What Is Vpat Testing?
VPAT testing refers to the assessment of how an information communication technology (ICT) product or service conforms to the established accessibility standards or guidelines, namely, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), using the appropriate VPAT testing tool.
The assessment is aimed at generating data and information to help in filling out the VPAT ACR for the targeted ICT product or service, as well as fixing any accessibility issues or mistakes in the product or service based on the findings of the VPAT audit.
VPAT Testing In Disability
VPAT testing in disability involves having a person with a certain disability assess how an ICT product or service is accessible or otherwise for people who have a disability like him or her. This involves manual VPAT evaluation where a manufacturer or vendor of an ICT product or service lets the proverbial “wearer of the shoe” help establish where the shoe pinches (if at all).
For a person with a disability to help diagnose any accessibility issues with an ICT product, he or she needs to know what the VPAT passing score entails. Precisely, they need to know the accessibility criteria and technical specifications set for the kind of ICT product or service they’re asked to help with the VPAT testing. That requires teaching them what to look out for when trying out the product or service so that they can help identify any barriers to accessibility.
Learning How To Test The Accessibility Of An ICT Product Or Service
Learning how to test the accessibility of an ICT product or service requires accessible learning content. Some of the key issues to look out for regarding the content to help you learn how to test the accessibility of products and services include the following:
- Keyboard accessibility
It will be crucial for a person with a disability who wants to learn more about VPAT testing to be able to navigate and operate the keyboard fully, including to be able to see the focus. Because many people are unable to use a mouse to move through instructional or other content, this is crucial. So they use a keyboard, keyboard emulator, or other input devices to navigate.
- Enough time to read learning content
It takes time to study content about the VPAT audit, reply to prompts, and provide user input if you want to learn more about VPAT testing in disabilities. The instructional materials should, therefore, be created with the knowledge that some students could require longer time to click, type, and finish interactive exercises. Additionally, they can use single keystrokes rather than many keystrokes to activate commands that contain special characters.
Learning materials should also be aware of how users with specific physical disabilities are constrained in what they can do, including filling out forms for submission, when they don’t have enough time.
- Text alternatives
Learning more about VPAT testing in disability also requires suitable equivalent text substitutes for controls, pictures, and other non-text content. There are various types of assistive technologies that learners with disabilities could use, which call for text alternatives.
- Orientation, structure, and navigation
Learning content’s display orientation, organizational structure, and navigation shouldn’t be constrained to allow learners with disabilities to make adjustments as needed.
- Predictability of navigation mechanisms and controls
Check that the navigational tools used to access the learning materials are reliable and operate, as you would expect them to. For instance, the WCAG standard mandates that navigational elements that are repeated across numerous pages be placed in the same sequence. It’s also important to take into account how to navigate and skip material without utilizing a lot of keyboard shortcuts.
Need Help With Learning VPAT Testing In Disability?
If you need more help or information about learning VPAT testing in disability, please feel free to call (626) 486-2201 to speak to a VPAT testing in disability expert. You can also learn more from this VPAT testing tool.
