The university requires all purchases meet digital accessibility requirements whenever they include software, websites, online tools, or vendor‑provided digital content such as PDFs or reports. This also includes transactional websites for physical items. This ensures that technology and materials are usable by individuals with disabilities and compliant with federal disability laws. The level of review depends on who will use the product: tools intended for broad audiences—such as students, employees,or the public—may require additional evaluation and documentation compared to tools used by a single individual or a small internal team.
Because of these requirements, procurements involving digital components may take longer to complete. In addition to gathering accessibility documentation from vendors, purchasing teams must include accessibility requirements in contracts, and, in some situations, work with the Office of Compliance to evaluate vendors’ plans for achieving conformance with digital accessibility requirements and resolving accessibility issues identified during contract performance. These expectations also apply to contract renewals, which are treated as new opportunities to address accessibility.
Ultimately, departments play an important role in ensuring that digital tools and content they acquire are accessible, incorporating digital accessibility into market research and gathering accessibility documentation from vendors. Departments may also need to consider a different tool to meet its legal obligations and support an inclusive experience for all users
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility is now required for all digital content and tools
- Most procurements involving digital components will take more time
- Tools intended for broad audiences (students, public, campus-wide) may require additional evaluation and documentation
- Departments may need to consider procuring a different tool to meet accessibility requirements