Accessibility Evaluations

Table of Contents

Websites and Software Applications

Please follow the web-related tutorials on this website to ensure that you’re putting your content and code together with accessibility as part of your workflow. Don’t wait until it’s finished to find out that you need to rework your site or application.

Certified external evaluators may be used, although this should not replace frequent internal testing. Examples of vendors who provide electronic accessibility evaluations include:

We recommend allowing extra time in your launch schedule for any changes that need to be made.

Course Materials and Curriculum

We highly recommend requesting an accessibility evaluation when curriculum is being adopted or renewed. Curriculum may include textbooks, instructional technology, adaptive courseware, modules such as MyMathLab, and many other electronic components. Considering accessibility during the adoption process can help minimize accommodation needs in the future.

Individual instructors can request a consultation with the Assistive Technology Resource Center to evaluate their electronic content, such as PDFs and PowerPoint files.

Purchasing Software and Electronic Systems

Evaluating accessibility as part of the selection process for any software or electronic system (free or paid) is required, and is essential to preventing barriers in our electronic environment.

  • If we can discover barriers before we purchase a product, we can minimize the need for accommodations.
  • We can advocate with vendors to improve the accessibility of their products.

See Purchasing Technology/Procurement for more about how to purchase technology with accessibility in mind.

Hardware and Physical Spaces

The Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) evaluates technology hardware for accessibility. The ATRC also evaluates physical spaces that relate to accessing technology. This includes computer labs, classrooms (e.g., podiums), and office spaces.

Use the ATRC contact form to request a consultation on hardware.

Section 508 and ACRs/VPATs

Products that are being developed at CSU for sale or distribution outside of CSU should also include accessibility as part of the design and creation process. Any project that is subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is required to provide a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)/Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) explaining the accessibility of the product.

We are unable to provide this type of evaluation internally. For help with validating your product’s accessibility and creating a VPAT/ACR, consider hiring a third-party evaluator. Potential options include (but are not limited to):

Document Remediation

The units of the Accessibility Center do not have the capacity to remediate the thousands of documents flowing through our virtual campus. Due to the volume of content, we need each member of the community to step in and help with the process. Here are a few scenarios that may work.

  • Individuals make their own content accessible as part of their workflow.
  • Departments hire staff or GTAs to assist with making course or other electronic content accessible. This may be a good option if a specific accommodation is required and timeliness is an issue, or if a department generates a lot of electronic content unrelated to course materials.
  • Departments outsource document remediation for more complex cases.