National Center on Accessible Information Technology on Education
Evaluating Software for Accessibility
1.	The History and Overview of Software Accessibility Checklists and Processes
o	Overview of the process used by the Federal Government to determine software accessibility
•	Section 508 Software Accessibility Standards
•	Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates
•	Independent Testing Labs
2.	Software Accessibility Testing Efforts in Other Entities
o	Application and Limitations of Section 508 Software Accessibility Standards in State Government
o	Application and Limitations of Section 508 Software Accessibility Standards in Education
o	Application and Limitations of Other Standards for Assessing Software Accessibility
3.	Discussion of Examples of Accessibility Features
o	Navigation
o	Keyboard Accessibility 
o	Compatibility with OS Accessibility Features: High Contrast
o	Images and Icons 
4.	Complex Issues
o	Discussion on Accessibility vs. Meaningful Access to Info 
o	Some software runs from the browser. What is it? Software? Multimedia? Website? Consider all accessibility elements that apply!
5.	
Issues to Consider
o	Reliability
o	Accuracy 
o	Training
o	Expertise
o	Team approach
6.	Resources
o	IBM Checklist for accessible software design - has explanations for checkpoints including detailed rationale, techniques and test strategies to help developers and testers of accessible software.
•	http://www-3.ibm.com/able/accesssoftware.html
o	Making Educational Software Accessible.
•	http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/ncam/cdrom/guideline/

Further information about AccessIT at the University of Washington is available; (866) 968-2223 (voice), (866) 866-0162 (TTY), email: accessit@u.washington.edu or on the web site: www.washington.edu/accessit.
Information, technical assistance, and training is also available from the Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers, (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY), or on the web: www.adata.org.
Copyright © 2004 by University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged. Contact AccessIT for further information.