That's quite a list you have, Kara.
One step that may help you in finding what you seek is to
look for a VPAT
for these products. Contrary to Darian's response, VPATs
are not mandatory
(what is mandatory is that the FAR Part 10 requires market
research, for
which VPATs help.).
The other thing about VPATs is that, in my experience,
they're often
inaccurate. I don't want to say that vendors lie on their
VPATs (though
they could) but that sometimes it seems like the person
filling them out
doesn't seem to understand 508 or that the version of the
application
currently in release is not the same as the version
discussed in the VPAT.
There seems to be a lot of reasons why a VPAT could be
inaccurate. The
bottom line is, be skeptical. In cases where a VPAT was
supplied by a 3rd
party, accuracy seems to increase (because those 3rd parties
don't want to
be grilled about inaccuracies).
A VPAT is NOT a legal document and does not, in and of
itself, prevent or
permit any acquisition.
> 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
In practice: Your chances are relatively slim and directly
proportional to
your purchasing power. For example, let's say GMU is
purchasing something
from Microsoft. The chance of them remediating something
for GMU is
nonexistent compared to the chance they'd do it for a major
government
agency such as IRS or SSA and, unless it is in the original
contract is
already slim-to-none. A contract is a contract and must
clearly define the
work to be performed, including adherence to any standards
for
accessibility. It would be like trying to take a car back
to the
dealership because it came with the wrong engine when you
didn't tell the
dealer which engine you wanted in the first place. The best
you can do is
learn from mistakes and make sure they're not made again.
Karl Groves
AIM/YIM: karlcore
Skype: eight.pistons
www.WebAccessStrategies.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sec508-admin trace.wisc.edu [mailto:sec508-admintrace.wisc.edu]
> On Behalf Of Kara Zirkle
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 3:01 PM
> To: webaim-forumlist.webaim.org; lyris-confirm-199773Klists.etr.org;
> LISTSERVLISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU; LISTSERVLISTSERV.UCOP.EDU;
> disabilitylistlists.etr.org; LISTSERVJISCMAIL.AC.UK;
> icujanejarrow.com; LISTSERVLISTSERV.UGA.EDU;
sec508trace.wisc.edu;
> Korey J Singleton
> Subject: [SEC508] Accessible Applications
>
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> SEC508 mailing list
> SEC508trace.wisc.edu
> ht
tp://trace.wisc.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/sec508
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