BarrierBreak is thrilled to announce that we are empaneled Web Accessibility Auditors with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. This recognition confirms our commitment to making the digital world accessible to all, including people with disabilities.
As one of the officially recognized DEPwD empanelled accessibility auditors, BarrierBreak brings government-backed credibility to every accessibility engagement, whether for public sector departments or private corporates seeking a government empanelled accessibility auditor for their digital platforms.
We would also be working closely with the Government Departments and Corporates in creating an inclusive and accessible digital environment for people with disabilities. Today, governments and corporates are using websites, mobile apps and kiosks to interact with citizens or customers.
What does Empanelment mean?
DEPwD empanelment is a formal recognition process through which the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities identifies and approves qualified organizations as empanelled web accessibility auditors for the Government of India. Only firms that meet DEPwD's standards of technical expertise, methodology and accessibility knowledge are listed as DEPwD web accessibility auditors, making this empanelment a mark of verified competence in the field.
Empanelment by DEPwD recognizes organizations qualified to assess and evaluate the accessibility of web applications for persons with disabilities. The scope of work for the auditors include:
- Accessibility Audits: Conduct accessibility audits of websites to meet Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) which is a requirement under GIGW and IS 17802. Conducting an Accessibility Audit includes but is not limited to evaluation of design, navigation, visual indicators, color contrast, and alternative text on images ensuring compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines notified under Rule 15 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act.
- Documentation and Reporting: Providing a detailed report of the status of accessibility features, highlighting areas of non - compliance on various web applications and providing suggestions to the stakeholders regarding remedial steps.
- Training and Awareness: Raise awareness about accessibility requirements by conducting accessibility training sessions and workshops for the stakeholders.
- Monitoring Implementation: Evaluation and monitoring of recommended suggestions to maintain compliance with the web accessibility standards.
- Staying Updated: Keeping abreast of the changes in web accessibility standards and regulations and recommending amendments as required.
This comprehensive scope is what distinguishes a DEPwD empanelled web accessibility auditor from a general testing vendor. Organizations looking for empanelled web accessibility auditors for DEPwD compliance requirements can be confident that BarrierBreak's work aligns with the full breadth of the government's accessibility mandate.
Digital Accessibility Laws in India
India is moving towards building an inclusive digital world for all, including people with disabilities. The digital accessibility laws in India collectively emphasize on the importance of making websites, mobile applications and other digital platforms accessible to everyone including people with disabilities.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act mandates accessibility in domains ranging from information and communication technology (ICT). The Act requires websites and mobile applications of businesses in India to comply with the accessibility standards.
Under the RPwD Act and its associated rules, organizations are encouraged to engage a government empanelled accessibility auditor to validate compliance. Working with DEPwD empanelled accessibility auditors ensures that the audit methodology, standards applied and reporting format are aligned with what the Government of India officially recognizes.
The IS 17802, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), also provides a roadmap for achieving accessibility in digital platforms in India. Part 1 of the standard includes the requirements for web accessibility and focuses on compliance with WCAG guidelines, while Part 2 deals with the accessibility of non-web documents and products, such as PDFs and mobile applications. IS 17802 aligns with the global accessibility standards and guidelines such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act, and the European Standard EN-301 549
The Guidelines for India Government Websites (GIGW), is a wide-ranging document to ensure that websites and portals of the Government are easy to use for all. These guidelines focus on maintaining a line with international standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and its adherence towards inclusivity.
Compliance with GIGW is specifically required for government websites and the DEPwD empanelment program ensures that empanelled web accessibility auditors are proficient in evaluating digital properties against GIGW benchmarks, in addition to WCAG and IS 17802.
Join BarrierBreak in Building a Digitally Inclusive India
The pioneers of accessibility in India and with 20 plus years of experience, BarrierBreak has an in-depth understanding of the Indian accessibility standards and guidelines such as the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) and the National Policy on Electronic Accessibility & Accessibility. BarrierBreak’s People First approach includes people with disabilities as a part of our accessibility testing process. The team of 270+ accessibility experts include people with disabilities that are trained accessibility testers and specialists. Our accessibility testing team consists of Accessibility Professionals who are certified including holding IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS), Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), & DHS Trusted Tester certification.
This combination of being both a DEPwD empanelled web accessibility auditor and an organization staffed with IAAP-certified professionals makes BarrierBreak uniquely positioned among empanelled web accessibility auditors in India. Whether you are a government department seeking a DEPwD web accessibility auditor or a corporate required to engage a government empanelled accessibility auditor under regulatory mandates like the SEBI circular, BarrierBreak has the credentials, experience and team to support your accessibility journey.
If you have any questions reach out to us and if you want to get your website or application tested by our accessibility experts, get in touch with our team at sales@barrierbreak.com.
Read this blog on Why Indian Companies Must Act on Digital Accessibility Now?