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Re: - Accessibility complaint reports

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From: Hayman, Douglass
Date: Feb 29, 2024 9:08AM

Sumit,

I assume you have a typo there and meant "compliant."

On starting at my position I requested VPATs from all of the vendors we use. There were a slim few that seemed to be truly honest and accurate. Some would leave out sections of the VPAT (that were likely problematic and bound to negatively impact sales). The majority were clearly false as though there were no accessibility issues at all.

I'd much rather see an honest statement on what was found followed by an realistic statement on what the company is doing to remedy those issues as well as who the legit contact people are that are working on the issues with some accessibility expertise. I don't want to write to <EMAIL REMOVED> . I want a real person or group of people to be in touch with.

In doing procurement, we so often get marketing people making up stuff to make the sale including so-called accessibility roadmaps where the release coming out next year will have these issues resolved. (Yeah, sure they will.)

If the purchase and implementation will be extensive for both IT and users to learn, then it is likely that even if the roadmap to improving accessibility isn't met, most institutions can't just say, "Well, you failed to meet your promise so we're dropping this LMS and going with a new vendor."

1EdTech's Accessibility Rubric and the HECVAT for AT both seem to take on the needed improvements in honest communication between vendor and buyer. Buyers need to know that the vendor has people who are knowledgeable about accessibility and are provided what they need from leadership to truly improve upon known issues.

I rarely go with just the VPAT alone and need to get demo access to try things myself, comparing a few different vendor products out usually to pick the one with the fewest issues as I've yet to find a fully accessible product/service.

If you as a vendor can clearly demonstrate knowledge about accessibility and that you're making continual improvements then you'll stand out from your competitors.

Just my 2-cents worth,

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
<EMAIL REMOVED>
(360) 475-7632