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Checklist for purchasing software


Purchasing guidelines

Below is a list of questions to ask when evaluating a product for accessibility. These questions should be used in your department's product review process when making a purchasing decision regarding a new information technology (IT) product. It is important to find out what products in the array of choices meet accessibility standards. If the product is not accessible, it is important to find out if there are ways to make it more accessible. You may need to partner with the manufacturer of the product to encourage them to build in accessibility features. If you are not sure how accessible the product is, please contact the ATIC lab. We can help you in your efforts to evaluate accessibility.

An IT product that is to be used Institute-wide or by a large number of students or employees must have a plan in place to provide access to persons with disabilities. Consult with the ATIC Lab (atic@mit.edu) or Disabilities Services to help you develop such a plan. The plan should be in place at the time of purchase.

IT products purchased by departments for specific individuals need not be evaluated for accessibility unless that individual needs accessibility features.

If you have other questions, contact the ATIC Lab via e-mail to atic@mit.edu or call x3-7808.

Checklist

  • Keyboard access

    Providing a complete keyboard interface for an activity means that users who cannot use a mouse will be able to complete the activity. Users who are blind or have low vision rely on the keyboard for input and interaction. Some users with physical disabilities also use the keyboard or an alternative input device that passes keystrokes to the operating system. Software should provide keyboard equivalents for all actions. When evaluating software, please note:
    • Are there ways to access each item in the menu bars via keyboard (such as ALT F and then X to exit a program)? Example: In Windows, each menu command has an underlined letter designating it a "hot key". Specifically, to shut down an application, the hot key is "X", so by pressing Alt+F and then X shuts down the application.
    • Are there shortcut keys to execute frequently performed tasks (such as CTRL O to open a file)? Common shortcuts using the keyboard.
    • Can the user navigate a form or dialog box using tab, arrow, spacebar and enter keys (tabbing moves a user from input field to input field, spacebar allows them to check and uncheck boxes or radio buttons)? Using the keyboard to navigate a form.
    • When navigating a form with the tab key, does the cursor advance to each item in the proper order?

  • Sounds

    Users who are deaf or hard of hearing may have difficulty hearing information presented in audio format, whether it is narration, or informational beeps designed to get a user's attention. In evaluating software:

  • Display

    Users with visual impairments, learning disabilities or color blindness may not be able to read pages with poor color contrast, or specific colors may not be readable at all.
    How color is used?
    • If color is used only as an enhancement, it may be fine. However, if color is used to convey information, users may miss the information, so an alternative format is essential. Use of alternate colors on Windows.
    • If color customization is supported, does the product provide a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels?
    Does the product incorporate animation?
    • Is there an option to display animation in a non-animated presentation mode?

  • Timing

    Users with cognitive disabilities, visual disabilities, or seizure disorders may not be able to view blinking or flashing information, or may need extra time to review instructions. Questions to ask:
    • Is there an option to adjust the response times on timed instructions or to allow the instructions to persist?
    • Is there a way to turn off flashing items? Website with flashing text and icons.

  • Documentation

    Users with visual disabilities need access to information in text formats. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a graphical representation of a document and does not work with many assistive technologies.

  • Verify Accessibility

    Remember, trust but verify. Using the list above, please test out these features. If you need assistance, contact the ATIC Lab at atic@mit.edu.


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