Accessibility and SLS

Determining what level of impact library resources are is an essential first step.  Library resources are not likely all high impact, and would therefore not require both VPAT/ACR testing.

Some initial questions for how your library and campus will review library resources for accessibility should be:

• How will renewals be handled for existing subscriptions?
• How many resources do you subscribe to that aren't already reviewed by the SUNY Library Accessibility Cohort (SLAC), available at: https://sunyolis.libguides.com/vendor_accessibility?
  • Will your campus accept a review created by the SLAC for your resources?
• Will there be a phased in approach, or will reviews be expected immediately?
• What impact are your library resources, and what does your campus require for different impact levels?
  • Many library resources are not high impact, and may not require the same level of testing as high impact EIT such as the learning management system
• If any new or existing subscriptions are found to have accessibility issues, does your campus have exception processes or equal access plan guidance and processes in place?

Although accessibility for all resources is important, reviewing compliance requires prioritization.  And, since many library resources are not likely to be high impact EIT, clarifying with your campus EIT committee or procurement staff about their expectations for required compliance documentation will be essential in allowing your library to plan for accessibility compliance reviews. 

What Reviewing or Testing Should you Plan For?

High Impact EIT

The SUNY Procurement Accessibility Guidance provides a recommendation to test High Impact EIT:

High impact EIT products and services should be evaluated by an appropriately qualified individual or entity. This evaluation should be documented and can be performed by campus personnel or through third-party vendors. Cost for an external evaluation can be deferred to the prospective vendor(s).

But, testing of low and medium impact EIT is not explicitly required in the SUNY procurement accessibility guidance.

Low/Medium Impact EIT

The SUNY Procurement Accessibility Guidance provides some recommendations for reviewing and documenting accessibility for all products, which would be relevant for Low/Medium Impact EIT.

• Request a current VPAT/Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), and review to see where the vendor acknowledges that the product does not meet accessibility guidelines.
• Review whether the VPAT/ACR is reliable.
• Request an accessibility roadmap
• Check the vendor's accessibility statement and other accessibility documentation beyond a roadmap and ACRs.

Although only a few people may be involved in accessibility reviewing, establishing a workflow or process for review requests will help keep this work organized.  Listed below are some examples of EIT review request forms.