Vendor Compliance
Including vendor policy information for apps used in Canvas on our website promotes transparency, legal compliance, and user trust. It ensures that universities make informed decisions about procuring safe and accessible tools and services while also fostering accountability and collaboration with vendors. This information is provided in the form of a privacy policy, an accessibility statement and/or a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).
- An accessibility statement and a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) are both documents that provide information about the accessibility of a product or service. However, they serve different purposes and have different formats.The accessibility statement is a public declaration made by an organization or a business about their commitment to providing an accessible experience for all users, including people with disabilities.
- A VPAT is a standardized document that provides a detailed evaluation of a product or service's conformance with specific accessibility standards, such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the United States or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). It is typically used by vendors and suppliers to demonstrate to potential customers, particularly those in the public sector, how their products or services meet accessibility requirements.
- A privacy statement not only supports transparency and compliance, it helps users understand how their data is being collected, used and protected. Sensitive information such as personal identifiers and grades are adequately protected and managed with responsibility and care.