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    VPAT ACR

    What is a VPAT and What Kind of Information is in a VPAT Report?

    David LoPrestiBy David LoPresti
    July 4, 2022
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    What is a VPAT?

    A VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a generic template that enables businesses or organizations to provide a thorough analysis of their accessibility standards as defined by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

    The VPAT document concisely outlines the key accessibility requirements for electronic and information technology (EIT) products and services. It provides a structure for EIT product or service developers or vendors to outline the level of compliance their offerings conform to, along with relevant explanatory notes.

    VPATs facilitate preliminary assessments of EIT products and service offerings for federal government buyers, contracting officials, and private organizations prioritizing accessibility and Section 508 compliance.

    A VPAT Report

    When a VPAT document is completed with information about specific EIT products and services, it becomes a VPAT report. The term "Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)" is also commonly used in the context of VPAT accessibility.

    The VPAT document serves as a generic template and provides guidance for completing an ACR. Although many people use "VPAT" interchangeably for both the template and the completed report, it can lead to misunderstandings.

    It's more precise to refer to the generic document as a VPAT and the final report generated using its guidance as a VPAT report or ACR.

    Each EIT product or service has its own ACR, which briefly describes how the product or service fully or partially meets VPAT accessibility requirements. It also details the evaluation methods used by the EIT provider to validate conformance with Revised 508 Standards, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), or European Union guidelines EN 301-549.

    Benefits of VPAT Accessibility

    Implementing VPAT accessibility as a standard in your business helps in reviewing digital materials and technologies due to several benefits:

    • It provides a standard format for determining and comparing the accessibility of various EIT products and services during procurement processes.
    • Reviewing an EIT product's VPAT report can help identify key questions to ask developers or vendors. This ensures that procurement and contracting decisions are based on comprehensive accessibility information.
    • VPATs assist in documenting accessibility-related claims from developers and vendors, fostering accountability. The information in a VPAT document can inform efforts to resolve identified issues.
    • It increases awareness of accessibility standards, promoting best practices among EIT product and service developers and users, thus fostering a more inclusive approach.

    Information Found in a VPAT Report

    When relying on a VPAT as a source of information about the accessibility of an EIT product or service, consider the following:

    • The provision of a VPAT report by a developer or vendor does not automatically guarantee that the product or service complies with established accessibility standards.
    • The quality of a VPAT is directly limited by the expertise of the individual completing it. Companies with excellent accessibility experts can produce high-quality VPAT reports. Those without such expertise often struggle, designating individuals who lack the necessary knowledge, which can negatively impact the VPAT's quality and, consequently, their business. Such businesses are advised to seek assistance from accessibility experts like ADA Compliance Pros to accurately complete their VPATs.
    • Always ensure the VPAT report matches the specific EIT product or service you intend to purchase. Different versions of the same product or service can have significant differences. Verify that the product's release date aligns with the date on the provided VPAT.
    • Combine your review of the VPAT report with other strategies and tools to ensure you procure accessible EIT products and services. A usability test, which involves subjecting the product or service to the unique access needs you aim to address, is a valuable complementary approach to the VPAT accessibility review. This will offer a more complete picture of the product's or service's accessibility.

    The generic VPAT template provides guidance for developing a VPAT report and typically includes the following information:

    • A summary of the VPAT report details.
    • The relevant standards and/or guidelines.
    • ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) tables.
    • Vendor information and instructions for completing the VPAT (this may occasionally be omitted).

    The VPAT summary requires general details about the EIT product or service and the VPAT report itself. This information typically includes:

    • The VPAT report title.
    • The VPAT heading information.
    • Name and version of the EIT product/service.
    • VPAT report date.
    • EIT product/service description.
    • Contact information.
    • General notes.
    • Evaluation methods used.
    • Applicable standards and/or guidelines.
    • Terms.
    • ACR tables for each standard and/or guideline.
    • Additional details that vendors may choose to provide.

    The "applicable standards and/or guidelines" section highlights the criteria used to develop the VPAT report, specifically:

    • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0/2.1.
    • The Revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
    • European Union’s accessibility requirements: EN 301 549.

    Some vendors also specify the WCAG levels of conformance (A, AA, and AAA) used during product development.

    The success criteria within the VPAT report's ACR tables are organized around the four WCAG principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. The tables are structured with three columns: information about the success criteria, conformance level (supports, partially supports, does not support, and not applicable), and additional remarks and explanations.

    The ACR tables provide answers regarding accessibility conformance for Revised Section 508 (specifically software and support documentation in Chapters 5 and 6), EN 301 549 Standard issues (Web in Chapter 9, non-web in Chapter 10, software in Chapter 11, and documentation and support services in Chapter 12), and selected levels of WCAG 2.x guidelines.

    Need More About a VPAT Report and the Information it Contains?

    A VPAT example is the best way to gain insight into a VPAT report and the information contained within it.

    If you need trusted professionals to help you with your VPAT, ADA Compliance Pros are ready to help. You can access us by clicking this link or calling (626) 486-2201 now.