Declaring conformance on web accessibility - ANEC

1. Introduction
The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an
essential aspect. Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
http://www.w3.org/WAI/
1.1 Background
Previous surveys of European websites to determine progress towards eInclusion and levels of
<strong>conformance</strong> to published Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have revealed
disappointing low levels of compliance within government and the commercial sectors [3, 4, 5, 6].
This lack of progress towards accessibility of websites leaves barriers to full participation in the
information society by people with disabilities, whether using assistive technology, needing to make
use of alternative input or output devices such as keyboard only operation, or simply needing an
acceptable level of colour contrast.
This study specifically addresses the issues of declaration of accessibility made about a website
and published on the website. Declarations of accessibility are important and highlight to potential
users that this website meets agreed standards of accessibility, as well as acting as a beacon of
good practice and claiming credit for the commitment and effort taken to make a website accessible.
Two models of claiming <strong>conformance</strong> exist – that the website is certified by a recognised
certification body as meeting published guidelines, and the other by self declaration that the website
meets accessibility guidelines. As a result of either model, the declaration can be publicised on the
website using the logos for the certification body or level of <strong>conformance</strong> to WCAG and a statement
of accessibility policy.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in effect of these two
models by testing the accessibility of websites which are certified, or which make a declaration of
<strong>conformance</strong> to agreed standards.
The objectives of this study were set out in the briefing documents as follows:
• To examine how many websites that claim that they are accessible according to relevant
standards, in reality are complying with these standards
• To specify on the websites that are complying in reality with the referenced web
accessibility standards, how many self-declare their conformity and how many declare
their conformity through an assessment by an independent third party.
• To specify on the websites that are not complying in reality with the referenced web
accessibility standards, how many self-declare their conformity and how many declare
their conformity through an assessment by an independent third party.
• To propose recommendations on which of the two web accessibility declaration models is
the most appropriate one in order to ensure web accessibility.
The briefing documents called for the selection and testing of 100 websites drawn from five
European countries. A combination of automatic testing could be used followed by manual testing of
those identified as passing the automatic tests.
1.2 Conformance assessment
A conformity assessment is a ‘demonstration the specified requirements are fulfilled’ (CEN/BT/WG
185 2008) [2]. This requires that there is:
• a set of specified requirements
• a procedure for assessing conformity to the requirements
• a statement that fulfilment is demonstrated.
ANEC Print version 21 May 2011 Page 6 Declaration of <strong>conformance</strong>