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Thread: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs

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Number of posts in this thread: 7 (In chronological order)

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Sep 09 2009 3:10PM
Subject: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
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Here's an interesting wrinkle: We would like to equip our designers with a color contrast analysis tool so they can check their color schemes themselves. Of course, money is no problem, as there are a number of free tools available from all around the world.

But new software must first be approved by our agency's Internet Technology Working Group, and one requirement for all new software is that it must have a valid VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) on file.

Before I start digging for contacts, I thought I would just ask those who might already know: Is there a color contrast analysis tool out there whose creator has already prepared a VPAT? If so, which one (or ones)?

Apologies in advance for the cross-posting. I'm hoping to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Thanks!


Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Thu, Sep 10 2009 3:35PM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
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Thanks, Kathy.

Our software approval policy requires that we have the vendor's statement as to whether the product is accessible. We do not yet have a final decision on what that means when the software is free, so I am having to check out all possibilities. (It's one thing for me to assert that software is accessible; it's quite another for its developer to do so.) And I'm pretty sure that I'm having to run these traps so we can be sure we don't establish a loophole so big you could drive a truck through it. ;-)

I guess I should have added these two points:
1. Because our designers have to check color contrast in a variety of applications, they need something to use with files that can't be easily loaded into a browser.
2. Because they work on Macs and IE is no longer viable for Mac OS, add-ons for the IE toolbar are out of the question.

If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.

Cliff

>>> Kathy Keller < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 09/10/09 11:44 AM >>>
Cliff,
What about Gez Lemon's tool that is on the Web Developer Toolbar for IE? It is an online application, it's free and it's accessible. I would not think a VPAT would be necessary for a free and accessible online application. Dunno. Let's see if Gez has a VPAT for that.
Gez, do you have a VPAT for the color tool?
Kathy Keller Matejek
Accessibility and Disability Rights Coordinator
Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
http://www.governor.state.tx.us<;http://www.governor.state.tx.us/>;
512-463-5741 or Relay Texas 711
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 4:02 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [Accessibility_sig] Color Contrast Tools and VPATs

Here's an interesting wrinkle: We would like to equip our designers with a color contrast analysis tool so they can check their color schemes themselves. Of course, money is no problem, as there are a number of free tools available from all around the world.

But new software must first be approved by our agency's Internet Technology Working Group, and one requirement for all new software is that it must have a valid VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) on file.

Before I start digging for contacts, I thought I would just ask those who might already know: Is there a color contrast analysis tool out there whose creator has already prepared a VPAT? If so, which one (or ones)?

Apologies in advance for the cross-posting. I'm hoping to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Thanks!


Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

From: Gez Lemon
Date: Thu, Sep 10 2009 4:00PM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
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Hi Cliff,

> If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.

The colour contrast firefox extension works okay on a Mac, but I don't
have a VPAT for it. If you really need a VPAT before you can use it, I
would be happy to fill a VPAT out and host it on Juicy Studio.

Cheers,

Gez


--

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Thu, Sep 10 2009 4:55PM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
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Gez, as my Scoutmaster used to say, you are a gentleman and a scholar. You are making life much easier for not only our agency but also countless federal, state, and local governments and agencies that must comply with Section 508 of the ADA as we work toward compliance with WCAG 2.0.

Of course, I'm probably telling you something you already know when I point out that the form can be downloaded from the ITIC's VPAT Web page ( http://www.itic.org/resources/voluntary-product-accessibility-template-vpat/ ).

Cliff

Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 4:58 PM >>>
Hi Cliff,

> If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.

The colour contrast firefox extension works okay on a Mac, but I don't
have a VPAT for it. If you really need a VPAT before you can use it, I
would be happy to fill a VPAT out and host it on Juicy Studio.

Cheers,

Gez


--

From: Gez Lemon
Date: Thu, Sep 10 2009 6:20PM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
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Hi Cliff,

I've created the two VPATS; both available online:

VPAT to the online servive:
http://juicystudio.com/vpats/cca.html

VPAT for the Firefox extension:
http://juicystudio.com/vpats/ccafirefox.html

Cheers,

Gez



2009/9/10 Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >:
> Gez, as my Scoutmaster used to say, you are a gentleman and a scholar. You are making life much easier for not only our agency but also countless federal, state, and local governments and agencies that must comply with Section 508 of the ADA as we work toward compliance with WCAG 2.0.
>
> Of course, I'm probably telling you something you already know when I point out that the form can be downloaded from the ITIC's VPAT Web page ( http://www.itic.org/resources/voluntary-product-accessibility-template-vpat/ ).
>
> Cliff
>
> Cliff Tyllick
> Web development coordinator
> Agency Communications Division
> Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
> 512-239-4516
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 4:58 PM >>>
> Hi Cliff,
>
>> If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.
>
> The colour contrast firefox extension works okay on a Mac, but I don't
> have a VPAT for it. If you really need a VPAT before you can use it, I
> would be happy to fill a VPAT out and host it on Juicy Studio.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gez
>
>
> --
>

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Fri, Sep 11 2009 8:30AM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
← Previous message | Next message →

Thank you, Gez! That's fats service!

>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 7:18 PM >>>
Hi Cliff,

I've created the two VPATS; both available online:

VPAT to the online servive:
http://juicystudio.com/vpats/cca.html

VPAT for the Firefox extension:
http://juicystudio.com/vpats/ccafirefox.html

Cheers,

Gez



2009/9/10 Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >:
> Gez, as my Scoutmaster used to say, you are a gentleman and a scholar. You are making life much easier for not only our agency but also countless federal, state, and local governments and agencies that must comply with Section 508 of the ADA as we work toward compliance with WCAG 2.0.
>
> Of course, I'm probably telling you something you already know when I point out that the form can be downloaded from the ITIC's VPAT Web page ( http://www.itic.org/resources/voluntary-product-accessibility-template-vpat/ ).
>
> Cliff
>
> Cliff Tyllick
> Web development coordinator
> Agency Communications Division
> Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
> 512-239-4516
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 4:58 PM >>>
> Hi Cliff,
>
>> If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.
>
> The colour contrast firefox extension works okay on a Mac, but I don't
> have a VPAT for it. If you really need a VPAT before you can use it, I
> would be happy to fill a VPAT out and host it on Juicy Studio.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gez
>
>
> --
>

From: Gez Lemon
Date: Fri, Sep 11 2009 9:30AM
Subject: Re: Color Contrast Tools and VPATs
← Previous message | No next message

Hi Cliff,

You're welcome. If you use other services, I'm sure they would also be
willing to fill in a VPAT so you can use their tools for accessibility
evaluations.

Cheers,

Gez


2009/9/11 Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >:
> Thank you, Gez! That's fats service!
>
>>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 7:18 PM >>>
> Hi Cliff,
>
> I've created the two VPATS; both available online:
>
> VPAT to the online servive:
> http://juicystudio.com/vpats/cca.html
>
> VPAT for the Firefox extension:
> http://juicystudio.com/vpats/ccafirefox.html
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gez
>
>
>
> 2009/9/10 Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >:
>> Gez, as my Scoutmaster used to say, you are a gentleman and a scholar. You are making life much easier for not only our agency but also countless federal, state, and local governments and agencies that must comply with Section 508 of the ADA as we work toward compliance with WCAG 2.0.
>>
>> Of course, I'm probably telling you something you already know when I point out that the form can be downloaded from the ITIC's VPAT Web page ( http://www.itic.org/resources/voluntary-product-accessibility-template-vpat/ ).
>>
>> Cliff
>>
>> Cliff Tyllick
>> Web development coordinator
>> Agency Communications Division
>> Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
>> 512-239-4516
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>
>>>>> Gez Lemon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/10/2009 4:58 PM >>>
>> Hi Cliff,
>>
>>> If Gez does have a VPAT, and if his FireFox add-on works with Macs (a few of my favorites in Windows don't), then we could use that for their Web designs and illustrations.
>>
>> The colour contrast firefox extension works okay on a Mac, but I don't
>> have a VPAT for it. If you really need a VPAT before you can use it, I
>> would be happy to fill a VPAT out and host it on Juicy Studio.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Gez
>>
>>
>> --
>>