| | Dear [First Name]
Welcome to Session 4: Procurement and Accessibility Policy
A focus in this session is on procurement, and how it fits into digital accessibility policy. We’ll look at how to ask for accessibility in RFPs when purchasing or licensing information technology, and look at including accessibility in contracts to ensure vendors remain responsible for providing products and services that stay accessible for the life of the contract. We will also look at Accessibility Statements and how to craft one that can be used in various contexts to express an organization’s commitment to accessibility. In this session's activity you will look at vendor claims with a critical eye, to be sure you do not inadvertently get into a situation purchasing products and services that are not as accessible as their vendor had claimed, and get into trouble for failing to properly evaluate your organization’s purchases. Vendors are typically in business to make money, and may bend the truth, so it is important to do due diligence when purchasing IT.
In Ontario, the AODA makes it mandatory to consider accessibility when purchasing IT. When purchasing you’ll likely find vendors who understand the importance of accessibility, and are making efforts to ensure their products and services can be accessed by people with disabilities. Often, however, these products or services do not comply in the strict sense, with accessibility guidelines, but may be "good enough." It is often possible to work with vendors to make adjustments to their product to improve accessibility. The bottom line is, if there are two comparable products, organizations in Ontario must purchase the more accessible one, all other things being equal.
This session's tasks: Best wishes
Greg Gay (CPACC, WAS, CPWA)
IT Accessibility Specialist, Ryerson University
Lead Course Developer
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Global Sharing, Affordable Learning
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