[SEC508] Re: [WebAIM] Accessible Applications

["Darian Glover" <darian.glover@gmail.com>]

The U.S. Federal Government mandated that all technology, software and hardware, be accessible with Section 508.  During procurement a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is required from the vendor.  Yes, it's labeled voluntary but is required.  Adherence to this requirement varies within the government, but is increasing.

Most vendors who deal with the government comply by producing VPATs for their products.  This does not mean the products are 100% accessible.  The job of the VPAT is to identify how accessible the product is.  Most people acknowledge we are a ways off from having everything comply with Section 508 or be accessible.  (Just because something complies with the letter of Section 508 does not mean it is accessible in spirit or practice.)

Example VPATs:
http://www.adobe.com/resources/accessibility/tools/vpat/
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/products/section508.mspx

Information on the VPAT for vendors:
http://www.itic.org/archives/articles/20040506/faq_voluntary_product_accessibility_template_vpat.php


Darian.

On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 3:01 PM, Kara Zirkle <kzirkle1@gmu.edu> wrote:

Is anyone using any of the following applications or products and if so
could you please give me some input on whether or not they are
accessible to individuals with disabilities or meet Section 508
Compliance?  Also, if anyone has done research on similar applications
and chose not to go with one of the following applications what
application did you go with that was more accessible?

Applications such as:

Adobe Breeze; Townhall; Blackboard; Respondus; CMS' Droople, Paperthin,
Commonspot and Figleaf; Luminous; Hawkeye software assets tracking;
Email applications GoogleApps, Microsoft Live or Exchange Labs; various
Blog Platforms (ex. Wordpress); various Survey Software; Banner and
other Sunguard applications; SkillPort; iTunes U Podcasting; Accordent
Capture; SharePoint 2007; Microsoft VISTA; ILLiad (interlibrary loan
management system); VuFind; Basecamp; GMPLS (generalized multiprotocol
label switching); AppWorx; and Touchnet software

Also, has anyone contacted vendors directly asking for changes to be
made in response to accessibility if contract language wasn't originally
in the picture?  Can anyone make any suggestions about this?

Thanks,

--
Kara Zirkle
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Assistive Technology Initiative
Thompson Hall RM 114 Mail Stop: 6A11
Fairfax Campus
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-993-9815
Fax: 703-993-4743
http://www.gmu.edu/accessibility/ati/home.html

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