Quality assurance

In accessibility, the process of checking that the methods and practices used to create a product follow established guidelines and best practices. Quality assurance is largely qualitative — it asks whether the right processes were followed, whether accessibility was considered during design and development, and whether appropriate standards such as WCAG were used as a reference throughout. This is distinct from quality control, which tests the finished product against specific criteria. An accessibility quality assurance programme might include design reviews, code review checklists, developer training, and procurement policies that require accessibility conformance from vendors.