Sent to all Students, Faculty & Staff May 15, 2024
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Ensuring Digital Accessibility |
As we observe Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we would like to remind all faculty, staff and students that Stony Brook University is committed to digital accessibility* for all members of Stony Brook University’s community. A vital part of that commitment involves ensuring that all digital content and technology used at Stony Brook University meet accessibility standards. As a result, we have set in place procurement procedures as part of our Digital Accessibility Policy to ensure that digital products and services purchased by Stony Brook University meet accessibility requirements.
As per the Digital Accessibility Policy, before any digital product or service is purchased, the department responsible must submit an Accessibility and Cyber Risk Review request. This form contains usage information that helps our Information Security (InfoSec) and Electronic Information and Technology** (EIT) teams determine whether their respective reviews are required. It also provides us with a record of the request that we can reference in the future if needed. The form will require documentation from the vendor, including a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and a HECVAT (Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit). These documents provide information on the product's accessibility, security, and privacy practices.
The review process described above involves two separate reviews, the EIT Accessibility Review, and the Information Security Review. To comply with SUNY Policy 6901, all SUNY campuses are mandated to ensure equal and integrated access to all programs, services, and activities, particularly for individuals with disabilities, especially in the realm of electronic and information technologies.
EIT Accessibility reviews are required for all EIT purchases. In cases where purchases will impact only a small number of known users and are not public-facing, an exemption from a full review may be granted by the committee. All other purchases of EIT products and services must comply with these requirements.
Following this process helps us maintain our university's values of equity for all and ensures that everyone in our community benefits from inclusive, accessible technology.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these procedures to help our campus remain accessible. Your proactive participation is key to fostering an inclusive environment at Stony Brook. For more details, please visit our Vendor and Contract Review page.
Several of our accessibility partners also hold Global Accessibility Awareness Day events that you may find valuable.
- Brightspace is hosting the Glad to be GAAD 2024 Webinar.
- Deque is hosting a 2-Hour Accessibility Fundamentals Bootcamp Webinar.
- Silktide is hosting The 10 Minute Web Accessibility Audit Webinar.
Thank you for your commitment to making Stony Brook a welcoming and accessible community for everyone to work and learn.
*Digital Accessibility: individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same timeframe as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.
** Electronic and Information Technologies (EIT): information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. EIT includes, but is not limited to: information resources such as the internet and intranet websites, content delivered in digital form, search engines, and databases, learning management systems, classroom technologies; web, computer, and mobile-based applications allowing for interaction between software and users; and services employing information technology and telecommunications equipment.