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Re: Database of accessible products

for

From: Shuttlesworth, Rachel
Date: Feb 21, 2013 1:03PM

There was some discussion at the Accessing Higher Ground Conference about
doing this via AHEAD.

We have a growing number of VPATs and informal evaluations of vendors (how
cooperative/responsive/communicative have they been) at our institution.
We would love to have a way to share amongst other institutions.

Rachel

Dr. Rachel S. Thompson
Director, Emerging Instructional Technology
Center for Instructional Technology
University of Alabama







On 02/21/13 2:00 PM, "Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E]" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
wrote:

>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-Accessi
>bl
>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
>
>
>>>messages to <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
>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 .
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>Rick Hill, Web CMS Administrator
>University Communications, UC Davis
>
>
>>>