Description of the figure 1 about third party inspection for Web Accessibility conformity

Update: 12 February 2007, Support-EAM.

Figure 1

[D]
Figure 1 illustrates one possible scheme for certifying the conformity of a Web site to accessibility specification based on third party inspection

Description of the figure 1

The following text comes from the CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA n° 15554:2006). This agreement has been published by the CEN as a first level European agreement on how standard conformity assessment schemes commonly used in Europe can apply to Web Accessibility conformity assessment. This CWA can be downloaded from the CEN Workshop Web site at: http://www.cenorm.be/cenorm/businessdomains/businessdomains/isss/cwa/design+for+all+in+ict.asp.

Specifications for the organisations that can issue a Web accessibility quality mark

6.1 Generalities

6.1.1) All organisations performing web accessibility conformity assessments covered by this scheme shall apply the normative document. The normative document shall be in line with the adopted version of the W3C/WAI WCAG.

6.1.2) The logos and reports relating to the web accessibility quality mark clearly state the kind, and date, of assessment which was executed.

6.1.3) The institute consults the relevant standardisation and accreditation bodies about a harmonised and unified approach on the applicability of accreditation regimes in the field of the assessment of web accessibility. In the course of the consultation, the institute takes into account the different national situations and the development of technical possibilities.

6.2 Inspection organisations (Figure 1)

6.2.1) The institute authorises organisations by means of an agreement to issue the web accessibility quality mark. The organisation has to follow the instructions of the institute as stated in the agreement.

6.2.2) The organisations obtaining an authorisation to issue the web accessibility quality mark shall be an independent and competent organisation performing inspections.

6.2.3) All organisations performing inspections apply the normative document.

6.2.4) The logos and reports relating to the web accessibility quality mark which is issued after inspection clearly state the kind, and date, of assessment which was executed.

6.2.5) The organisations which want to reach an agreement to issue the web accessibility quality mark after effectuating an inspection shall meet the following criteria:

a) acting as an independent party i.e. the organisations performing accessibility inspections shall not develop websites for clients and shall not be related to other organisations that develop websites;
b) proving their experience and competences in the field of web accessibility and conformity assessment of websites; and
c) having an accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17020 from an official accreditation body to perform an inspection with the normative document of the institute and to pass the re-assessments for the accreditation.

6.2.6) In a transition period, when an organisation has applied to become an inspection body and has not yet obtained accreditation, the institute will take appropriate decisions to allow the applicant to issue the web accessibility quality mark.

6.2.7) The institute withdraws the right to issue the web accessibility quality mark, when an inspection organisation fails to fulfil the criteria and the additional requirements set by the agreement. The institute assures the transfer to another inspection organisation in the interest of the consumer, when the web accessibility quality mark has been issued.

6.2.8) The open market principle applies on the relationship between the institute and an inspection organisation and an agreement may only be refused on criteria which have been published in advance.

Back to "Summary of the CEN Workshop on Web Accessibility Conformance" page