Accessibility is often overlooked as a development priority. It may be hard for developers without a disability to conceptualize needing or using accessibility features, but it’s easy to find examples that may be possible for anyone to imagine. For example, some software developers developed repetitive stress injuries and turned to speech-to-text aids to continue working in their profession. Beyond the general necessity, adhering to accessibility standards is often a hard requirement for software solutions in many state systems.
| Accessibility Maturity Levels | Quality Criteria | Required Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | ||
| Level 1: automated conformance to accessibility guidelines | Performs automated accessibility validation during development. | Use automated testing tools during development for:
|
| Level 2: Testing with accessibility tools | Perform accessibility tests with commercial accessibility software and OS-specific features, including using personas and scenarios | Use commercial software, OS-specific features, and personas and scenarios for:
|
| Level 3: formal accessibility testing and analysis program | Use of research methods and usability experts to test prototypes with users that have accessibility needs. | Conduct accessibility testing and integrate results for:
|