The ATI Review Process

The ATI Review Process

The steps below are intended to give you an insight into the ATI Review process. Note that this is just an overview and the process might differ depending on the product being tested. Jump to:

1. Determining Impact
2. Obtaining the VPAT
3. Reviewing and validating the VPAT
4. Documentation and forms
5. Exemptions
6. Pre-approved products

Renewals

For products that have been significantly updated or were initially not accessible, another ATI review will be required before the product can be renewed.

1. Determining Impact

The first step in an ATI review is to determine the impact of the product being acquired on the campus community. If the product is high-impact, it will undergo an in-depth accessibility review. Medium impact products are reviewed at the discretion of DRS and the Procurement office. Low-impact products are generally not reviewed in-depth.

2. Obtaining the VPAT

When researching or evaluating potential products for acquisition, be proactive and ask the vendor about the accessibility of their products and Section 508 compliance. You should ask for a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template), a vendor self-assessment that reflects their compliance with Section 508 standards. If the vendor does not know what a VPAT is or needs assistance in filling one out, you may use our VPAT Request Template. You may also contact DRS for assistance. Obtaining a VPAT ahead of time is important because it will save you time in the procurement process. VPATs might not be required for low-impact acquisitions, but are required for both high-impact and medium-impact products.

3. Reviewing and validating the VPAT

The next step in the ATI review process is analyzing a VPAT. A VPAT analysis is very important because it is a vendor-produced document, and not all vendors are transparent or fully understand what to include in their VPATs. If you want to know more about what the ATI team looks for when evaluating a VPAT, please review these training materials on evaluating VPATs.

If the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) product has a high or medium impact or affects large numbers of the campus community (e.g., an email system, a campus-wide survey tool, etc.), the ATI team will conduct accessibility testing to validate the statements in the VPAT. In some cases, we work with people with disabilities to get their feedback on using the product.

Once complete, the ATI team will provide an accessibility report to you and the vendor. It is a good idea to have more than one product option available so that we may assess and recommend the most accessible option.

4. Documentation and Forms

If the product you want to acquire is not fully accessible or is in the process of being updated for accessibility compliance by the vendor, an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP) will need to be created. This ensures that an alternate access method is available to members of the campus community with disabilities who cannot use the inaccessible product. An EEAAP is created in consultation with the DRS and will require the signatures of the requesting Department Head and the Director of the DRS. If your desired product is updated and compliant by the date identified on the EEAAP, DRS will update the EEAAP to reflect the changes. In addition, the vendor will need to complete a Vendor Roadmap Template to indicate the remediation details.

5. Exemptions

As of January 2016, ATI exemptions are no longer processed for Stanislaus State ICT purchases. Products will be reviewed based on the impact on the campus community. If a product is high impact and not fully accessible, an EEAAP must be created. If the ATI team verifies a product as low impact, it will be excluded from further ATI review. Please note that this only applies to the ATI portion of the Technology Acquisition Review (TAR) and the IT Security team might not determine the same impact based on their requirements.

6. Pre-approved products

In collaboration with IT Security, a Technology Acquisition Review will not be required for certain ICT products due to the nature of these products and their level of impact on the campus community as a whole. Please note that additional accommodations may be needed if these items are purchased for employees or students with disabilities. Please visit the Pre-approved IT acquisitions page for a list of items excluded from Technology Acquisition Review.