University IT
Purchasing Accessible IT
In accordance with the Administrative Guide 6.8.1 - Accessibility of Electronic Content policy, electronic content and services purchased by Stanford University are expected to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0, Level AA (WCAG 2.0 Level A and Level AA).
Before purchasing electronic products or services, you should request information from vendors to determine how familiar they are with established accessibility standards and how they approach accessibility in their product development.
Ask vendors to provide the following:
- Information or formal documentation (VPAT, Accessibility Conformance Report, etc.) about how the current product version conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0, Level A and AA. Formal documentation is expected to be dated within the past 12 months.
- Contact information for the designated representative at the company to address issues, questions, or the resolution of accessability barriers in the product.
- Description of the types of automated and manual accessibility testing procedures that are conducted as part of the software development lifecycle, including any specific tools and/or assistive technologies used.
After receiving and evaluating the information above, you should choose the most accessible option that meets the business/organizational needs. If the chosen solution is not fully accessible, additional steps may need to be taken to handle potential access barriers.
Involving our Office
Our office is available to help you evaluate vendor responses and conduct accessibility reviews when necessary. Products that pose a higher risk of triggering a complaint if they are purchased and later present accessibility barriers for users will receive more involvement and consultation from our office.
Refer to the Software Purchase Guide for Local IT for additional information regarding accessibility and other policies when purchasing software.
Submit the Accessibility Risk Pre-Screening form to alert our office of your potential purchase. A representative will follow-up with you regarding next steps.
Temporary Exceptions
A Temporary Exception may be requested for higher risk products when conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level A and Level AA standard, is not technically feasible or would result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the services provided through the electronic content.
