Web accessibility certification is used for internal legal purposes to expound on the remediation process the website has undergone.
In a web accessibility certificate, also known as a certificate of performance, you will receive verification of the standards the website was remediated against, a list of the accessibility modifications that the web accessibility solution provider performed on the website, and the accessibility functions that exist on the website and may be used by visitors.
Note: a web accessibility certification should not be confused with an accessibility statement, which is required to feature on a website in accordance with the law. While similar, the accessibility statement is more of a general summary of the accessibility enhancements that feature on the website, although there are some functions that overlap between the two.
Simply put, “Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them,” stipulates the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international community that is known for inventing the Internet.
About 26 percent of Americans live with some type of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which comprises some 61 million adults in the United States alone.
Globally, there are around 1 billion individuals who live with disabilities, according to The World Bank and other estimates.
In short, there is a large swathe of the world’s population that has some kind of impairment. Not only is welcoming this group of people to your website the right thing to do it is also the smart business move to do. One billion is many, and while not all of them have disabilities that require digital accessibility enhancement tools, a large chunk of them do. Moreover, a person with disabilities would more likely become a loyal customer in the long term due to the difficulty of purchasing products or services in the physical world. Going digital is a great solution for this group of people, improving and making their lives more comfortable.
Unfortunately, many websites are not accessible despite the numerous accessibility solutions in the market, distancing those with disabilities from their businesses and organizations and losing potentially faithful customers in the process.
In addition, and this is important to comprehend from a business perspective as well, web accessibility is not an option—it is a requirement by law. If your website is not properly accessible, it faces litigation.
For more information on web accessibility and legal requirements, read here.
After remediating your website, either in the Auto or Managed plans, we provide you with a detailed Certificate of Performance.
This will be crucial for your organization as proof for making your website accessible and fully compliant with ADA and WCAG 2.1 standards.
The certification verifies that a website has been reviewed and tested by software developers and remediated to meet standards set by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA Level.
Further, the certification specifies the modifications that a website underwent, on which platforms, modifications for assistive technologies (such as screen readers), and a list of the digital accessibility enhancement tools introduced to the website.
Finally, the accessibility certification lists the accessibility functions that were added to the website, such as keyboard navigation, color checker, font sizing, image descriptions, text magnifier, color customizer, and many more.
EqualWeb has developed the most advanced AI ToolBar that enhances your website to meet the latest and most updated WCAG and ADA standards in an easy, automated, and seamless process. Our Managed plan goes even further, integrating the automated solution with a systemic monitoring solution under the supervision of accessibility experts of the highest degree. This ensures full accessibility and compliance year-round, along with a $1 million warranty, that provides full protection for the business.
To inquire further into our accessibility plans, please visit our Plans & Pricing page, or contact us directly at info@equalweb.com.
If you wish to test your website against ADA and WCAG 2.1 standards, even if you already possess accessibility enhancements, visit our Accessibility Testing page. It is a relatively quick process after which you will have adequate information for your business, knowing better how to move forward and what accessibility plan is the best one for you.