Website Accessibility Certification and Logos – What do I really need?

Handouts Media

Presented at 2:15pm in Windsor on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

Speaker(s)

• Jeffrey Singleton, Director of Accessibility Consulting Practice, Cxytera
• Ken Nakata, Director of Accessibility Practices, Cyxtera

Session Details

• Length of Session: 1-hr
• Format: Lecture
• Expertise Level: Beginner
• Type of session: General Conference

Summary

Site accessibility compliance certifications and logos are becoming common offering from accessibility consultants. What do these certifications and logos really mean and what is required for a website? This session will help separate the myths from the reality of site certifications and logos.

Abstract

A common question asked by organizations is, “what certification will my site receive?” or “can we display a logo certifying that our site is accessible?” The reasons behind these questions can vary and are often based on incorrect information or expectations. While many consultants and software solutions providers offer certifications and logos to their customers, most tend to be merely a marketing tool rather than anything of real value. If done incorrectly, making a public claim of a website’s accessibility can increase the risk level of being targeted by a legal complaint. Public claims of accessibility conformance require an understanding of how to do so in ways to express the organization’s commitment while at the same time reducing the organization’s risk exposure to frivolous law suits. This session will discuss the three primary methods of making a public claim of conformance and how to do so effectively without increasing the risk level of potential a legal complaint.

Keypoints

1. Understand conformance levels & claims to determine if an accessibility certification or logo is beneficial.
2. Understand the three most common and accepted forms of making a public conformance claim.
3. Learn the best way to use an accessibility statement to reduce risk level of legal complaints.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access

Speaker Bio(s)

Jeffrey Singleton

Jeff Singleton has worked in evaluating and supporting software for over two decades. Jeff is the Senior Accessibility Consultant at Cyxtera, the makers of Compliance Sheriff. Jeff is skilled in the use of AT software such as screen readers, assistive input devices and screen magnification for validating and testing projects. Jeff Singleton also has an in depth knowledge of accessibility requirements and guidelines such as Section 508 and the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and how they apply to real world applications.

Ken Nakata

Ken worked for twelve years as a Senior Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. He has argued on behalf of the United States government many times before the federal courts and has helped shape the government’s policies for the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In addition to litigation, he also helped developed many of the Department’s policies, including Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities available at https://www.ada.gov/websites2) and which reflects the Department’s current view towards ADA compliance for state and local government websites. Ken is a frequent speaker on both law and technology and is equally adept at conducting one-on-one workshops with programmers and developers as well as explaining law and policy to large audiences.

Handout(s)

• Accessibility Certification and Logos - AHG2019 (pdf)