Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)
Prove your product’s accessibility and compliance to buyers with an accurate Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) from the most recognized brand in the industry. Because documented accessibility closes deals.
- Meet B2B and public-sector procurement requirements.
- Comply with the ADA, Section 508, and the EAA.
- Simplify the process with an expert partner.
of professionals say their organization requires documented proof of accessibility when purchasing digital products.
Win New Business, Retain Customers with a VPAT
Documented accessibility in the form of a VPAT report—or Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) —is mandatory for selling into most public entities, including the U.S. federal government. But a completed VPAT is also becoming a standard requirement in private-sector business-to-business (B2B) procurement processes, VPAT reports are increasingly requested when current contracts come up for renewal.
Start by understanding which version of the VPAT you need based on who you’re selling to:
| Selling to: | Use: |
|---|---|
| U.S. federal government or other U.S. public-sector agencies | VPAT 2.5 508, which documents compliance with Section 508 requirements |
| Private sector | VPAT 2.5 WCAG, which documents conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, 2.1, and 2.0 |
| Public-sector organizations in the European Union | VPAT 2.5 EU, which documents conformance with EN 301 549, the presumptive standard for European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance |
| Both U.S and European markets | VPAT 2.5 INT, which combines requirements from VPAT 2.5 508, VPAT 2.5 EU, and VPAT 2.5 WCAG Notes: This version is also best for businesses that want to demonstrate a higher level of WCAG conformance. |
Engage VPAT expertise
With both new and existing contracts on the line, it’s best to approach the VPAT process with an expert partner. A VPAT is a complicated document requiring technical knowledge and multi-faceted testing capabilities.
With 25 years in the industry, our approach to VPATs is comprehensive and credible:
Our team tests using a combination of assistive technologies and browsers.
Results identify accessibility issues, with actionable guidance for fixing them.
We partner to support prioritization or to troubleshoot complex issues.
We deliver to you an objective, reliable, fully accessible VPAT report (ACR).
“Level Access not only provided us with a completed VPAT, but also a process that helped us build a better product.”
– David Thede, President, dtSearch
Start with a VPAT, succeed with a sustainable process
Like any other evaluation, a VPAT report—or ACR—is a point-in-time snapshot of your product’s accessibility. As your product evolves, and new content and features are added, it can slip out of compliance.
The Level Access solution gets you started with a VPAT but also supports a sustainable process, which is the key to long-term success.
We help companies with VPATs for every product, including updating ACRs annually to keep pace with changing product features, accessibility standards and regulatory requirements (because your buyers will require it).
Our solution equips your team with integrated tooling and training to incorporate accessibility in every stage of the product development life cycle, saving time and money by avoiding reactive, costly fixes down the line.
Contact our team
Do you need help getting started documenting product accessibility, including creating a credible VPAT to support procurement, compliance, and customer retention? Our accessibility experts are ready to help.
FAQs
Is a VPAT mandatory?
Completing a VPAT is not mandated by law; however, it’s common for organizations purchasing third-party products to require a VPAT report, or ACR, from potential vendors. So, while obtaining a VPAT report is not necessary for legal compliance, it may be necessary to sell your product.
What are the different types of VPAT?
Different editions of the VPAT are available to help organizations document conformance with different laws and standards. The most recent VPAT version, VPAT 2.5, includes four editions:
- VPAT 2.5 WCAG: used to demonstrate conformance with WCAG
- VPAT 2.5 EU: used to demonstrate conformance with EN 301 549, the harmonized European standard
- VPAT 2.5 508: used to demonstrate conformance with the standards in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- VPAT 2.5 INT: used to demonstrate conformance with all three standards previously listed
Do I need a VPAT?
If your organization sells digital products to U.S. government organizations, you will almost certainly need to obtain a VPAT report to meet your buyers’ procurement requirements. However, even if you sell primarily to private-sector businesses, your buyers may request a completed VPAT to ensure that purchasing your products won’t jeopardize their accessibility and compliance goals. Obtaining a VPAT report is a wise decision for any B2B or B2G product company aiming to maximize their market share and protect existing customer relationships.
Is VPAT the same as WCAG?
The acronyms VPAT and WCAG refer to two separate but related resources. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards for creating accessible digital experiences. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a template that is used to document the accessibility of digital products. A VPAT allows an organization to report on how well their product conforms with established standards, including WCAG. So while a VPAT is not the same as WCAG, understanding WCAG is an important part of completing a VPAT.