91´ÎÔª

UM Requesters will be asked to provide a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or initiate communication with the vendor if a VPAT is not easily located.

In addition, you can help Accessible Technology Services (ATS) speed up the process by answering these questions as your software enters the review process:

• Is it administrative or academic?
• Is the license or software you plan to purchase usable by many individuals?
• Do you plan to expand use? Is it likely to be shared? (Examples: network software, highly specialized dental or medical software, etc.)
• Do you know of any known category issues: Math/Stem, videos, GIS/maps, data visualization, screen sharing, spatial data relevant to an image (teeth, nursing. body, airline seats), or other visual representations?
• Is a product created (video, document, web page)? If so, the product needs to be tested also.
• Is this product replacing a product that we’re already using? If yes,
  • Name of existing product:
  • Status of product accessibility review (i.e., is it approved, given conditional use, or denied)
• If this is a renewal, has the current installation been upgraded since we last reviewed it? If not, is there an upgrade that still needs to be installed?

• Both standard hardware and software utilized by one or two people is usually passed quickly through the process.
• EIT submitted for review with a VPAT is usually processed within 5-7 business days unless vendors or EIT testing requires additional time.
• EIT submitted with a VPAT is processed as quickly as possible, although there may be delays in obtaining sufficient information for review.

The and codes requires state agencies to ensure that equipment and software “provides blind or visually impaired individuals with access, including interactive use of the equipment and services, that is equivalent to that provided to individuals who are not blind or visually impaired”. Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) is information technology or any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. EIT includes:

• Telecommunication products, such as telephones
• Information kiosks
• Transaction machines
• Websites
• Software and Operating Systems
• Computers
• Multimedia (including videos)
• Office equipment, such as copiers and fax machines

The UM procurement and contract process for EIT acquisition is amended to include UM’s Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Policy and the related UM Procedures. Vendors who wish to do business with UM must provide information about their product’s conformance to applicable accessibility standards via the Section 508 Evaluation Template also known as the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).

The software industry has standardized VPAT forms allowing vendors to list their product's accessibility according to each section of relevant 508 standards. VPATs are obtained from and filled out by the software vendors.

Additional information on VPATs can be found in VPAT Version 2.1 (Word document), downloaded from the .

Completion and submission of the VPAT is a requirement for UM contracts for products and services where electronic and information technology is involved. Proposals or bids without a completed VPAT may be disqualified from the competition.

Accessible Technology Services (ATS) frequently works directly with vendors to answer questions about our review. This interaction is vendor or UM purchaser driven. However, ATS's interactions with vendors are not a substitute for vendor contracts with third party accessibility reviews toward developing a VPAT.

Re: Requirements for Procuring Accessible EIT

Dear Vendor:

The 91´ÎÔª is required to procure only electronic information and technology (EIT) that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this letter is to ensure that you understand our needs in this regard so we can work together. This letter will also explain our EIT procurement procedures which are designed to ensure that the University procures accessible EIT.

1. Definitions
   1. Accessible: Means that individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same timeframe as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.
   2. Electronic and information technology or EIT: Includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, the internet and intranet websites, content delivered in digital form, electronic books and electronic book reading systems, search engines and databases, learning management systems, classroom technology and multimedia, personal response systems ("clickers"), and office equipment such as classroom podiums, copiers and fax machines. It also includes any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, creation, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. This term includes telecommunication products (such as telephones), information kiosks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) transaction machines, computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources.
2. Technical Standards
   1. The University is required to meet the accessibility standards of WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web-based technology, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act for other EITs.
3. Procedures
   1. The University has created a simple process to facilitate the purchase of accessible EIT. Our first step is to require vendors to use a VPAT (voluntary product accessibility template). We will review the VPAT to make an informed decision about whether we need more information before we can purchase your product. If you do not have a readily available VPAT, you can download a form in the VPAT Template section of the University Accessibility website.

If we have questions or concerns after reviewing the VPAT, we will work with your contact person to determine how to proceed. For more information about the University’s EITA compliance efforts, please see the University of Operating Policies website.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lucy T. France
(91´ÎÔª Legal Counsel)