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Re: Accessible Applications

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From: Darian Glover
Date: May 12, 2008 3:50PM

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_accessibility_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
>
>