Overview

On Friday, December 1, 2017, the University adopted a policy governing the accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).  The policy is effective on January 1, 2018. One aspect in the policy describes the procurement of information technology products and services. 

The University will use the criteria of accessibility as part of its decision-making process when purchasing Information and Communication Technologies ( ICT). Purchasing priority is to be given to technologies that meet accessibility Standards and Guidelines.  We ask vendors who wish to do business with the University to provide written information about their product’s conformance to applicable accessibility Standards and Guidelines.  Vendor-supplied statements about accessibility will be verified through hands-on evaluation of the product prior to purchase.

To ensure accessibility compliance, University shoppers will need to perform a three-step assessment process. Alternatively, buyers or vendors can contract with a specialized third party to check the accessibility of a product or service. An automated testing tool, a manual keyboard test, and finally a test by a person with disabilities are used to determine the accessibility of a product or service. Information Technology Services can provide guidance on how to check a product or service.

The ICT Accessibility Assessment Committee (AAC) will review the product or service for compliance using the results from the test and the procurement application form. The AAC can approve the purchase, recommend acceptance based on contingencies, or reject the purchase. A rejected product or service can be submitted to the larger ICT Accessibility Compliance Committee for consideration when an exception to the policy is being requested.

The process used to evaluate the accessibility of a product or service can be found in the ICT Accessibility Procurement Process diagram.

A  To speed up the process, we are asking for the Manual Accessibility Evaluation checklist (.docx) and ICT Accessibility Procurement Form Draft (.docx) to be submitted at least two weeks before weekly scheduled AAC meeting. Please email the completed form to accessibleIT@syr.edu to start the review process. We are also asking that you prepare to answer questions about the purchase at the meeting.

Assessment Documents

• The Manual Accessibility Evaluation checklist (.docx) to help with the evaluation process.

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• The ICT Accessibility Procurement Form Draft (.docx) outlines the questions the

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• ACC asks about a product or service

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Table of Contents

Working with Vendors

Questions for vendors

Use the Questions for vendors below when starting conversations with the vendor about accessibility.

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Note: See a more extensive list of questions for vendors.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

RFPs and contracts with ICT vendors will reflect the University's commitment to accessibility. All RFPs will include language that assures products purchased will be compliant with this policy.  For example:

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