10 Accessible Procurement
Policies or other documentation outlining processes and commitments to accessibility can help identify when and how accessibility criteria will be incorporated into procurement as required by the AODA. For some procurements, such as small purchases by faculty, it may not be practical to incorporate accessibility criteria. However, consider incorporating accessibility criteria for other large purchases or critical digital tools. This will ensure equal access for all learners.
Many colleges and universities have policies outlining accessible procurement practices. However, not many Ontario post-secondary institutions have written policies for accessible digital procurement. For example, many American universities have policies on procurement for digital accessibility because of Section 508 legal requirements. While details of these policies may not be directly applicable to Ontario post-secondary institutions, they do provide a general framework for incorporating digital accessibility considerations into procurement processes.
For example, see:
- Accessible Procurement Guide, Council of Ontario Universities
- 9 Steps to Procuring Accessible ICTs for Inclusive Education, Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ICT)
- Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Policy and Procedures, University of Montana
- Guideline on Making Information Technology Usable by All, Government of Canada
- Procedures and Procurement for Digital Accessibility, New York University
- Procure Accessible Technology, University of Wisconsin – Madison Information Technology
Each organization will approach accessible digital procurement slightly differently. The policies above and other leading practices generally point to steps outlined on these pages.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act