Accessibility
Universal Accessibility
Summary
Accessibility requirements apply to every public, internal, and administrative interface.
Reasoning
People can have the same assistive technology needs whether they use a public service or carry out internal and administrative work. Exempting an interface because of its intended audience creates barriers to using it.
Implemented By These Standards
Lifecycle Verification
Summary
Accessibility conformance is verified throughout an interface's lifecycle through proportionate automated and manual testing, and re-verified when the interface or applicable criteria change.
Reasoning
Implementation alone does not demonstrate that an interface meets its accessibility requirements. Automated checks detect programmatically identifiable defects, while manual testing with assistive technologies verifies interactions that require human judgement. Repeating these checks as the interface evolves detects losses of conformance.
Conformance evidence applies to the interface and criteria that were tested. Changes to functionality or design can introduce new barriers, while an updated accessibility standard can change the applicable criteria. Re-verification establishes whether the current interface still conforms.