WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Database of accessible products

for

From: Shuttlesworth, Rachel
Date: Feb 21, 2013 4:46PM

I look forward to hearing more about the status of this.

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

On Feb 21, 2013, at 5:27 PM, " <EMAIL REMOVED> " < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Actually it was an ATHEN discussion. It would not host VPATs but would host product evaluations. This is
> something we are moving foward on.
>
> Ron Stewart
>
>
>> -------Original Message-------
>> From: Shuttlesworth, Rachel < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Database of accessible products
>> Sent: Feb 21 '13 20:03
>>
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> >>> >>> >>
>> >> >> > > >