Thread Subject: Re: teitac-subpartaBest Meets vs. Full UseinFunctional PerformanceCriteria

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From: Baker, Robert C.
Date: Fri, May 04 2007 5:25 PM

To clarify what "Best meets" means.

In a perfect world, Section 508 compliance would be a binary decision; a product would either be compliant or non-compliant.

The reality is:
There are products that address a specific standard - but not throughout the entire product.

There are products that address some of the applicable standards - but not all of them.

There are products that meet all of the technical standards throughout the entire product, but do not meet all of the 508 functional requirements.

It is rare to find a product the fully meets all applicable standards throughout the entire product and meets all the functional requirements.

It is even rarer to find a product that fully adheres to Section 508 that ALSO fully meets the agency's mandatory technical requirements, which define what the agency needs to accomplish its mission.

A black and white view of 508 compliance is a lofty goal, and I look forward to the time when 508 coordinators and their procurement partners have products to choose from that verifiably meet all the requirements and standards. Until then, a multi-faceted understanding of what constitutes "best meets" will be needed to execute the intent behind the law.

Robert Baker

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Robert Baker
Social Security Administration
Section 508 Coordinator
SSA Accessibility Resource Center

Office: 410.966.7602
Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

Sent by Blackberry
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----- Original Message -----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: 'TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee' < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Fri May 04 10:22:59 2007
Subject: Re: [teitac-general] [teitac-subparta] teitac-subparta Best Meets vs. Full UseinFunctional PerformanceCriteria

That is how Best Meets is determined if I’m not off base. Agencies are not limited to purchasing only those products that meet all of the standards. It is the goal of agencies to purchase products that meet their business requirements and that meet ALL of the 508 standards that are appropriate to the development or acquisistion. However, if a product doesn’t meet all of the standards, a determination is made as to which product Best Meets. This means that the product they select may meet some of the standards, not all of the standards, but more than the other products under consideration. They are able to purchase the products because it Best Meets the standard even if “only part of the product was accessible”. As I said before some agencies institute a prioritization so that they can increase the likelihood that they select products that meet what they consider to be critical standards.



-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Gregg Vanderheiden
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 12:51 AM
To: 'TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-general] [teitac-subparta] teitac-subparta Best Meets vs. Full UseinFunctional PerformanceCriteria



Hi Deborah,



You asked.

“We wouldn’t want to have standard that said that a product met the standard if only part of the product was accessible.” In reality isn’t that what we have that in play right now?



I don't follow you. If only part of the product meets a technical standard, the product is not deemed to have conformed. Something isn't judged to be screen reader compatible or have enough contrast or whatever if only part of the product is.



Is that what you are saying or something else?



Thanks.




Gregg
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Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.

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