voluntary reports often generated by the creator of the product. Audits conducted and reports generated by expert third parties give greater confidence to customers.

Example Responses

Example Response 1

Yes, our solution (version 4.2.1) underwent a comprehensive accessibility audit in March 2023 conducted by AccessibilityWorks, Inc., a recognized third-party accessibility consulting firm The audit evaluated our compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards and Section 508 requirements The assessment included automated testing, manual expert review, and assistive technology testing with screen readers and other adaptive technologies As a result, we received a certified Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) and an updated VPAT that documents our level of compliance The audit identified three minor issues, which were addressed in our 4.2.2 patch release in April 2023 We conduct third-party audits annually and after any major UI changes.

Example Response 2

Yes, our most recent version (v7.3) was audited by Deque Systems in November 2022 The audit focused on WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and included both automated and manual testing methodologies The testing team included certified accessibility professionals and individuals with disabilities who evaluated the product using various assistive technologies The resulting VPAT and detailed findings report are available to customers upon request While the audit identified several areas for improvement, particularly in our dynamic content handling and keyboard navigation, we implemented remediation plans and completed all critical fixes in our v7.3.5 release We maintain an ongoing relationship with Deque for quarterly accessibility reviews of new features.

Example Response 3

No, we have not yet engaged a third-party expert to conduct an accessibility audit of our solution Our current accessibility testing is performed internally by our QA team using a combination of automated tools like axe DevTools and WAVE, along with manual testing checklists based on WCAG 2.1 guidelines We have created our own VPAT based on these internal assessments We recognize the value of third-party validation and have budgeted for an external accessibility audit in Q3 of this year We have already initiated conversations with three accessibility consulting firms and plan to select one next month to conduct a comprehensive audit of our platform against WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Context

Tab
IT Accessibility
Category
IT Accessibility

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Neil Cameron