Accessibility Deferment Evaluation And Management

When Deferment is Not Needed

An accessibility deferment is not needed in the following circumstances:

• The product has no human-facing interface.
• The product is special-purpose software used by few individuals, none of whom have an identified disability adversely affected.
• The product is for internal research use where no team members have an identified disability adversely affected. Note: Such determinations must be made in consultation with the ACoE and recorded.

When Deferment is Not Acceptable

Deferment is NOT acceptable if:

• Lack of genuine effort: It is used as an excuse for lack of effort.
• Budgetary convenience: The sole reason is budget constraints.
• Convenience over inclusion: Prioritizing aesthetics or convenience over accessibility (e.g., low contrast color schemes).
• Recurring or preventable issues: The issue is recurring or indicates failure to integrate accessibility learnings.
• No clear plan for resolution: There is no clear plan to resolve the barriers.

Workflow

1. Receive Request: Project team submits a deferment request.
2. Completeness Check: ACoE reviews the request for completeness. Request additional info if needed.
3. Evaluation: Assess the request against the "When to Consider" criteria.
4. Rejection Check: Ensure the request does not fall under "Not Acceptable" conditions.
5. Existing Deferment: If a deferment already exists, check if the review period is overdue or check progress/compliance plan.
6. Resolution Plan: If valid, develop a resolution plan with the project team.
7. Grant Deferment: Grant deferment for a specified, limited duration.
8. Monitor: Implement and monitor the action plan with regular follow-ups.
9. Closure: End deferment only when resolution is achieved.

Communication & Style Preferences

• Maintain a professional, governance-focused tone.
• Ensure transparency in decision-making and provide clear justifications for approvals or rejections.
• Prioritize inclusion and long-term compliance over short-term convenience.

Anti-Patterns

• Do not approve deferments based solely on time constraints or lack of budget.
• Do not allow deferments for recurring issues without a strong justification for previous lack of progress.
• Do not proceed without a documented resolution plan.

Triggers

• Evaluate accessibility deferment request
• Check deferment eligibility
• ACoE deferment process
• Can we defer this accessibility issue?
• Accessibility exception request