What is a VPAT?
A VPAT, which is an acronym for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a document template developed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) in partnership with the United States General Services Administration (GSA).
When completed, the VPAT provides information about the degree to which an electronic information technology (EIT) product or service complies with established digital accessibility standards.
VPATs focus on the usability of EIT, which includes hardware, software, and electronic information. Initially, the template was created to help businesses demonstrate adherence to Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act for federal government contracts.
However, they have become a standard procedure for proving digital accessibility in both public and private sectors. Manufacturers and vendors of digital products often submit accessibility proof, commonly referred to as "VPAT certification," as part of the procurement process.
Why is VPAT certification important?
The importance of VPAT certification lies in its ability to allow contracting officers and procurement teams to evaluate the accessibility support of EIT products and services in an unbiased manner.
As a result, these teams can select products and services with the best VPAT accessibility features. This ensures that all users, including people with disabilities, receive an equivalent experience.
Additionally, EIT product and service developers, sellers, and manufacturers can use VPATs to report how well their offerings adhere to relevant accessibility requirements. This helps their internal teams improve the quality of their products and services.
What is VPAT accessibility?
The phrase "VPAT accessibility" is frequently used within the accessibility domain. It refers to the practice of ensuring that EIT products and services are developed to be multi-perceptual and usable for the broadest audience, including people with disabilities, as required by the Revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act or other accessibility requirements.
Any manufacturer or vendor of an EIT product or service should prioritize VPAT accessibility, as it impacts market penetration. For example, an EIT product or service without VPAT 508 certification cannot be considered for purchase by the federal government or its agencies, even if it has superior features or quality compared to certified rivals.
Multiple editions of the VPAT exist because different markets require VPAT accessibility that complies with their specific accessibility criteria.
VPAT editions and versions
The VPAT is available in several versions, which reflect updated standards or criteria for accessibility in various markets. These updates include the Revised Section 508, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and 2.2, and EN 301 549, among others.
ITI updates the VPAT to incorporate these standard or recommendation updates. The VPAT 2.4 template is currently the most recent iteration.
In addition to various updates reflecting changes in underlying accessibility standards and guidelines, the VPAT is available in four editions: VPAT WCAG 2.0 or 2.1, VPAT 508, VPAT European Union (EU), and VPAT International (INT).
- The VPAT WCAG 2.0/2.1 edition is based on the technical specifications and standards of the WCAG standard for websites and web or mobile applications.
- As mentioned, the VPAT 508 serves as the foundation for the accessibility standards of the revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. It also includes the technical criteria and accessibility standards specified in the VPAT WCAG template.
- The VPAT EU template incorporates the accepted accessible technical criteria and specifications in Europe, based on the EN 301 549 standard set by the EU. This template also includes the technical requirements and accessibility standards from the VPAT WCAG edition.
- Manufacturers and vendors seeking to sell EIT products and services internationally use the VPAT-INT version. This edition combines the technical requirements and accessibility standards of the VPAT WCAG, VPAT 508, and VPAT EU editions into a single VPAT document. Consequently, this version of the VPAT template should be used for assessments of EIT products and services intended for the international market.
It is crucial to understand the differences between these VPAT editions to ensure that you download the correct edition—officially known as the appropriate accessibility VPAT—when conducting the VPAT assessment.
What is VPAT assessment?
A VPAT assessment is necessary to gather the data and information required to complete the appropriate accessibility VPAT for your EIT product or service.
Within the accessibility community, "VPAT assessment" refers to the evaluation of an EIT product or service's accessibility based on relevant accessibility standards or guidelines.
VPAT assessments help capture product or service specifications, enabling buyers to understand conformity levels to accessibility criteria. These assessments also provide businesses with valuable insights into their products' or services' qualities, including areas that need improvement to enhance accessibility.
This contributes to continuous product or service improvement, which ultimately benefits a business's earnings.
The data and information gathered from VPAT assessments are crucial for accurately filling out the relevant VPAT template to produce what is known as the VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR).
What is a VPAT ACR?
A VPAT ACR is a completed or filled-out VPAT template that contains all information regarding the accessibility, or lack thereof, of the targeted EIT product or service. While the term "VPAT" is commonly used in the marketplace, it technically refers to the VPAT ACR report.
When procurement teams request a VPAT, they are actually asking for an ACR.
A comprehensive VPAT ACR typically includes the following information:
- The title of the report
- The VPAT version used
- The name of the product (and its version, if applicable)
- A description of the product
- The publication date of the VPAT ACR
- Contact details
- The methodology used to conduct the VPAT assessment
- Any applicable VPAT standards or guidelines (e.g., WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, Revised Section 508, EN 301 549)
It's important not to confuse an ACR with a product audit. An audit typically delves into deeper detail about a product or service's accessibility than an ACR. Consequently, obtaining an ACR for your EIT product or service can be significantly less costly than undertaking a full product audit.
Best practice in creating ACRs
As a best practice, ITI advises that ACRs contain a branded header with a logo or entity information, document date changes if the ACR report is being revised or updated, pertinent product remarks, links to the product description, and legal disclaimers.
Additionally, it is recommended to hire a professional specializing in digital accessibility to conduct the VPAT assessment and issue your ACR. This ensures the credibility of the information provided in the ACR, compared to creating the ACR in-house.
Get help with filling out your VPAT today!
You can learn how to fill out your VPAT from a VPAT ACR example found here. If you need help with completing a VPAT ACR for your product or service, contact ADA Compliance Pros at (626) 486-2201.