Please complete the following application if your company would like to apply to sign onto the Disability:IN Procure Access Statement.

Procure Access is a business-to-business initiative sponsored and facilitated by Disability:IN and promotes accessibility content and design in digital software. It invites participation and collaboration of companies, law firms and other commercial non-governmental organizations to join and sign the Procure Access Statement and become a member of the Procure Access Advisory Group in support of this effort. Organizations must show commitment and adherence to the principles of the Procure Access Statement, which are — Increase the number of companies that prioritize accessible procurement by developing and sharing best practices for both purchasers and sellers; Increase the involvement of people with disabilities in product design and development as well as the procurement process; Encourage the sharing of transparent, current, and accurate information about technology products and service accessibility; Help businesses, including those in procurement, HR, start-up, and supplier diversity communities, develop accessible procurement programs; and Collaborate with organizations working globally on accessible procurement in the private, government and education sectors — to be eligible, sign onto, and join the Procure Access Advisory Group. The application and review process are below.

Application Process

If an organization is interested in participating in Procure Access by signing onto the Procure Access Statement and joining the Procure Access Advisory Board, please complete the steps herein and submit the information on this form.

Provide information (as described below) that verifies your organization’s commitment to the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Recognizing the importance of purchasing and selling technology that is accessible for and inclusive of people with disabilities.
  2. Using procurement to deepen understanding across the business community about how accessible procurement creates an inclusive workplace with better, more usable products and services for employees, customers, and the public.
  3. Fostering disability inclusion and accessibility, including adoption of demonstrated and acceptable practices for digital accessibility.

Review Process

Once an organization’s application is received, it will be reviewed by the following groups in the following manner.

Disability:IN Procure Access Review Group

This group consists of a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of seven (7) independent volunteers who are professionals in the accessibility and procurement fields and are members of the Procure Access Advisory Group. Disability:IN is responsible for determining eligibility and the selection of persons to serve as members of this Review Group. The term of commitment is (1) year and is renewable in (1) year increments. This group will always consist of an odd number of members for tiebreaking purposes.

Review Group Responsibilities:

The Review Group is responsible for reviewing Organization requests to sign onto the Disability:IN Procure Access Statement and to join the Advisory Group. Approval for an Organization to sign onto the Procure Access Statement and to join the Advisory Group is based upon verified commitment to the Disability:IN Procure Access eligibility requirements, as determined by the Review Group, in consultation with Disability:IN Procure Access staff. Any communication from the Organization during the application and review process will be directed to Disability:IN Procure Access staff, who also will provide the Organization notification of the Review Group’s determination.

If an organization’s application is denied, an organization may request a meeting with the Disability:IN Procure Access staff to discuss the general reasons for such denial. Said meetings are solely for informational purposes and are not intended, nor are they to be construed, as a hearing or appeal of the denial.

Rather, an Organization may appeal a denial by the Review Group by making a request via email to Disability:IN at [email protected], no later than thirty (30) days from the date of notification of the denial.

Disability:IN Procure Access Appeal Group

This group consists of a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) independent volunteer members who are professionals in the accessibility and procurement fields and are members of the Procure Access Advisory Group, but who did not sit on the Organization’s Review Group. Disability:IN is responsible for determining eligibility and the selection of persons to serve as a member of this Appeal Group. The term of commitment is (1) year and is renewable in (1) year increments. This group will always consist of an odd number of members for tiebreaking purposes.

Appeal Group Responsibilities:

The Appeal Group is responsible for reviewing an organization’s request to appeal a Review Group denial of its application. The Appeal Group review will consider all information in the Organization’s original application upon which the Review Group based its determination. The denial by the Review Group shall be upheld unless the Appeal Group determines that the Organization has verified its commitment to the Procure Access Requirements. The original denial may only be overturned by the Appeal Group through a majority vote of the full Appeal Group.

If the Appeal Group upholds the denial, then the Organization may re-apply to sign onto the Disability:IN Procure Access Statement and join the Advisory Group one (1) year from the date of the initial denial.