New WCAG Updates Drive Surge in VPAT Requests
.webp)
.svg){kind=small}
Published on: December, 2025
By: David LoPresti | Accessibility Tech Desk
New WCAG Updates Drive Surge in VPAT Requests
ADACP Reports 2025 VPAT Accessibility Trends
Digital accessibility is entering its most accelerated phase of evolution in over a decade. Organizations across technology, SaaS, education, and government-facing industries are rushing to keep up.
According to new insights released by ADA Compliance Pros, requests for VPAT audit and updates have surged sharply in 2025. The demand for VPAT ACR is driven largely by significant updates to the WCAG and evolving government requirements.
At the center of this shift is the formal ISO/IEC recognition of WCAG 2.2. It is now validated as an international accessibility standard. While WCAG has long been widely adopted, ISO status gives the guidelines a higher level of authority in global procurement. It is mandatory for industries where accessibility documentation impacts sales. This recognition has prompted SaaS vendors and enterprise software providers to revisit their older VPATs that reference WCAG 2.1. (W3C,2025)
“With WCAG 2.2 now aligned with an ISO standard, procurement teams are asking for updated VPAT accessibility certifications more aggressively than ever before,” said an ADACP spokesperson.
Why are companies suddenly updating their old VPATs?
Organizations relying on outdated accessibility documentation are now realizing they cannot participate in many government or enterprise RFPs unless their VPATs are updated to meet the WCAG 2.2 benchmark. Vendors are being disqualified early in the procurement process without following the newer standard.
The latest WCAG updates mean that vendors can no longer assume partial compliance simply because they passed a WCAG 2.1 audit years ago. ADACP reports that many organizations are discovering gaps in areas they never tested before. As a result, the demand has increased for comprehensive VPAT accessibility testing and re-auditing.
New U.S. Digital Accessibility Rules Drive Mandatory Compliance Efforts
The ripple effects extend far beyond voluntary compliance. Major U.S. regulations are also contributing to the surge.
The Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II accessibility rules. Public digital services must meet WCAG 2.1 AA by the upcoming compliance deadlines in April 2026. The timelines have added pressure on state agencies, universities, municipalities and their technology vendors.
Vendors serving these sectors are now under stronger scrutiny to prove accessibility conformance through accurate and independently validated VPATs.
“The regulatory environment is tightening. Buyers now expect a VPAT not just as a document, but as proof of a real accessibility effort,” ADACP explained.
Organizations that never took accessibility seriously are suddenly realizing that procurement teams reject them without up-to-date VPAT documentation. Win more RFPs by updating your VPAT to the latest standard. Schedule a consultation to learn what is VPAT and how to create the latest VPAT ACR.
WCAG 3.0 drives early VPAT Updates
Another factor increasing VPAT activity in 2025 is the industry's preparation for WCAG 3.0.
This is a future version of the guidelines that promises a flexible structure for evaluating accessibility. Though not finalized, WCAG 3.0 is encouraging large enterprises to update their current VPATs so they are not starting from behind when the next generation of standards arrives.
Table: VPAT Accessibility Certification Trends
ADACP’s internal trend report shows three major behaviors shaping the VPAT landscape this year:
• Vendors replacing outdated VPATs: Companies with VPATs older than two years are rushing to update documentation. The rush is driven by sales pressure and the new WCAG 2.2 expectations.
• Higher demand for third-party verification: Most organizations prefer VPATs validated by external accessibility firms. Self-written documents may misrepresent conformance.
• SaaS companies prioritizing accessibility earlier: Startups and mid-size SaaS platforms are focusing on early VPATs in the product lifecycle due to upcoming regulations.
Final words
VPATs are now tied directly to revenue. If you can’t prove VPAT accessibility, you can’t sell to government or large enterprise buyers.
As organizations prepare for the next wave of accessibility standards, ADACP predicts that the VPAT demand curve will continue climbing into 2026.
Buyers have updated procurement rules due to the latest WCAG 2.2 criteria and the anticipated WCAG 3.0. Therefore, it is essential to update your VPAT accessibility certification now. Book a VPAT audit consultation to ensure your accessibility documentation meets the latest standards.
Published on: December, 2025
By: David LoPresti | Accessibility Tech Desk
New WCAG Updates Drive Surge in VPAT Requests
ADACP Reports 2025 VPAT Accessibility Trends
Digital accessibility is entering its most accelerated phase of evolution in over a decade. Organizations across technology, SaaS, education, and government-facing industries are rushing to keep up.
According to new insights released by ADA Compliance Pros, requests for VPAT audit and updates have surged sharply in 2025. The demand for VPAT ACR is driven largely by significant updates to the WCAG and evolving government requirements.
At the center of this shift is the formal ISO/IEC recognition of WCAG 2.2. It is now validated as an international accessibility standard. While WCAG has long been widely adopted, ISO status gives the guidelines a higher level of authority in global procurement. It is mandatory for industries where accessibility documentation impacts sales. This recognition has prompted SaaS vendors and enterprise software providers to revisit their older VPATs that reference WCAG 2.1. (W3C,2025)
“With WCAG 2.2 now aligned with an ISO standard, procurement teams are asking for updated VPAT accessibility certifications more aggressively than ever before,” said an ADACP spokesperson.
Why are companies suddenly updating their old VPATs?
Organizations relying on outdated accessibility documentation are now realizing they cannot participate in many government or enterprise RFPs unless their VPATs are updated to meet the WCAG 2.2 benchmark. Vendors are being disqualified early in the procurement process without following the newer standard.
The latest WCAG updates mean that vendors can no longer assume partial compliance simply because they passed a WCAG 2.1 audit years ago. ADACP reports that many organizations are discovering gaps in areas they never tested before. As a result, the demand has increased for comprehensive VPAT accessibility testing and re-auditing.
New U.S. Digital Accessibility Rules Drive Mandatory Compliance Efforts
The ripple effects extend far beyond voluntary compliance. Major U.S. regulations are also contributing to the surge.
The Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II accessibility rules. Public digital services must meet WCAG 2.1 AA by the upcoming compliance deadlines in April 2026. The timelines have added pressure on state agencies, universities, municipalities and their technology vendors.
Vendors serving these sectors are now under stronger scrutiny to prove accessibility conformance through accurate and independently validated VPATs.
“The regulatory environment is tightening. Buyers now expect a VPAT not just as a document, but as proof of a real accessibility effort,” ADACP explained.
Organizations that never took accessibility seriously are suddenly realizing that procurement teams reject them without up-to-date VPAT documentation. Win more RFPs by updating your VPAT to the latest standard. Schedule a consultation to learn what is VPAT and how to create the latest VPAT ACR.
WCAG 3.0 drives early VPAT Updates
Another factor increasing VPAT activity in 2025 is the industry's preparation for WCAG 3.0.
This is a future version of the guidelines that promises a flexible structure for evaluating accessibility. Though not finalized, WCAG 3.0 is encouraging large enterprises to update their current VPATs so they are not starting from behind when the next generation of standards arrives.
Table: VPAT Accessibility Certification Trends
ADACP’s internal trend report shows three major behaviors shaping the VPAT landscape this year:
• Vendors replacing outdated VPATs: Companies with VPATs older than two years are rushing to update documentation. The rush is driven by sales pressure and the new WCAG 2.2 expectations.
• Higher demand for third-party verification: Most organizations prefer VPATs validated by external accessibility firms. Self-written documents may misrepresent conformance.
• SaaS companies prioritizing accessibility earlier: Startups and mid-size SaaS platforms are focusing on early VPATs in the product lifecycle due to upcoming regulations.
Final words
VPATs are now tied directly to revenue. If you can’t prove VPAT accessibility, you can’t sell to government or large enterprise buyers.
As organizations prepare for the next wave of accessibility standards, ADACP predicts that the VPAT demand curve will continue climbing into 2026.
Buyers have updated procurement rules due to the latest WCAG 2.2 criteria and the anticipated WCAG 3.0. Therefore, it is essential to update your VPAT accessibility certification now. Book a VPAT audit consultation to ensure your accessibility documentation meets the latest standards.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.webp)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)