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Re: Accessible Applications

for

From: Katie Haritos-Shea
Date: May 13, 2008 3:40PM

I think the FAR says that documentation (a VPAT) *can* be made mandatory by an agency, if they so chose.

Katie Haritos-Shea

-----Original Message-----
>From: Sean Keegan < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>Sent: May 13, 2008 5:07 PM
>To: 'WebAIM Discussion List' < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessible Applications
>
>Sorry for the previous blank message - still getting used to Outlook 2007
>(Ugh).
>
>> The U.S. Federal Government mandated that all technology,
>> software and hardware, be accessible with Section 508.
>
>I believe it was just "electronic and information technology" (E and IT).
>And the Federal Government did not mandate such technology be accessible,
>but rather E and IT that the government procured (and there are exceptions).
>
>> During procurement a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
>> (VPAT) is required from the vendor. Yes, it's labeled voluntary
>> but is required.
>
>Perhaps this is a department by department implementation, but I do not
>believe this requirement is stated in the law. Am I mistaken?
>
>Take care,
>Sean
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: Darian Glover [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
>Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 2:27 PM
>To: WebAIM Discussion List
>Cc: <EMAIL REMOVED> ; <EMAIL REMOVED> ;
> <EMAIL REMOVED> ; <EMAIL REMOVED> ;
> <EMAIL REMOVED> ; <EMAIL REMOVED> ;
> <EMAIL REMOVED> ; <EMAIL REMOVED> ; Korey J
>Singleton
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessible Applications
>
>The U.S. Federal Government mandated that all technology, software and
>hardware, be accessible with Section 508. During procurement a Voluntary
>Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is required from the vendor. Yes,
>it's labeled voluntary but is required. Adherence to this requirement
>varies within the government, but is increasing.
>
>Most vendors who deal with the government comply by producing VPATs for
>their products. This does not mean the products are 100% accessible. The
>job of the VPAT is to identify how accessible the product is. Most people
>acknowledge we are a ways off from having everything comply with Section 508
>or be accessible. (Just because something complies with the letter of
>Section 508 does not mean it is accessible in spirit or practice.)
>
>Example VPATs:
>http://www.adobe.com/resources/accessibility/tools/vpat/
>http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/products/section508.mspx
>
>Information on the VPAT for vendors:
>http://www.itic.org/archives/articles/20040506/faq_voluntary_product_accessi
>bility_template_vpat.php
>
>
>Darian.
>
>
>
>On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 3:01 PM, Kara Zirkle < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> Is anyone using any of the following applications or products and if so
>> could you please give me some input on whether or not they are
>> accessible to individuals with disabilities or meet Section 508
>> Compliance? Also, if anyone has done research on similar applications
>> and chose not to go with one of the following applications what
>> application did you go with that was more accessible?
>>
>> Applications such as:
>>
>> Adobe Breeze; Townhall; Blackboard; Respondus; CMS' Droople, Paperthin,
>> Commonspot and Figleaf; Luminous; Hawkeye software assets tracking;
>> Email applications GoogleApps, Microsoft Live or Exchange Labs; various
>> Blog Platforms (ex. Wordpress); various Survey Software; Banner and
>> other Sunguard applications; SkillPort; iTunes U Podcasting; Accordent
>> Capture; SharePoint 2007; Microsoft VISTA; ILLiad (interlibrary loan
>> management system); VuFind; Basecamp; GMPLS (generalized multiprotocol
>> label switching); AppWorx; and Touchnet software
>>
>> Also, has anyone contacted vendors directly asking for changes to be
>> made in response to accessibility if contract language wasn't originally
>> in the picture? Can anyone make any suggestions about this?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> --
>> Kara Zirkle
>> IT Accessibility Coordinator
>> Assistive Technology Initiative
>> Thompson Hall RM 114 Mail Stop: 6A11
>> Fairfax Campus
>> 4400 University Drive
>> Fairfax, VA 22030
>> Phone: 703-993-9815
>> Fax: 703-993-4743
>> http://www.gmu.edu/accessibility/ati/home.html
>>
>>