Purchasing Overview
By policy and in practice, the University of Iowa requires that Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) be accessible and usable by all people, including people with disabilities. Where it is not possible to provide fully accessible technology, an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP) must be developed to document resources and processes for ensuring access to EIT products and services.
University collegiate, business, and administrative units are responsible for addressing accessibility issues with their technology, even when that technology is obtained from a third-party. When procuring third-party products, you should:
- identify the vendor's contact person for accessibility issues;
- obtain a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and/or an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) from the vendor;
- perform testing if necessary, to determine the nature and extent of any accessibility barriers;
- complete an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan if necessary, to document how the unit will address accessibility barriers exposed by testing or in the vendor's documentation.
The IT Accessibility Group is available to consult with anyone on campus who has questions about providing accessible technology to University users. The IT Accessibility Group can also provide targeted training, interpretation of accessibility technical standards, and clarification of policy and legal issues.