Inclusion and Procurement
Mada Center 2011

Context
• Guidelines
• Law
• Good Practice
– UK
– Europe

The Key impact of ICT on People with a Disability
• Soft Measures
– Self esteem
– Communication
– Aspirations
• Hard Measures
– Employment
– Education

Checklist
An idea of the key accessibility factors which we
need to outline throughout the process, covering:
• Hardware such as PC
• Hardware such as laptop computers
• Hardware such as teaching and learning tools
• Managed services
• Operating system and network configuration
• Web Presence
• Software/Cloud Solutions
• Learning Platforms
• Assistive technology software and hardware
• Building design and furniture

Hardware
• Attaching peripherals
• Compatibility with access
software
• Legacy connections
• Screen size
• Laptop weight, battery
life, ease of opening

Teaching and Learning Technology
• Height adjustable
interactive whiteboards
• Alternative access
methods for
whiteboards
• Slates
• Local images of
whiteboard
• Input method on pupil
voting systems

Managed Services
• Will local specialist technician knowledge be lost?
• What about instant replacement agreements and
their impact on People with disabilities
• Can users of bespoke ICT systems access network
facilities
• Access to control panel for accessibility features
• Accessibility settings available regardless of log
on location
• Can non standard access equipment be installed
without long delays

Operating system, software & learning platform
• What accessibility options are available in the
operating system?
• What third party access software is available?
• Log on for non keyboard users
• What about the application and learning
software?
• Will the learning platform chosen be
accessible in terms of both framework and
content ?

Assistive Technology Considerations
• Can AT solutions be delivered over the network
• Is licensing appropriate?
• Will AT software keep up with operating system
and application software updates?
• Will those requiring special access use their own
machines or will all computers be made
accessible?
• Funding for AT
• Hardware – readily available and with necessary
drivers installed

Building Design and Furniture
• Power sockets
• Height adjustable
furniture
• Positioning of
computer equipment
• Lighting and windows
• Space – for equipment
and manoeuvring

Ensuring the procurement of
DDA compliant IT solutions

What is a compliant IT solution?
• Answer 1: No idea
– How do you measure?
– How do you test for it?
– Does an IT supplier understand it?
• Answer 2: Everything
– All IT solutions are compliant until…
– They create disadvantage for someone with a
disability which is then not addressed and…
– That person successfully complains about you

What’s a better question to ask?
• Is your IT solution
accessible to people
with disabilities?
Specific and open

• What accessibility
standards does your IT
solution meet?
Too ambiguous


Standards to look out for
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• RNIB “See it right”
• IBM Software Accessibility Guidelines
• Irish NDA Accessibility Guidelines
• ISO 16071 Guidance On Software Accessibility
• Section 508 VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility
Template)

Do they walk the talk?
Proof of the pudding and all that

Don’t take their word for it
• Has their solution been tested by people with
disabilities?
• How will they involve disabled people in the
development of the solution?
• Do they have reference sites?
• Will they let you test the solution yourself?

So they don’t make the grade
Are they out of the running?

Dealing with non-compliance
• What plans do they have to meet accessibility
standards?
• Will they commit to improvements and
timeframe in the contract?
• Is there an acceptable interim workaround or
mitigation?
• What priority do you give accessibility
compliance in the Invitation to Tender?

Players who won’t play ball
Dealing with common challenges

Challenges from suppliers
• No one else is asking for it
• We’re an international company and we can’t
comply with every national law
• We have made a corporate decision to apply to a
single international standard
• We’re Section 508 compliant so that’s ok
• We’ll do it, but it’s going to cost you

Challenges from purchasers
• We don’t have any disabled members of staff
• Disabled people aren’t capable of doing this
job anyway
• Disabled customers have never complained
before
• It does what we want at a price we’re happy
with but it isn’t accessible. We’ll take the risk.

A recipe for success
4 simple questions

Do not purchase
Ok to purchase

Does
it meet recognised
standards?
Does
it pass your
testing?
Will
they commit to
compliance?
Is there an
acceptable interim
position?
Yes No
No
No
Yes
Yes
NoYes

Things to remember
• Explicitly state the need for compliance with
accessibility standards in your ITT documents
• Make suppliers aware that scoring and selection
will include their response to accessibility
• Perform due diligence on responses
• Get suppliers to commit in the contract to
remediation and future compliance
• Have the confidence to take your business
elsewhere if they say “no”

One last thing to remember…
There is no such thing as a
compliant IT solution
It’s all about accessibility.

Q&A