Presented at 9:00 am in Mattie Silks on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
#41157Speaker(s)
- Elizabeth Franklin, Allyant
- Aaron Page, VP, Accessibility, Allyant
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Intermediate
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Learn best practices for reviewing VPATs and procuring accessible technology. Discover a six-step framework to enhance your procurement process, ensuring compliance and usability. Gain insights into risk assessment, vendor commitments, and building an accessibility-informed procurement policy. Understand the importance of accessibility in procurement and how it impacts end-users and organizations legally and practically.
Abstract
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the importance of procuring accessible technology cannot be overstated. With growing global regulations and the increasing demand for inclusive solutions, organizations must prioritize accessibility in their procurement processes. This presentation provides a comprehensive guide to building an accessibility procurement program, focusing on best practices for reviewing VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) and ensuring compliance and usability.
The primary goal of this presentation is to highlight why procuring accessible technology is more crucial than ever. We will discuss the impact of global regulations on end-users and the legal implications for organizations that fail to prioritize accessibility. By understanding the significance of accessibility in procurement, attendees will be better equipped to implement effective strategies within their organizations.
We introduce a straightforward six-step framework for building an accessibility-informed procurement process. This framework goes beyond merely requesting VPATs and emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough accessibility risk assessments. Each step is designed to ensure that organizations can make informed decisions and procure technology that meets both compliance and usability standards.
The six steps are;
- Requesting a VPAT/ ACR: Every vendor should provide a VPAT/ ACR, which serves as a strong initial test of accessibility.
- Looking Beyond “ Supports” Ratings: Transparency matters. Organizations should critically evaluate VPATs and look beyond “ Supports” ratings to understand the true accessibility of a product.
- Prioritizing Usability Testing: Compliance does not equate to usability. Organizations should conduct usability testing, including users with disabilities, to ensure products meet real- world accessibility needs.
- Assessing Risk Based on Impact: Accessibility is not a simple pass/ fail exercise. Organizations should assess the real- world consequences of accessibility issues, considering the severity of impact and the number of affected users.
- Ensuring Contract Commitments: VPATs are just the beginning. Organizations should require detailed testing reports and progress updates from vendors, ensuring contract language prioritizes product improvement.
- Implementing a Standard Process: Start small and build an accessibility procurement policy. Request VPATs/ ACRs from all procured products, perform usability assessments, and leverage tools like the Disability: IN Procure Access Toolkit.
- Learn best practices for reviewing VPATs and procuring accessible technology.
- Discover a six-step framework to enhance your procurement process.
- Learn about risk assessment, vendor commitments, and building an accessibility-informed procurement policy.
By the end of this presentation, attendees will have a clear understanding of how to streamline their procurement processes to include accessibility considerations. They will be equipped with practical tools and strategies to implement within their existing frameworks, ultimately leading to more inclusive and compliant technology solutions.
Keypoints
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Procurement, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Elizabeth Franklin
Elizabeth Franklin is an Accessible Document Specialist and Software Trainer at Allyant. She works with clients to ensure their documents not only meet accessibility standards, but also provide the best user experience for all audiences. Elizabeth has a Master’s in Education degree and over 20 years of teaching experience. Currently, she is a member of the PDF/UA Association Liaison Working Group and designs and develops accessible online training. She has presented at the 2024 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference and Accessing Higher Ground Conference.
Aaron Page
Aaron Page is the VP of Accessibility at Allyant, specializing in accessibility compliance and usability.