Understanding Accessibility Compliance

Implementing and complying with (digital) accessibility is more than a box to be ticked.  It’s a multifaceted endeavor that ensures all users, including those with disabilities, can access and interact with digital products and services. Achieving compliance with accessibility standards like the European Accessibility Act (EAA), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and laws like the Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (BaFG) in Austria, requires a coordinated effort across various teams within an organization.

The role of Cross-Functional Collaboration

Why Collaboration is Essential

Cross-functional collaboration leverages diverse perspectives, skills, and knowledge from various departments to create inclusive, user-friendly products. It breaks down silos and fosters a culture of shared expertise to achieve accessible products and services.

Key Company Stakeholders in Accessibility Compliance

From the gap analysis and initial design phase to post-launch maintenance, each team plays a critical role in ensuring accessibility.

 1. Legal and Compliance: Interpret laws and guidelines to ensure organizational compliance.

 2. HR and Training: Educate staff on accessibility best practices, requirements and technical skills, and promote an inclusive workspace.

3. Product Managers: Integrate accessibility into the product lifecycle, aligning it with business goals.

 4. Designers: Create accessible user interfaces, focusing on color contrast, text size, and navigability; and procure the Voice of the Customer (VoC).

 5. Developers: Implement the technical aspects of accessibility, such as semantic HTML, ARIA roles, and ensuring keyboard navigability.

6. Quality Assurance (QA) Testers: Conduct automated and manual accessibility testing to identify and fix issues.

7. Marketing and Communication: Ensure content meets accessibility standards using alt text, video captions, and plain language.

 8. Advisors: Provide guidance on standards and best practices for accessibility as well as for products and services, identify gaps and provide specialized skills.

 9. Customer Support: Address accessibility-related feedback and issues from users, providing necessary support and documentation.

Note: Depending on the capabilities of the company, this responsibility would also be integrated within other roles.

Benefits of Cross-Functional Collaboration

– Improved Product Quality, User Experience, and Innovation: Ensures accessibility is considered from multiple perspectives within the company and respects the different user needs.

– Risk Mitigation and Compliance Assurance: Reduces legal risks, including product discontinuation and fines, among others; and ensures adherence to accessibility standards.

– Increased Efficiency: Eliminates duplication and streamlines processes, enabling companies to work more efficiently, reducing costs, and saving time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, achieving digital accessibility compliance requires more than solo efforts – it demands comprehensive collaboration across teams. This collaboration, however, requires specific constellations of teams at distinct phases of the product development cycle. Integrating diverse perspectives and expertise leads to innovation, enhanced product quality, and inclusivity for all users.

Join Us for Further Insights

Curious about how to seamlessly integrate roles within the accessibility compliance lifecycle? Join our upcoming Webinar on June 26 for practical strategies on mastering the Accessibility Compliance Lifecycle and ensuring accessibility throughout the product development journey. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn and contribute to creating a more accessible digital world. Sign up here and reserve your spot today!

 

Author:
Silvia Lorena Barrera