What is a Vendor Demonstration of Accessibility?
A vendor demonstration of accessibility is not a presentation or sales pitch for accessibility. Rather, a vendor demonstration of accessibility is a live, real-time demonstration of a digital product’s compatibility with commonly used assistive technologies. For example, the vendor should be able to demonstrate how core tasks scan be completed using just a keyboard, and how content and interactive elements are properly identified by screen reader technology. Text and interactive components should have sufficient contrast against the background, and content and functionality are not lost when browser zoom is set to 400%.
What Should I Ask the Vendor to Do?
Ask the vendor to demonstrate the following capabilities of their digital product.
Keyboard-Only Operability
Ask the vendor to navigate through the user interface using just the keyboard.
- Visible Focus. When pressing the tab key, a clear, high-contrast visible indicator should show which interactive element has focus.
- Actionable. All interactive elements (e.g., links, buttons, text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, tabs and menus) should receive keyboard focus and be actionable using either the space bar or enter key.
- Navigation. Arrow keys should move keyboard focus between items in a group such as radio buttons or between options in a dropdown.
Note: Static text should not be expected to receive keyboard focus.
Screen Reader Compatibility
Ask the vendor to demonstrate that their product is compatible with commonly used screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver.
- Identify Content. The screen reader should accurately read content including static text, headings, and alternative text on images.
- Forms. For all form elements, the screen reader user should hear the form label, know what data to enter in a text field, and be able to make selections from dropdowns, radio buttons, and checkboxes.
- Navigation. The screen reader user should be able to move between different regions on a page (e.g., banner, search, navigational menus, main content, and footer).
- Pop-Up Windows. When a modal or pop-up window is launched, the screen reader should move automatically to the modal or pop-up window, and a mechanism to dismiss the modal or pop-up window should be present and properly labeled.
Zoom and Reflow
Ask the vendor to set browser zoom to 400%.
- Navigation. Navigational menus and interface components should remain functional.
- Content. Content should not be lost, clipped, or overlap.
- Reflow. Content should automatically reposition and not require horizontal scrolling.
Use of Color
- Color-alone. Color alone is not the only means of conveying meaning or differentiating content.
- Text. There is sufficient contrast between text and the background.
- Interactive Components. There is sufficient contrast between non-text interactive components (e.g., buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, and text field borders) and the background.
- Links. Hyperlinks positioned among static text are underlined.
Who Should Perform the Demonstration?
A member of the vendor’s digital accessibility team should perform the accessibility demonstration. It is preferred that the presenter be a native user of assistive technology. If this is not possible, the presenter should have a strong grasp of various assistive technologies and how native users are likely to navigate specific types of content. The presenter should be able to speak to any accessibility shortcomings within the product, how they are likely to impact users, and demonstrate any workarounds available within the product.
What Outcomes Should Raise Concerns?
The following outcomes of the vendor demonstration should raise concerns about the product’s state of accessibility:
- The vendor was reluctant or refused to demonstrate their product’s accessibility.
- The user interface could not be navigated or operated using just the keyboard.
- No clear, visible focus indicator was present.
- Core tasks could not be completed using just the keyboard or a screen reader.
- Poor contrast made text or interactive components difficult to perceive.
- Task completion or understanding of content required perception of color.
Next Steps
Use the information obtained from the vendor demonstration with other resources including the Vendor Digital Accessibility Questionnaire, the Accessibility Conformance Report Checklist, and any Vendor Digital Accessibility Roadmaps to develop a confidence level in the vendor’s digital accessibility capabilities. Consult with your respective Secretariat IT Accessibility Officer (SIAO) for support as needed.