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Thread: Database of accessible products
Number of posts in this thread: 9 (In chronological order)
From: Rick Hill
Date: Wed, Feb 20 2013 1:02PM
Subject: Database of accessible products
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Wondering is 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 …
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Rick Hill, Web CMS Administrator
University Communications, UC Davis
From: Robert Jaquiss
Date: Wed, Feb 20 2013 1:18PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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Hello:
There used to be a database called Abledata. No idea if it still exists r how well it has been maintained.
Regards,
Robert
From: John E Brandt
Date: Wed, Feb 20 2013 2:33PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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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-Accessibl
e-Websites
~j
John E. Brandt
www.jebswebs.com
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA
From: J. B-Vincent
Date: Wed, Feb 20 2013 3:28PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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Still exists; nicely maintained. www.abledata.com
From: Robert Jaquiss < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List' < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 3:18 PM
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
From: Jennifer Sutton
Date: Wed, Feb 20 2013 8:13PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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I don't know anything more about this database, but I recently saw
this tweet. As far as I could see, via a quick glance, this database
doesn't seem to have ratings, but perhaps someone will find it helpful. Via:
@Disabilitygov:
Use TechMatrix to Search for the Best Assistive Technology Products
for You @TechnologyInEd http://t.co/u0BDPeHQ
From: Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E]
Date: Thu, Feb 21 2013 1:00PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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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 ADDRESS 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?"
From: Shuttlesworth, Rachel
Date: Thu, Feb 21 2013 1:03PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS 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?"
>
>
>
From: ron
Date: Thu, Feb 21 2013 4:26PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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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
From: Shuttlesworth, Rachel
Date: Thu, Feb 21 2013 4:46PM
Subject: Re: Database of accessible products
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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 ADDRESS REMOVED = " < = EMAIL ADDRESS 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
>
>
>> --