What's the best way to handle accessibility requirements when working with external vendors or third-party tools?
So you've started making accessibility a non-negotiable requirement in your contracts and procurement processes. You're already clear about which standards you need. And you're asking vendors for accessibility statements and audit reports upfront.
That's great! But here's the thing.
You can't just take their word that something's accessible.
Trust by verify.
Always test their stuff yourself or get it independently audited. Sure, you can use automated tools like axe, but you can't stop there. I can't tell you how many times I've seen all green from axe and a completely broken experience in real life.
Get real users with disabilities to test it too if you can.
Next.
They pass muster and you buy their product. What happens when they update it?
Yes, that's right. You check it again. This is why you have to make sure you've got clear remediation processes in your contracts. What happens when it all goes wrong and something isn't accessible? You're responsible for your customers, not the vendor.
The key is being proactive rather than discovering problems after you've already committed to a solution.