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Re: VPATs for Word, PPT, Excel, etc.

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From: Duff Johnson
Date: Jun 4, 2018 10:29AM

So… my take-away thus far is that agencies can set any expectations for VPATs (or not) that they want.

Next question is for those providing services, specifically, testing/remediation of PDF documents:

Do you use the PDF/UA flag as part of your deliverable?

Based on what I'm hearing it seems like it would be very handy to have a machine-readable indicator that applies to each individual deliverable file, as the file would then contain its own certification.

The service-provider could then simply state that when they apply the PDF/UA flag it is their indication that the file has passed tests for Section 508 conformance.

Of course, it's on the agency adding the flag to ensure that the file conforms to WCAG 2.0 Level AA (assuming that's what applicable in a given scenario) as well as PDF/UA, but if you are already doing the latter the former should be no big deal.

I'm curious to hear any reactions (positive or negative)...

Duff.


> On Jun 4, 2018, at 09:38, Jonathan Avila < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> This is unexpected so I'm looking to find out what they're really expecting since we'd have to rethink our strategy by quite a bit. When I asked the DHS what the typical expectation was, I was given a link to the trusted tester page, in which there was, among several files, an 84-page document on how to test Word files for accessibility!
>
> There is an accompanying results spreadsheet for the trusted tester process that is to be completed by the Trusted Tester. This spreadsheet doesn't appear to be available on the public site but is available on a site that is for people who have passed the Trusted Tester Certification process. It would document all of the items necessary to understand the compliance of the document although not in the same form as a VPAT. As others have mentioned many agencies including HHS and VA have their own checklists and processes and an agency may ask you to complete their documentation in the format/wording that they prefer to have.
>
> Jonathan
>
>