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Number of posts in this thread: 9 (In chronological order)

From: Mike Warner
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 8:21AM
Subject: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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Hi all,

I;d like to float an idea past you all. I was wondering whether I should
email any partners whose websites have tons of accessibility red flags to
tell them about it and why it's important to fix those issues. While our
partners don't represent us, they do mention our company by name when they
list and sell our courses on their sites. Frankly, I'd like to make it a
requirement that any partner sites need to be at least WCAG 2.0 A
complaint. That's not that hard to accomplish by a tech team worth their
salt. What do you guys think? Would it be appropriate for us to require
or even to suggest this?

Thanks,
Mike Warner
Director of IT Services
MindEdge, Inc.

From: Mike Barlow
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 8:44AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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I think it's never too bad to suggest someone check out any accessibility
issues their site might have.
However, on the other hand, if your company provides a service of
analyzing/addressing web accessibility, it might seem like you're trolling
for business from your partners which they may or may not take kindly to.

*Mike Barlow*
Web Application Developer
Web Accessibility/Section 508 SME

Lancaster, Pa 17601
Office: 732.835-7557
Cell: 732.682.8226
e-mail: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 10:21 AM, Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I;d like to float an idea past you all. I was wondering whether I should
> email any partners whose websites have tons of accessibility red flags to
> tell them about it and why it's important to fix those issues. While our
> partners don't represent us, they do mention our company by name when they
> list and sell our courses on their sites. Frankly, I'd like to make it a
> requirement that any partner sites need to be at least WCAG 2.0 A
> complaint. That's not that hard to accomplish by a tech team worth their
> salt. What do you guys think? Would it be appropriate for us to require
> or even to suggest this?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
> > > > >

From: Thompson, Rachel
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 8:47AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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Mike,

I think this is an excellent idea. In 2016, if accessibility is not on the
radar of a partner of higher ed institutions, federal govt clients, or
anything technology-focused, it should be. I have experienced fewer and
fewer vendors saying, ³Accessibility? WCAG? What? Never heard of it!² in
the past couple of years, but some still act as if it doesn¹t matter. One
way that can change is if we all ask every partner and vendor to make
accessibility a priority. I have also had luck telling vendors/partners
that institutions are working together and comparing experiences. Our
institution is trying to meet WCAG 2.0 AA, so our vendors and partners
will need to do the same.

I hope you share how this goes with the rest of us.

Rachel

Dr. Rachel S. Thompson
Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility
Center for Instructional Technology
The University of Alabama
123 Russell Hall
Box 870248
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone 205-348-0216
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | http://accessibility.ua.edu

From: Thad C
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 9:16AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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Hi Mike,
I would suggest that you also work with your internal department in charge
of managing contracts with third-party vendors to get accessibility as a
requirement in future contractual agreements.
Best
On Apr 6, 2016 7:21 AM, "Mike Warner" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I;d like to float an idea past you all. I was wondering whether I should
> email any partners whose websites have tons of accessibility red flags to
> tell them about it and why it's important to fix those issues. While our
> partners don't represent us, they do mention our company by name when they
> list and sell our courses on their sites. Frankly, I'd like to make it a
> requirement that any partner sites need to be at least WCAG 2.0 A
> complaint. That's not that hard to accomplish by a tech team worth their
> salt. What do you guys think? Would it be appropriate for us to require
> or even to suggest this?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
> > > > >

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 9:29AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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I agree. I'm not sure I'd worry that people might think I was trolling for business, either. I'd just make sure that the message that accessibility is important comes across.

"When potential customers evaluate our proposals, the first thing they want to know is whether our site is accessible. Please help us look good!"

Cliff Tyllick
Accessibility Coordinator
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Sent from my iPhone
Although its spellcheck often saves me, all goofs in sent messages are its fault.

> On Apr 6, 2016, at 9:47 AM, Thompson, Rachel < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> Mike,
>
> I think this is an excellent idea. In 2016, if accessibility is not on the
> radar of a partner of higher ed institutions, federal govt clients, or
> anything technology-focused, it should be. I have experienced fewer and
> fewer vendors saying, ³Accessibility? WCAG? What? Never heard of it!² in
> the past couple of years, but some still act as if it doesn¹t matter. One
> way that can change is if we all ask every partner and vendor to make
> accessibility a priority. I have also had luck telling vendors/partners
> that institutions are working together and comparing experiences. Our
> institution is trying to meet WCAG 2.0 AA, so our vendors and partners
> will need to do the same.
>
> I hope you share how this goes with the rest of us.
>
> Rachel
>
> Dr. Rachel S. Thompson
> Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility
> Center for Instructional Technology
> The University of Alabama
> 123 Russell Hall
> Box 870248
> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
> Phone 205-348-0216
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | http://accessibility.ua.edu
>
>
>
>
>

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 10:04AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about theaccessibility issues on their sites?
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Sure, you can always inform a business partner of accessibility issues. What kind of leverage you have to encourage them or require them to respond is really going to depend on the nature of the relationship with the partner. So far, I think most of the responses are making the assumption that the relationship is one where you pay someone else to provide a service or product. In those situations, you definitely have more leverage to require accessibility--though you may have to pay for the requirement. However, if your business partnerships differ from that, it will probably be more challenging to require accessibility.
[TSH]

From: Patterson, David K (ITD)
Date: Wed, Apr 06 2016 10:19AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners abouttheaccessibility issues on their sites?
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Yes, you should point that out to them. And if that is what you do professionally, you have more say in the matter. You try to educate them what accessibility entails and their responsibility to make their sites available to everyone. They should know that there are regulations and legal requirements too.


David K. Patterson
HRCMS Accessibility Manager
Senior Accessibility Business Systems Analyst
Manager – Assistive Technology Laboratory
One Ashburton Place - Room 1601
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-626-4650
Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Web: www.mass.gov/itd/

From: Charles Krugman
Date: Wed, Apr 13 2016 8:37AM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about the accessibility issues on their sites?
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as a user I think it is definitely appropriate to let them know. Many times
they may not be aware of accessibility issues unless they are brought to
their attention. I regularly contact sites of organizations and companies to
let them know about issues that I encounter as a screen reader user. As a
consumer if they don't take it seriously and resolve the issue I then take
my business elsewhere.
Chuck Krugman, MSW paralegal/consultant
1237 P Street
Fresno ca 93721
559-266-9237

From: Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E]
Date: Wed, Apr 13 2016 1:23PM
Subject: Re: should you or should you not tell partners about theaccessibility issues on their sites?
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I would agree. The business or 'partner' may or may not know much about accessibility. They may know about 'conformance to standards' but not about practical accessibility. As much as I'd want to pounce, I would give them the benefit of the doubt and any experience of my own - I tried accessing captions, I tried to complete your form using Dragon NaturallySpeaking and x, y, or x happened. It helps many see the practical side of it - what it really means for their customers or for end-users - more than just "but the software vendor showed me a VPAT!"

Gary