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SSB BART Group and Federal Computer Week Rate the Accessibility of Presidential Campaign Web Sites
Federal Computer Week (FCW), the number one government information technology (IT) publication, today published the results of President George W. Bush's and Senator John Kerry's web sites (www.georgewbush.com and www.johnkerry.com) on the criteria of content, accessibility, usability, and privacy. To assess the accessibility of these sites, FCW solicited SSB BART Group to carry out comprehensive accessibility testing.
SSB BART Group tested five high traffic pages of both these sites for compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires that electronic and information technology used, developed, procured, and maintained by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. SSB BART Group performed this testing using their standard assessment methodology which includes a combination of software testing tools (e.g. InFocus 4.2.2), assistive technology testing and manual review techniques. Also, SSB BART Group checked for recommended accessibility best practices. These practices included utilizing proper document structure and ensuring the proper functioning of JavaScript across all environments.
SSB BART Group officials discovered that both sites demonstrated significant accessibility issues and did not fully comply with Section 508. For example, neither site provided synchronized text with video content or ensured the accessibility of electronic forms. However, of the two, Senator Kerry's site exhibited a markedly higher level of compliance across all pages tested. Specifically, the extensive use of alternative text - essentially text that labels images so that they can be read by screen readers - in Kerry's site is in marked contrast to the minimal and occasionally improper use of alternative text in President Bush's site.
About SSB BART Group
SSB BART Group provides solutions that resolve the revenue loss, punitive damages, and compliance risks created by inaccessible Information Technology (IT) systems, including Web sites, Web applications, software, and hardware. SSB BART Group's proven Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) solution integrates the business and technical requirements necessary to transform accessibility from a liability into a competitive advantage. With over 600 public and private sector customers, 1200 successfully completed projects, and award-winning software, SSB BART Group has the experience and expertise to ensure that your organization reaches its accessibility goals.
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