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Re: Database of accessible products

for

From: Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E]
Date: Feb 21, 2013 1:00PM

There is one Federal clearinghouse: the FCC Accessibility Clearinghouse, at http://apps.fcc.gov/accessibilityclearinghouse/.

We're considering setting up a repository of evaluated Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates ("VPATs"), here at the NIH, but it's in its very earliest stages of discussion and design and would be for acquisition and procurement staff primarily.

Gary M. Morin, Program Analyst
NIH Office of the Chief Information Officer
10401 Fernwood Rd, Room 3G-17
Bethesda, MD 20892, Mail Stop: 4833

(301) 402-3924 Voice, 451-9326 TTY/NTS
New: 240 200 5030 Videophone; (301) 402-4464 Fax

Section 508 coordinators:  http://ocio.od.nih.gov/Accessibility/Sec508coordinators.html

NIH Section 508 Team: mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ?subject=Section 508 Help or, for Section 508 Guidance, http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/index.html

Looking for Training: AT100 - Section 508 Electronic & IT Training - Phase II

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

WHAT IF THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASKED WAS, "WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SITUATION THAT IT JUSTIFIES EXCLUSION? INSTEAD OF, "HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE?"


-----Original Message-----
From: John E Brandt [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 4:33 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Database of accessible products

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

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Robert Jaquiss
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 3:18 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Database of accessible products

Hello:

There used to be a database called Abledata. No idea if it still exists r how well it has been maintained.

Regards,

Robert


Wondering if there's a database of products rated on their accessibility out there? A federal database? A hi-ed database?

Just when organizations go through a purchase/bid process that includes rating products on accessibility, it would be grand if their findings we're posted somewhere for others to use. Sort of the Yelp of accessibility reviews. Assume the contributors were vetted (not just the general public) this could be a valuable resource as well a s another way to help move vendors toward accessibility .
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