This webpage contains detailed accessibility requirements for our IT vendor partners. As a public higher education institution, Cal State LA is committed to implementing the most accessible Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) products and services. We must apply Federal Section 508 accessibility standards and abide by state and CSU policy for all such ITC acquisitions.
All products can be corrected or improved over time via re-programming or manufacturing changes. Vendors should be aware that the CSU is serious about accessibility, and products achieving superior accessibility will be preferred in the procurement process. Many vendors have done just so.
Provide A Complete VPAT
VPATs are not subject to copyright laws and are not legally binding documents. A VPAT does not contain or disclose proprietary information; instead, quality VPATs will faithfully represent a product's current accessibility conformance, whether accessible or inaccessible.
The current accessibility conformance of any product is readily available to anyone accessing a product's interface. As such, Cal State LA will not sign vendor NDAs to receive accessibility conformance documentation.
Also, vendors should keep their VPAT current and update it at least annually; VPAT updates should always coincide with product updates. At each time of renewal, we will request updated accessibility conformance documentation from the vendor.
The California State University System, and subsequently, Cal State LA, adheres to the WCAG 2.0 AA standard (NOTE: Section 508 standards aligned with the WCAG standards at the last refresh, with an effective date of January 18, 2018). Vendors may obtain the latest 508 specific VPAT template from the Information Technology Industry Council.
We require that vendors complete the following sections of the VPAT for each product at a minimum.
- VPAT Title page: Name and product version(s), date, contact information, and evaluation methods used
- Table 1: Success Criteria, Level A
- Table 2: Success Criteria, Level AA
- Chapter 3: Functional Performance Criteria (FPC)
- Chapter 5: Software
- Chapter 6: Support Documentation and Services
NOTE: A complete VPAT provides answers for each Criterion and the selected Conformance Level, with Remarks and Explanations to support the chosen level of conformance for each of your product's unique interface or platforms; web, mobile, etc..:
Provide an Accessibility Statement
If your product has significant accessibility barriers that may preclude some users from performing the product's core functions, then you should note those barriers in an accessibility statement.
The purpose of an accessibility statement is to reveal to the end user known accessibility barriers that exist in your product's interface. When vendors are transparent about unresolved accessibility barriers, affected end-users may be able to work around those issues, or at a minimum, they can determine the cause of errors. Accessibility statements may significantly reduce frustration for individuals that require facilitated access.
Accessibility statements should not include aspirational declarations about accessibility standards; these are useless to the end user. A link to a product's accessibility statement should be posted in a conspicuous place within your product, preferably a persistent link accessible anywhere within a product's interface. Include contact methods for the end-user to inquire about specific issues they have experienced within the body of the accessibility statement.
Provide an Accessibility Roadmap
An accessibility roadmap provides the expected vendor timelines to correct accessibility barriers present in a product. Essential components of an accessibility roadmap should include the following:
- A description of the accessibility barrier
- The current development status to repair the barrier; planned, deferred, etc.
- Timeline to complete
- Existing workarounds
The CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) provides an accessibility roadmap template for vendors.
Conduct a Product Accessibility Demonstration
Once we have had a chance to review your VPAT or other accessibility conformance documentation, we may ask you to demonstrate your product's functionality. We recommend that the person(s) conducting the demonstration are familiar with accessibility features, including a working knowledge of NVDA or JAWS screen reading software.
Vendor Questions
- How is accessibility integrated into your development process?
- Does your company have an accessibility training program for product developers?
- What specific tools are used for accessibility testing during product development?
Demonstrate the following actions
- Operate the entire interface with the keyboard only
- Demonstrate a well-defined keyboard visual focus throughout
- Raise the text size to 200% without loss of content or functionality
- Color contrast: The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, except for large text, incidental text or images, and logos
- Screen reader: demonstrate how the application works with a screen reader (e.g., JAWS or NVDA).
- Navigate to <Help> or the product Accessibility Statement link within the application. Demonstrate where a user finds accessibility-related information and features, including how a user contacts product support.
Please visit the CSU Accessible Technology Initiative procurement web page for systemwide policy information.