BarrierBreak Inc is proud to announce a major milestone. We have been awarded a new Cooperative and Statewide contract 02024 with the State of Washington. Through this agreement, we will provide accessible document remediation services to a whole range of public organizations. This opportunity helps public institutions improve their digital accessibility and all citizens can have equal access to essential information.
"Winning this contract is a proud moment for us and a strong validation of our strategy and capabilities in Accessible Document Remediation. It reflects the trust placed in our team by Washington State DES to deliver meaningful outcomes at scale."
— Shashank Kapur, Director - Growth & Strategy
The Department of Enterprise Services (DES)in Washington State is a central government agency that supports how public sector organizations operate, buy, and deliver services.
What Does an Accessible Document Mean under the Document Accessibility and PDF Remediation Contract
Digital accessibility is about creating a truly equal experience for every user. Under the Document Accessibility and PDF Remediation cooperative & statewide contract 02024, an accessible document must meet specific technical guidelines. All documents must comply with WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
Any files in PDF format must meet PDF UA ISO 14289-1 or 14289-2 technical standards. If these requirements change during the life of the contract, documents must meet the most current standard adopted by WaTech policy.
Technical standards are important, but the real focus is on the human experience. When a document is fully accessible, it guarantees that individuals with disabilities can achieve the following goals:
What the Contract for Document Accessibility and PDF Remediation Means?
The Document Accessibility and PDF Remediation statewide contract 02024 with the Washington state government makes it simple for public groups to get the desired accessibility support. Eligible organizations can use this agreement to work with us directly and make the procurement process much easier. A large variety of entities across the country can benefit from these services. The table below outlines exactly who can use this contract.| Purchaser Type | Included Entities |
|---|---|
| Washington State Agencies | All Washington state agencies, departments, offices, divisions, boards, and commissions. |
| Washington Higher Education | State universities (University of Washington and Washington State University), regional universities (Central Washington, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington), Evergreen State College, community colleges, and technical colleges. |
| Washington Cooperative Contract Parties | State agencies of any state in the United States. Local governments, political subdivisions, and school districts of any state. Federal agencies, as well as federally recognized Indian Tribes located outside of Washington. |
| Contract Usage Agreement Parties | Political subdivisions located in the State of Washington. Federal agencies and federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Washington. Public benefit nonprofit corporations that receive federal, state, or local funding. |
- Independently acquire the exact same information as anyone else.
- Engage in the same digital interactions.
- Enjoy the same services within the exact same timeframe.
- Experience a substantially equivalent ease of use compared to individuals without disabilities.
The six service categories BarrierBreak supports
Organizations manage many different types of files. A simple newsletter needs a different approach than a complex math textbook. Therefore, this contract divides remediation work into six specific categories. BarrierBreak provides expert support across all of them to meet the needs of every project.Category 1: Generic Documents and Publications
Generic documents and publications are official and formal files for information sharing. This group also acts as a general category. It serves as the right choice if a remediation project does not fit into any other specific area.Category 2: STEM Documents
Science, technology, engineering, and math files contain highly complex elements. We work with accounting data, numbers, symbols, formulas, charts, and graphs. These projects require specialized software applications like MathType, MathML, MathPix, MathPlayer, and Desmos. For these complex files, we communicate closely with the purchaser to create an acceptable product. Common examples include:- Technical documents and textbooks
- Study sheets and lab reports
- Assessment methods like tests and quizzes
Category 3: Legal Documents
Legal, contractual, and medical files have specific formatting, fonts, and unique symbols. These complex files require strong communication between the client and our team. Examples of legal documents are:- Contracts and agreements
- Ordinances, rules, statutes, and regulations
- Legal briefs, motions, and memos