Web accessibility ensures that websites are usable by individuals with disabilities, a requirement under various national and international anti-discrimination laws. While existing research has mainly concentrated on the legal aspects of these policies, the practical mechanisms for enforcing compliance remain underexplored. In the UK and US, interest organizations, including non-profits and for-profits, play a crucial role in promoting web accessibility through certification services.
Certification Types:
- Performance Certification: This type measures the accessibility quality of web content against international standards. Organizations have developed certification initiatives based on these standards to demonstrate compliance.
- Professional Certification: This certifies an individual’s knowledge and expertise in web accessibility, even though formal educational standards for such certification are not well-defined.
- Procedural Certification: This would assess the quality of organizational processes regarding accessibility. Despite the existence of procedural standards, such certification is not commonly pursued by interest organizations.
Role of Interest Organizations:
Interest organizations act as intermediaries, facilitating compliance by providing audit and certification services that support transparency and accountability. They help implement anti-discrimination policies by assessing and demonstrating compliance efforts through their certification programs.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
To enhance the effectiveness of certification in promoting web accessibility, it is recommended to develop regulatory guidance and educational standards. Establishing an international procedural standard for web accessibility could further integrate accessibility into organizational processes, encouraging more comprehensive compliance practices. Future research should investigate the interaction between certification and enforcement mechanisms to better understand their combined impact on achieving accessibility goals.
Reference:
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