What is a Vendor Demonstration of Accessibility?
A vendor demonstration of accessibility is a live presentation of a digital product’s compatibility with commonly used assistive technologies. It is not a PowerPoint presentation or sales pitch about a vendor’s commitment to accessibility. A vendor demonstration of accessibility can help determine if a product meets basic accessibility requirements. This information can inform purchasing decisions, help verify successful remediation, or support claims of conformance with the Digital Accessibility Standards. While a vendor demonstration of accessibility can be helpful, it should not be used as a stand-alone measure of accessibility.
Note: A vendor’s resistance or inability to conduct a live demonstration of their product's accessibility should raise concerns.
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 presenter to use the product with just the keyboard. The presenter should navigate menus and any submenus, fill out a form, conduct a search, and activate buttons and links without using a mouse where applicable.
Screen Reader Compatibility
Ask the vendor to use the product with the JAWS or NVDA screen reader. The presenter should navigate menus and any submenus, conduct a search, fill out and submit a form, locate content by heading, and show that the screen reader can read content in pop-up windows, where applicable
Zoom and Reflow
Ask the vendor to use the product with browser zoom. At 200%, the presenter should demonstrate that text can be resized without being cut off or overlapping. At 400%, the presenter should show that text and information can be read without scrolling from left to right.
Use of Color
Ask the vendor to show that text and interactive elements are easily perceivable against the background. The presenter should show that understanding does not rely on color perception.
Who Should Perform the Demonstration?
The demonstration should be conducted by a member of the vendor's team who is a native user of assistive technology, or a digital accessibility expert with extensive experience testing products using a variety of assistive technologies. The presenter should also 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.
How Do I Request a Demonstration of Accessibility from a Vendor?
Contact your Secretariat IT Accessibility Officer (SIAO) and ask for the Request for Accessibility Demonstration Template.
What Outcomes Should Raise Concerns?
The following outcomes of an accessibility demonstration should raise concerns about the product’s state of accessibility:
- The vendor was reluctant or refused to demonstrate their product’s accessibility.
- The product could not be navigated or operated using just the keyboard.
- Tasks could not be completed using just the keyboard or a screen reader.
- Low contrast made text or interactive elements difficult to perceive.
- Understanding of content required perception of color.
Next Steps
Develop a confidence level in the vendor’s digital accessibility capabilities. Consult with your respective Secretariat IT Accessibility Officer (SIAO) for support as needed.