Government Technology

After the Asterisk*: Getting Past the Perils of Price-Alone Network Purchases


In the October issue of Maine IS Technology, Floyd White, a database analyst in the Bureau of Information Services, discussed the activities and goals of the Accessibility Subcommittee of the Information Services Managers Group that is striving to ensure that all computer software can be used by anyone. In the article, White said that accessibility was included as a system requirement of two vendor demonstrations for the new statewide budget system. Also, through the combined efforts of the subcommittee and State Purchasing Agent Dick Thompson, accessibility is now included in contract language throughout state government.

He also said, "In July, members of the Subcommittee joined with representatives of other states (including New York and Missouri), the federal government and Chief Information Officer Bob Mayer, to brainstorm ideas to expand accessibility verification and establish a national multi-state initiative. We anticipate this new initiative will result in state and federal software purchasers throughout the country having an opportunity to select from a preferred and accessibility-test list of products."

For more information on the Subcommittee's activities, go to their website.


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