Where we are
We proactively infuse accessibility up front in the technology development and design journey. We’re doing this by establishing accessibility steps among software developers and applying the same disciplines as for code issues, security or other performance standards. This required us to provide training courses to educate developers on what they need to understand, test and evaluate as they work with UI developers and develop code. Agile design reviews are conducted to identify problem areas before development.
We continue to transition legacy applications and tools to more accessible design and functionality. As software, web pages and systems are made accessible, we use ongoing automated monitoring scans and mandated checks to keep them that way.
We’re also working across the ecosystem, with partners and vendors, to increase accessibility inside and outside the company. A key partner relationship is with Microsoft. Accenture runs on Office 365 productivity services that include a wealth of built-in accessibility features. Our collaboration with Microsoft involves providing ideas to increase accessibility of Microsoft products, implementing early versions of accessibility features and sending feedback on the implementations.
As part of this partner relationship, team members from both our organizations are exploring the development of new ways to create content with little or no effort using the Microsoft artificial intelligence platform so that Microsoft Office 365 content is accessible by default. We are also piloting a document accessibility scanner for Accenture’s extensive Knowledge Exchange repository, pre-release testing for accessibility functionalities and involvement on the Microsoft Inclusive Workplace Council. This council meets quarterly and focuses on how to move assistive technology capabilities, such as voice input, forward.
In terms of content, Accenture is also addressing web-based and audio media in the form of videos, webcasts and live broadcasts. A great deal of this media includes learning assets. For new video and broadcast media content created, Accenture has implemented closed captioning by default and real-time closed captioning for live events. Our team is now working backward to make high-usage previously recorded content captioned.
With vendors, Accenture has incorporated accessibility requirements into master service agreements, request for proposals and contracts. We are also working with vendors to uplift their accessibility capabilities. This collaboration can take the form of testing and recommending product accessibility refinement. Through our partner relationship with Microsoft, we are increasing supplier awareness through a joint training platform.
Enabling technology accessibility at Accenture
A passionate, dedicated team comprised of a diverse group of approximately 30 individuals Accenture-wide, including a high number of employees with disabilities, make up Accenture’s Accessibility Center of Excellence. Individuals on the team collaborate on design concepts, partner with Accenture application teams and vendors, and test for inclusive user experience, among other activities. They also join around 100 of our employees to represent Accenture in the Microsoft Insider Office program to serve as providers of feedback on new functionalities.