[CATO] Conformance versus Functional testing

[Andy Duckworth]

Monica,

This is great information! Thanks for reaching out to help us gain more insight. If we do set up a webinar with Hadi, could we invite folks from Christopher's team? I think they would be very interested, and it could help them in their testing process.


Andy Duckworth (he|him)

Technology Innovation Officer

(360) 704-4311  aduckworth at sbctc.edu

Book<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/MeetingwithAndy@sbctcedu.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/s/fpWrv66peEaCj_3Ri_JTEg2> a meeting with me

________________________________
From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Monica Olsson via CATO <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2022 8:33 PM
To: cato at lists.ctc.edu <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: [CATO] Fw: Conformance versus Functional testing

Hello CATO,

I thought you might like to see Hadi's comment from the UW below.




[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]

Monica M. Olsson (she/her/hers)

Policy Associate – Accessible IT Coordinator

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

molsson at sbctc.edu<mailto:molsson at sbctc.edu> • o: 360-704-3922 • c: 206-914-7187

sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

________________________________
From: Accessibleit <accessibleit-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Hadi Rangin <hadir at uw.edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 3:04 PM
To: Promoting Accessible IT in Higher Education <accessibleit at u.washington.edu>; accessibleit at uw.edu <accessibleit at uw.edu>
Subject: Re: [Accessibleit] Conformance versus Functional testing


Hello Monica,



It is a very good but very difficult question to answer. We probably need a full webinar on this topic.

While accessibility conformance testing is valuable in identifying general and more technical accessibility issues, it does not guarantee that an application is functionally accessible for users. For example, say that there is a navigation area with 50 options in it that is technically accessible according to the conformance testing as it has the correct keyboard controls, labelling, screen reader announcements, etc. While again it is accessible by the standards, it is not reasonable to expect users to tab 50 times to get past this navigation area.



As far as how to incorporate them in your accessibility policy and procedures, it depends on where you set your accessibility bar. Yes, indeed accessibility conformance can improve the accessibility of the application, but if you are aiming for real accessibility improvement, then I think you should aim to do functional accessibility testing as well, for which you would need the necessary resources. You will need someone who is familiar with the application, can communicate your accessibility findings with the vendors, engage them in a real collaboration to fix the issues and guide them through functional accessibility feedback.



If there is enough interest in this topic, I will be glad to offer a webinar to go into it in more detail.



Thanks,

Hadi



From: Accessibleit <accessibleit-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Monica Olsson
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 9:33 AM
To: accessibleit at uw.edu
Subject: [Accessibleit] Conformance versus Functional testing



Hi everyone,



I participate in a group within WA state's community and technical college system called the Committee for Accessible Technology Oversight, or CATO.



Yesterday, at our monthly meeting, members discussed accessibility conformance testing versus functional testing. We expressed some frustration in parsing out these two testing methods and how each method should be implemented into Accessible Technology policies and procedures, such as IT procurement.



How do you define and differentiate each testing method? Do you have recommendations how best to use each method strategically and in a scalable way?



Thanks in advance for your input!





[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]Monica M. Olsson (she/her/hers)

Policy Associate – Accessible IT Coordinator

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

molsson at sbctc.edu<mailto:molsson at sbctc.edu> • o: 360-704-3922 • c: 206-914-7187

sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>


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