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Re: 508 asks for a VPAT what does W3C have that's similar

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From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Oct 22, 2013 2:46PM

John, many places are already using WCAG 2.0 our legislation in Minnesota passed in 2009 and the regulations were adopted in September of 2010.

Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of John E Brandt
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 3:03 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] 508 asks for a VPAT what does W3C have that's similar

Hi Lucia, I'm not sure I understand your question.

The current Section 508 rules have six sets of Technical Standards. Five are related to the acquisition (i.e., procurement) of hardware and software. The sixth part is related to "Web-based intranet and internet information and applications" - the part we generally refer to when reviewing the accessibility of websites. As I understand the discussion so far, the recommendation for what is being called the "refresh" of Section 508 is to have that web accessibility section - subpart 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications - become more consistent with the
(newer) WAI-WCAG version, as well as, Section 255 - Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines of December 2012.

The Voluntary Product Accessibility TemplateR, or VPATR, is a tool used to document a product's conformance with the accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It was developed by a trade agency, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) and not the federal government. See http://www.itic.org/public-policy/accessibility and see also http://www.essent.com/News/Blog/Understanding-Section-508-Compliance-and-VPA
T-284-37.htm

I suspect that the ITIC will come out with a new VPAT template after the Access Board has promulgated the final rules revisions to Section 508.

From your message, it appears University of California is sort of jumping ahead of the federal government and adopting the WAI-WCAG version 2 guidelines. I would assume that if the University of California has adopted new policy, they have established a new set of rules - apparently not? Maybe they want you to write the rules!

Remember that WAI-WCAG is not a set of guidelines for the procurement of hardware and software. But, that said, you may want to take a look at this document, "Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) ... which describes how the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 [WCAG20] and its principles, guidelines, and success criteria can be applied to non-web Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), specifically to non-web documents and software. It provides informative guidance (guidance that is not normative and does not set requirements)." Find this document here:
http://www.w3.org/TR/wcag2ict/

As others have pointed out here in the group, the "refresh" of Section 508 is still months (years?) in the future. The proposed rules are on the Access Board website.


~j

John E. Brandt
jebswebs: accessible and universal web design, development and consultation <EMAIL REMOVED>
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA

@jebswebs

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Lucy Greco
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 2:06 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] 508 asks for a VPAT what does W3C have that's similar
Importance: High

Hello:
As some of you may be aware UC just past a new access policy that requires W3c 2.0 as for any new development and or purchases. And I have been asked to participate in the first RFP that will be requiring this.
it's so new I don't have any documentation created yet about How to look for and or check for this standard when evaluating venders. That long winded explanation is to ask what if anything is the equivalent of the VPAT for W3C
2.0 a and or aa or aaa thanks Lucy

Lucia Greco
Web Access Analyst
IST-Campus Technology Services
University of California, Berkeley
(510) 289-6008 skype: lucia1-greco
http://webaccess.berkeley.edu
Follow me on twitter @accessaces