Lionbridge Technologies, a provider of solutions for worldwide deployment of technology and content, has announced new services to help technology companies assess the accessibility of their products to people with disabilities. The program will be available through VeriTest, Lionbridge's provider of testing solutions. The June 21 launch date for the program coincides with the effective date for the Rehabilitation Act Amendments (RAA) Section 508, requiring that information technology, including software, purchased by the government be accessible to people with disabilities.
"Through this assessment program, Lionbridge encourages innovation among software developers to build products that are accessible to end-users with mobility, sight or hearing disabilities," said Jim Bampos, senior vice president for worldwide testing services at Lionbridge. "Developers need a rapid, simple method for evaluating the accessibility of new features and technologies, as well as an understanding of how new guidelines such as those outlined in RAA section 508 apply to their products."
The RAA Section 508 assessments will be conducted by Lionbridge's VeriTest labs, based on solutions developed by Data Dimensions, Inc., a Seattle-based testing business. Lionbridge has previously announced its agreement to acquire Data Dimensions in a transaction expected to close during the second quarter of 2001.
The U.S. government created the RAA Section 508 standards to benefit government employees and people interacting with the government who have disabilities. Section 508 covers such areas as access to computer functions for those who cannot manipulate a mouse, and support for such technologies as an eye-tracking mouse, high contrast displays and screen magnifiers.
VeriTest is the premium provider of testing services that enable technology companies to release proven enterprise-scale applications. With Datacenter-equipped labs in North America and Europe, VeriTest delivers test consulting, test plan development, and test execution services. The VeriTest labs are the sole authorized facilities for some of the industry's leading logo-validation programs, including "Certified for Microsoft Windows 2000," "Ready for Microsoft Pocket PC," "AT&T Wireless Certified Solutions," "BMC Software Certified," and others. VeriTest is also authorized to perform Palm OS certification of hardware devices, as well as Novell Yes! and IBM ServerProven tests.
Lionbridge Technologies provides solutions for worldwide deployment of technology and content to the information technology, telecommunications, life sciences and financial services industries. Lionbridge's integrated globalization technologies and services enable global businesses to create and maintain their products and dynamica databases in multiple languages and cultural formats. Based in Waltham, MA, Lionbridge maintains facilities in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, and the United States.
Data Dimensions is an international information technology services company that delivers quality assurance and testing, as well as application development and maintenance services to organizations ranging from emerging companies to Fortune 100.