Testing Software for IITAA Compliance

The type of testing that can be done to verify compliance with IITAA requirements will vary depending on the size of the contract and the impact the contract has on employees, students and the general public. The more people that will be using a software application the more accessibility verification and testing should applied to the products competing for the contract. The first level is to perform some simple functional tests to look for basic accessibility features required by IITAA. The next level would be using external consultants skilled in accessible design to review the accessibility of the software application and/or to include people with disabilities from your campus to be part of the evaluation team and ideally do testing to confirm vendor claims of accessibility.

Quick Manual Testing Techniques

The following techniques can be used to get an understanding of the functional accessibility features of software applications.

• Use only the keyboard to access the controls and other interactive parts of the software application.
• Use the operating system high contrast mode to insure content is accessible and readable when high contrast setting are enabled

Usage: This technique should be used for all software applications that are considered for purchase that maybe used by the general public, staff, instructors and students.

External Evaluations

Independent audits for IITAA compliance can provide critical information for software applications that are designed to be used by large groups of people on campus, especially web applicatoins that are used for communication and business administration.

• Marucco, Stoddard, Ferenbach & Walsh, Inc. (MSF&W), Springfield, Illinois

Usage: This technique could be used for all software applications that are considered for purchase that will used by the general public, staff, instructors and students.

Testing with People with Disabilities

• Recruit faculty, staff and students to test web applications for accessibility as part of the RFP process
• Include people with disabilities as part of the group of people making purchasing decisions

Usage: This technique should be used for all web resources that are considered for purchase that will used by the general public, staff, instructors and students.