Learn more about Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
What is a VPAT?
A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT®, is the industry-accepted method of documenting a digital product’s accessibility. A VPAT report, also known as Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), describes how well different types of information and communication technology (ICT), including hardware, software, and electronic content, conform with established accessibility standards.
Vendors of digital offerings, including software products and web platforms, are frequently asked to provide a completed VPAT as part of the procurement process. VPAT documents enable contracting officials and procurement teams to evaluate the accessibility of commercial products and services. They also allow manufacturers and vendors to report whether their product meets applicable accessibility standards.
Note: You must test the product for accessibility, before you can document the results in the VPAT document and submit them as your Accessibility Conformance Report.
Why are there different VPAT types and requirements?
Different editions of the VPAT reflect different standards, including WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549. Similarly, there are different versions of each VPAT edition, which account for updates to accessibility standards. The current version of each VPAT edition is revision 2.5.
How to select a VPAT edition for your organization? To learn more, go to Which VPAT edition should I use?
What is an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)?
When you add information to the VPAT template, you end up with an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). When a potential customer requests a VPAT document, they’re requesting an ACR. At a minimum, an ACR includes the following sections:
- Report title
- VPAT heading information
- Name of product/product version
- Report date
- Product description
- Contact information
- Additional notes
- Evaluation methods
- Applicable standards/guidelines. For example, WCAG.
- Conformance level terms
- A summary table of the standards included in the report
- Tables required under the specific VPAT edition
What if certain features of my product don’t conform?
An ACR provides details about a product's accessibility beyond indicating its conformance level. The Conformance Level column indicate whether your product satisfies specific criteria in the tested accessibility standard:
| Conformance Level | Details |
| Supports | The product functionality has at least one method that meets the criterion with no known glitches or with comparable facilitation (of equivalent accessibility). |
| Partially supports | A part of the product doesn’t meet, or only partially meets, the criterion. In this case, it’s crucial to share specific examples. |
| Does not support | Most of the product functionality doesn’t meet the criterion. In this case, clearly define the limitations of the product functionality. |
| Not applicable | The criterion is not relevant to the product. You must explain any exceptions that apply to your product. |
Partner with Level Access to complete a VPAT
Level Access experts offer comprehensive approach to completing VPATs and partners with your team to:
- Understand your most critical user flows.
- Test those flows using assistive technology (AT).
- Deliver audit results inclusive of accessibility barriers revealed and guidance to fix those errors.
- Support your team to help resolve the more complex errors.
- Deliver an objective, unbiased ACR (a completed VPAT).
- Engage with our team today to ensure your product conforms with global accessibility standards. and obtain an ACR that satisfies your buyers’ requirements.
To learn more, refer to Level Access VPAT Process.
To proceed and request our services, contact us.
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