VPAT Services

VPAT stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. At a baseline level, it is a template that, when completed, provides information about a product, software, or ICT’s state of accessibility.

A completed VPAT is called an Accessibility Conformance Report, or ACR.

A VPAT, or voluntary product accessibility template, is a templated document used to evaluate the accessibility of a digital product, like an app, software, or website. There are several variations of the VPAT and several editions.

Once the accessibility evaluation of a digital product is complete and the VPAT document is populated, the finalized assessment is called an ACR—or accessibility conformance report. However, because VPAT is such a common term, many organizations use the terms VPAT and ACR interchangeably.

A completed VPAT, or Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) documents the accessibility of a digital product, like a mobile app or software. If you’re selling a digital product, producing a VPAT or ACR is becoming more of a common request in today’s RFPs. If you’re buying a digital product, requesting a vendor’s VPAT or ACR will give you a clear understanding of that product’s state of accessibility.

For more about the importance of VPATs, read our blog: What is a VPAT and Why is it Important for Accessibility?

A completed VPAT details a digital product’s state of accessibility. VPATs / ACRs could be used to outline accessibility and compliance in the event on organization is facing a legal claim or going through an RFP process, but the VPAT itself is not a legal document.

A VPAT will not make your product, software or ICT more accessible. When completed, the VPAT / ACR simply documents whether your tested product supports identified accessibility standards.

Once documented, Allyant’s team can assist with correcting accessibility issues, updating your VPAT / ACR to reflect an accurate state of accessibility.

In order to complete an accessibility evaluation of a software or product, you must first ensure you’re using the correct version and edition of the VPAT. Once you’ve downloaded the correct version, follow the instructions to complete the template in its entirety, including whether the product meets applicable accessibility standards—providing any remarks or explanations.

Once finished, ensure your completed VPAT—or ACR—is an accessible document.

Because completing a VPAT requires in-depth understanding of digital accessibility standards, it is best to have your VPAT completed by an unbiased, expert third-party solution provider like Allyant. Request a VPAT today.

There are several versions of the VPAT, based on the conformance standards your product must meet. For example, there is a VPAT for Section 508 compliance specifically, one applicable for organizations doing business in the European Union, a more universal VPAT for WCAG conformance, and others.

Allyant will help your organization determine which VPAT edition is most applicable, and we will ensure we’re using the most up-to-date version.

Our VPAT evaluation process is thoughtful and thorough, and we will deliver to you a complete and accessible ACR that you can share with your customers and your prospective buyers.

A VPAT—or voluntary product accessibility template—is a document template that, when completed, outlines the accurate state of accessibility of a digital product or software. WCAG, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is not a document but a set of internationally accepted standards for digital accessibility. WCAG comes in different versions (1.0, 2.0, 2.2) with three levels of success criteria—A, AA, and AAA.

While the terms VPAT and WCAG are not the same, they are intertwined. A VPAT details whether a product confirms to each WCAG success criteria.

To learn more about VPAT and WGAC, read our blog: VPAT vs WCAG: Differences and Similarities.

The best practice is to update your VPAT / ACR to align with any releases, product features, or significant changes to your product or software.

Your VPAT / ACR should be updated every 12 months, at minimum.

Software, or digital, accessibility testing is the process of evaluating whether the software can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities navigating the software with an assistive technology.

The best way in which you can evaluate the accessibility of a third-party product is to request an ACR—or VPAT report—from the third-party vendor. This report will document whether the software meets standards for accessibility. If your vendor is unable to produce an ACR, Allyant will provide a high-level evaluation before you buy to ensure you’re not compromising your organization’s compliance efforts by integrating a non-compliant product.

To learn more, access our blog Accessible Procurement Demystified: 6 Best Practices for Evaluating Technology.

While automated tools can test for many common accessibility issues, a comprehensive evaluation of a software or third-party product must involve expert manual testing. This process should also include testing conducted by people with disabilities who use an assistive technology (AT) to interact with content.

Allyant’s thorough auditing always involves a two-tiered process: testing conducted by an expert engineer who is certified in the WCAG standards; and testing done by a user with a disability. This process not only ensures the content meets WCAG standards, but it also validates usability.