Microsoft
At Microsoft, we follow a robust policy and process to ensure the accessibility of all our products. There are three different approaches:
Product Development
All product groups are training in accessibility, covering design, development and testing. Program Managers then design the features of the product with accessibility in mind, focusing on the various accessibility standards and legislation (such as W3C, WCAG, section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act, and other international standards and legislation).
Usability studies
Usability studies then take place using a database of almost 400 individuals self-identifying with a disability (this covers vision, speech, mobility, hearing and cognitive disabilities). Developers then create the User Interface for the product taking advantage of core accessibility functionality built into the code base.
Testers test the product in a number of ways, including involving the usability participants and doing compatibility testing with a number of assistive technologies that cover the 5 major disabilities categories (speech, hearing, vision, mobility and cognitive). The accessible Technology Group within Microsoft has a lab dedicated to providing these assistive technology devices and software to the product groups for their testing purposes.
Additionally Microsoft works closely with the manufacturers of assistive technology devices and software (such as screen readers, input devices etc.) through our Microsoft Assistive Technology Vendor Program (MATVP).[i]