Website Accessibility 101

Website accessibility makes electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities of all kinds e.g. color blindness and visual, or hearing disabilities.

What is 508, ADA, and WCAG?

All three standards – 508, ADA and WCAG – have the same goal: to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities (e.g. color blindness, visual impairment, hearing disabilities) in a way that is comparable to the access available to others.

What is the ‘American with Disabilities Act’ (ADA)? A civil rights law that “prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.” The law guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities.

What is WCAG?

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. There are currently has 3 levels, A, AA and AAA. All three must be independently met to achieve compliance.

What is Section 508?

508 requires that accommodations be made for federal employees and members of the public with disabilities who wish to access government Information and Communications Technology (ICT), including government websites and multimedia. Section 508 is limited to those in the federal sector and doesn’t apply to the private sector.

Federal agencies include:

Government agencies
Federally-funded non-profits
Public higher education institutions
Public K-12 schools

Compliance Identification and Management Service

Collaborating with BRIT and administered by Gallagher, AAAtraq’s Compliance Identification and Management Service (CIMS) is launching to the market to help clients mitigate the risks involved with web accessibility non-compliance. AAAtraq – leaders in CIMS – helps to protect businesses and their interests on the web, by reducing exposure.

This is an ongoing need for an insurance-backed, technology-driven solution that continually minimizies risks and reduces wasted time and money.

AAAtraq – helping you meet your website accessibility obligations

Assessment and report of your site’s current level of risk with clear and straightforward guidance to demonstrate reasonable steps for adjustment.

Oversight and simplified accessibility compliance and delivery of a managed process to your staff and suppliers.

An on-going certification process that overseas accessibility by automatically tracking your website with monthly reporting of your site’s accessibility status.