I'm forwarding this discussion of an interesting issue from the Educause IT Accessibility listserv, since it is about libraries and I thought it would be of interest here. It seems like a tricky issue, kind of similar to accessibility of open access resources.
Adina
Leigh,
That is an interesting question. My hunch is that "you get what you pay for" will apply.
The in-house VPAT/ACRs I see that come from sales and marketing stand out as such. In contrast the ones from firms with a skilled in-house group of accessibility knowledge will reveal not only an honest portrayal of the shortcomings, it also shows me that it is likely that I could correspond with them with hopes that they'd have the ability and motivation to fix accessibility barriers.
When I've seen a VPAT created by a reputable outside firm like say, Level Access, I feel confident that it shows the blemishes as well as the elements meeting the success criteria.
I have reached out to one-person shops for specialty software to ask for a VPAT and they flat out say something like, "Hey, this is software I offer up for free to my academic colleagues. I have no plans of ever making a VPAT."
Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
dhayman@olympic.edu
(360) 475-7632
Sent: 9/20/2022 12:56:00 PM
From: Leigh Mosley
Subject: inexpensive VPAT preparation?
Hello all,
Does anyone have any experience with relatively inexpensive VPAT preparation? I am concerned that the expense of obtaining accessibility documentation may become an big barrier for small vendors of niche library eresources who have maybe just a handful of paid staffers. I'd like to be able to suggest some resources to them so they can remain competitive. I'd hate for university libraries to be restricted to only doing business with the behemoths on the market.
Leigh Mosley
Accessibility Coordinator
University of Tennessee Libraries
1015 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37996-1000
865-974-0011
lmosley1@utk.edu
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Adina Mulliken
Social Work Subject Specialist & Assistant Professor
Hunter College, CUNY
New York, NY
She/Her/Hers
am2621@hunter.cuny.edu------------------------------