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From: Sumit Patel
Date: Thu, Feb 29 2024 4:07AM
Subject: Accessibility complaint reports
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Hai all,

We were providing filled VPAT report for the client . But, now we got
a question from one of the clients as he has seen certificate from
another vendor which basically certify that the product is
accessibility complaint and it is not a VPAT .
I was wondering is there any other report which we can offer to a
client once after the testing and fix of the issues.
I could see ACR . But, as far as I understand it is just that some
section are remove in ACR from VPAT

Do we have any other certification / reports which a testing company
can offer to a client or a client can show that our product is
accessiblity complaint.

Regards,
Sumit.

From: Steve Green
Date: Thu, Feb 29 2024 4:15AM
Subject: Re: Accessibility complaint reports
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WCAG allows self-certification, so anyone can use any type of ACR format. The VPAT is a standard format that allows conformance statements to be compared easily, at least in theory, but you can use other formats.

The W3C have a report template at https://www.w3.org/WAI/test-evaluate/conformance/.

Or you could copy the other vendor's format to make it easy to compare them.

Steve Green
Managing Director
Test Partners Ltd

From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Thu, Feb 29 2024 4:31AM
Subject: Re: Accessibility complaint reports
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Hi Sumit,

I work in the us government space. A few different agencies have their own
checklist, such as HHS. Agencies under HHS accept those checklists in lieu
of a VPAT. Some agencies outside of HHS will accept them too. I've
consulted with companies that do not have a VPAT ready, so I encouraged a
narrative instead to show their intentions of improving their
accessibility. It is not perfect, but allows me to have something to help
me hold them accountable.

--
Ryan E. Benson

On Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 6:07 AM Sumit Patel < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
wrote:

> Hai all,
>
> We were providing filled VPAT report for the client . But, now we got
> a question from one of the clients as he has seen certificate from
> another vendor which basically certify that the product is
> accessibility complaint and it is not a VPAT .
> I was wondering is there any other report which we can offer to a
> client once after the testing and fix of the issues.
> I could see ACR . But, as far as I understand it is just that some
> section are remove in ACR from VPAT
>
> Do we have any other certification / reports which a testing company
> can offer to a client or a client can show that our product is
> accessiblity complaint.
>
> Regards,
> Sumit.
> > > > >

From: Sumit Patel
Date: Thu, Feb 29 2024 7:00AM
Subject: Re: Accessibility complaint reports
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Hai, thanks for your replies. Can I get any such format of vendors if possible


On 29/02/2024, Ryan E. Benson < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Hi Sumit,
>
> I work in the us government space. A few different agencies have their own
> checklist, such as HHS. Agencies under HHS accept those checklists in lieu
> of a VPAT. Some agencies outside of HHS will accept them too. I've
> consulted with companies that do not have a VPAT ready, so I encouraged a
> narrative instead to show their intentions of improving their
> accessibility. It is not perfect, but allows me to have something to help
> me hold them accountable.
>
> --
> Ryan E. Benson
>
> On Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 6:07 AM Sumit Patel < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> wrote:
>
>> Hai all,
>>
>> We were providing filled VPAT report for the client . But, now we got
>> a question from one of the clients as he has seen certificate from
>> another vendor which basically certify that the product is
>> accessibility complaint and it is not a VPAT .
>> I was wondering is there any other report which we can offer to a
>> client once after the testing and fix of the issues.
>> I could see ACR . But, as far as I understand it is just that some
>> section are remove in ACR from VPAT
>>
>> Do we have any other certification / reports which a testing company
>> can offer to a client or a client can show that our product is
>> accessiblity complaint.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Sumit.
>> >> >> >> >>
> > > > >

From: Hayman, Douglass
Date: Thu, Feb 29 2024 9:08AM
Subject: Re: - Accessibility complaint reports
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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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS REMOVED =
(360) 475-7632