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Re: Database of accessible products

for

From: John E Brandt
Date: Feb 20, 2013 2:33PM

www.Abledata.com still exists and is maintained via a NIDRR/DOE grant. But
it is simply a list of assistive technologies (AT). It does have the
capacity for regular users to "rate" items, but there are no specific
criterion.

Apart from the VPAT, a tool used to document a product's conformance with
the accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, I
know of no rating system. There have been attempts at organizing this
information - see
http://www.evengrounds.com/resources/vpat-directory#.USVAZFeR6M0 - but
nothing by the feds that I am aware of. We all know VPAT stands for -
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template - emphasis on Voluntary.

There have been several attempts over the year to develop something of a
rating system for websites, but nothing has really stuck and such a system
without some form of government or grant funding would not likely last very
long as it would be expensive to maintain. Examples
http://www.tinhat.com/accessibility/reviews.html
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?218076-List-of-Best-Accessibl
e-Websites

~j

John E. Brandt
www.jebswebs.com
<EMAIL REMOVED>
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA