Accessibility Checklist for Vendors and Publishers

When choosing digital tools, textbooks, courseware, apps, or publisher platforms, it’s important to ensure that they are accessible to all students — including those with disabilities. This checklist provides a list of key accessibility questions to ask vendors and publishers, helping you assess whether their product meets federal accessibility requirements and UMBC’s standards for inclusive learning.

When to use this checklist

  • Considering procurement or adoption of new tools/content, including free or low-cost tools
  • Selecting digital textbooks, publisher platforms, or instructional software
  • Adopting third-party or OER tools
  • Piloting new apps or classroom technologies
  • Reviewing department-wide tools or tech integrations
  • Ensuring compliance with the April 2026 ADA Title II update

  • Do you have a current VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and HECVAT (Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit)?

  • What accessibility standards does your product comply with (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508)?

  • Do you have an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) or other evaluation available?

  • Has your product undergone any third-party accessibility audits?

  • Is your platform fully usable with a screen reader? Which screen readers have you tested?

  • Can users navigate all content and features using only a keyboard (no mouse)?

  • Do all interactive components (quizzes, videos, carousels, etc.) include accessible labels?

  • Are images, icons, charts, and infographics properly tagged with alt text?

  • Are videos captioned and are transcripts available?

  • Are all documents (PDFs, Word, PPT) provided in accessible formats?

  • Can users adjust font sizes, contrast, or colors?

  • Is your product mobile-friendly and responsive across devices?

  • Are there options for reduced motion or visual effects? Managing video speed?

  • Are all test and quiz tools accessible via screen reader and keyboard?

  • Can timed assessments be adjusted or extended for accommodations?

  • Are graphing tools, math content, or STEM visualizations accessible?

  • Do you have a dedicated accessibility team or contact?

  • What is your plan for improving accessibility over the next 12–24 months?

  • Do you support user feedback loops to report and fix accessibility issues?

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Vendor refuses to share a VPAT or accessibility documentation
  • Content relies heavily on inaccessible formats (e.g., scanned PDFs, Flash)
  • Platform is not keyboard-navigable or lacks alt text and captions
  • Vendor says “we comply with ADA” but provides no details