Regulations issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recently established a technical standard requiring the digital tools and electronic resources public universities use in programs, services, activities, and employment to be accessible, including technologies purchased from third-party vendors. 

As UW–Madison works toward compliance with these requirements, accessibility is now part of the university’s process for evaluating and purchasing digital tools and electronic resources. This supports our shared responsibility to ensure all members of our community can access information and participate fully in university life.

What is changing?

Accessibility considerations must now be addressed before digital tools and services are purchased or renewed. As a result:

• Purchases involving digital tools and electronic resources now require accessibility review, which may extend timelines for some procurements.
• Some products, including those intended for broad audiences, including students, the public and university-wide communities, may require additional evaluation and accessibility documentation.
• In some cases, departments may need to consider alternative products when accessibility requirements cannot be met.

What you can do now

If you are involved in requesting, managing, purchasing or renewing a digital product:

• Begin gathering accessibility information from vendors early in the process. Documentation may include:
  • Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) or Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs)
  • Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT) documentation
  • Accessibility remediation plans or product roadmaps
  • Other accessibility reports or supporting documentation
• Notify your vendor contacts of changing compliance requirements.

Beginning early can help reduce delays and support informed purchasing decisions.

Learn more

The updated purchasing process outlines accessibility review requirements, vendor documentation expectations and purchasing guidance. Visit the Update to Compliant Purchasing webpage for updates to the additional information and resources.