In today’s digital era, accessibility is a critical consideration for organizations developing websites, software, and applications. Ensuring that digital products are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is both a legal requirement and a best practice for user experience. To facilitate accessibility compliance, tools such as VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) and Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) are essential, alongside adherence to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
VPATs and ACRs provide structured frameworks to assess, document, and report accessibility, enabling organizations to demonstrate compliance, make informed procurement decisions, and maintain inclusive digital experiences. Vendors and organizations alike rely on these tools to communicate transparency, accountability, and a commitment to accessibility.
Table of Contents
Understanding VPAT
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a standardized document that allows vendors to report the accessibility of their products. It details how a product meets accessibility criteria and indicates whether each criterion is fully supported, partially supported, unsupported, or not applicable.
VPATs are valuable for organizations during procurement, compliance audits, and product evaluations. They provide clarity on a product’s accessibility performance and help ensure alignment with standards such as Section 508 and WCAG. Vendors can use VPATs to demonstrate their commitment to accessibility, while organizations can use them to make informed decisions regarding technology adoption.
Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR)
An Accessibility Conformance Report is a summary of a VPAT assessment. While the VPAT provides detailed documentation of conformance for each accessibility criterion, the ACR highlights the overall accessibility performance of a product. It identifies areas of compliance, partial compliance, and non-compliance and includes explanations for any limitations.
A typical Accessibility Conformance Report includes:
- Product name, version, and description
- Accessibility standards used for assessment, such as WCAG or Section 508
- Conformance status for each accessibility criterion
- Remarks explaining partial or non-compliance
- Contact information for accessibility inquiries
ACRs are widely used in procurement, accessibility audits, and vendor evaluations. They provide a clear overview of accessibility performance, allowing organizations to understand a product’s capabilities and limitations.
VPAT Versions: 2.4 and 2.5
VPAT templates have evolved over time to reflect updates in accessibility standards. The most commonly used versions are VPAT 2.4 and VPAT 2.5.
- VPAT 2.4: Aligns with WCAG and Section 508 guidelines and provides a structured format for reporting accessibility compliance. It is widely used in government and corporate procurement processes.
- VPAT 2.5: The latest version includes additional fields, clarifications, and guidance for documenting accessibility conformance. VPAT 2.5 ensures alignment with modern accessibility standards and allows vendors to report detailed accessibility information.
Using the correct VPAT version ensures consistency, accuracy, and reliability in accessibility reporting.
VPAT Compliance Testing
VPAT compliance testing evaluates a product’s accessibility against recognized standards such as WCAG and Section 508. The purpose of compliance testing is to determine whether a product meets, partially meets, or fails to meet accessibility criteria.
VPAT compliance testing typically includes:
- Evaluating product functionality with assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and speech recognition tools
- Assessing navigation, forms, multimedia, and interactive elements for accessibility
- Documenting conformance levels for each criterion
- Providing explanations for partial or non-compliance
- Producing VPATs and Accessibility Conformance Reports to communicate findings
Compliance testing ensures that organizations have accurate accessibility information and enables informed decisions for procurement and product development.
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT Template)
A VPAT template provides a standardized framework for reporting accessibility conformance. It allows vendors to indicate whether each accessibility criterion is fully supported, partially supported, unsupported, or not applicable.
Using a VPAT template ensures consistency in reporting, facilitates product comparisons, and provides transparency for organizations evaluating accessibility. VPAT template examples can guide vendors in completing reports accurately, improving clarity and communication.
Conducting a VPAT Assessment
A VPAT assessment involves evaluating a product’s accessibility and documenting the results in a VPAT and an Accessibility Conformance Report. The assessment process includes:
- Testing navigation, forms, interactive elements, and multimedia for accessibility
- Evaluating compliance with WCAG guidelines at levels A, AA, and AAA
- Identifying accessibility gaps and documenting partial or non-compliance
- Completing the VPAT template with detailed remarks and explanations
- Producing an Accessibility Conformance Report summarizing the assessment
A thorough VPAT assessment ensures accurate documentation and provides actionable insights for improving accessibility and compliance.
WCAG Compliance and Testing
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provide internationally recognized standards for digital accessibility. WCAG ensures that websites, applications, and digital products are usable by individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. Guidelines cover areas such as readability, navigation, multimedia accessibility, color contrast, and keyboard operability.
WCAG testing evaluates products against three levels of conformance:
- Level A: Basic accessibility requirements
- Level AA: Addresses common accessibility barriers
- Level AAA: The highest standard of accessibility
Most organizations aim for Level AA compliance, balancing accessibility and practicality. WCAG testing identifies accessibility gaps, guides remediation efforts, and enhances the overall user experience. WCAG certification provides additional validation of accessibility compliance.
Benefits of VPATs and Accessibility Conformance Reports
VPATs and ACRs provide several benefits:
- Transparency: Clearly communicates accessibility performance
- Compliance: Ensures adherence to accessibility laws and regulations
- Risk reduction: Reduces exposure to accessibility-related legal challenges
- Informed procurement: Supports the selection of accessible digital products
- Continuous improvement: Identifies areas for enhancement
- Inclusive user experience: Ensures usability for all individuals
Using VPATs and ACRs promotes accountability, builds trust with stakeholders, and demonstrates a commitment to accessibility.
Best Practices for VPAT Reporting
To ensure effective VPAT and Accessibility Conformance Report documentation, organizations should:
- Use clear, precise language when documenting accessibility conformance
- Reference specific WCAG success criteria
- Provide detailed explanations for partial or non-compliance
- Keep VPATs updated to reflect product updates or changes
- Train staff on accessibility standards and reporting practices
Following these best practices ensures VPATs and ACRs are accurate, reliable, and valuable for procurement and compliance purposes.
VPAT Template Examples
VPAT template examples provide guidance for documenting accessibility compliance. They typically include:
- Sections for WCAG, Section 508, and other standards
- Sample entries for full, partial, or non-compliance
- Guidance on documenting testing methods and results
Using VPAT template examples helps maintain consistency and improves the quality of accessibility reporting across products.
Accessibility Conformance Reports in Practice
ACRs are widely used in procurement, audits, and product evaluation. Organizations review ACRs to:
- Verify a product’s accessibility features
- Identify areas of partial or non-compliance
- Ensure alignment with WCAG and Section 508 standards
- Communicate findings to development teams, procurement officers, and stakeholders
Accessibility Conformance Reports provide an official record of accessibility performance and serve as a reference for maintaining accessible digital products over time.
Conclusion
VPATs, Accessibility Conformance Reports, and WCAG compliance are critical for achieving digital accessibility. They provide structured methods for evaluating, documenting, and communicating accessibility performance, helping organizations maintain compliance, reduce risk, and create inclusive digital experiences.
VPAT assessments, compliance testing, and ACR reporting allow vendors to demonstrate transparency and commitment to accessibility. WCAG compliance testing and certification provide further validation, ensuring products are usable by individuals with diverse needs.
Prioritizing VPATs and Accessibility Conformance Reports enables organizations to create accessible, inclusive digital products, improve usability, and foster accountability. Accessibility is an essential aspect of modern digital development, ensuring equitable access to technology for all users.
