[Athen] WCAG 2.0 versus 2.1

[Sean Keegan]

Hi Carrie,

A very good question - in California, we have a state law that reference
the accessibility requirements of the Section 508 standards (CA Government
Code 7405) for state entities. Additionally, the CCC Chancellor's Office
issued an information and communication technology and instructional
materials accessibility standard last year specific that recommends
colleges and districts follow the 508 Standards. You can find more
information about both CA Government Code 7405 and the CCC Accessibility
Standard at the following links.

CA Government Code 7405:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=7405

CCC Information and Communication Technology and Instructional Material
Accessibility Standard:
https://cccaccessibility.org/campus-plan/policy-standards-faqs


If you have a software application that passes WCAG 2.0, Level A/AA, then
you would be following the state level requirements. That said, there could
still be a potential accessibility issue and so it would be the
responsibility of the institution to ensure that the individual with a
disability could still participate and engage in the same services made
available through the software application. In short, with an accessible
application, it is much less likely that there will be accessibility
barriers, but there could be a situation in which a person with a
disability is still not able to participate. One solution may be to engage
with the college's ADA/Section 504 coordinator (or, if an enrolled student,
DSPS) to determine an acceptable alternative.

To Joe's most excellent point - I would not rely on a vendor's VPAT alone,
albeit with some exceptions, to determine if a product conforms to the WCAG
2.x accessibility standards. If the product in question has been evaluated
by a reputable third-party accessibility vendor, the review is recent, AND
covers the same product functionality that you would be using, then I would
be much more likely to give greater credence to that VPAT. I would not rely
on a product evaluated by a vendor alone as to how it conforms to the WCAG
2.x accessibility or Software standards in a VPAT.

A note about WCAG 2.x - WCAG 2.1 is the most recent version. If there is
credible evidence that the product is meeting the WCAG 2.1 standards, then
that would also mean it passes WCAG 2.0.

Good question.

Take care,
Sean



On Wed, Oct 2, 2019 at 3:52 PM Million, Carrie <CMillion at dvc.edu> wrote:


> Possible dumb question:

>

> If a software passes WCAG 2.0 AA, but *NOT *WCAG *2.1* AA per their VPAT,

> is it still considered in compliance?

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

> *Carrie Million*

>

> Assistive Technology Specialist

>

> DSS Department Chair

>

> DSS Tutoring Coordinator

>

>

>

> [image: cid:image001.png at 01D15DD5.2A7F0640]

>

> 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

>

> 925-969-2186

>

> Sorenson VRS 925-270-1660

>

> cmillion at dvc.edu

>

> www.dvc.edu/onlineaccessibility

>

>

>

>

>

>

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