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. Simplify the process with an expert partner.
A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is the accepted template for documenting a digital product’s conformance with accessibility standards like WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549. Once completed, the VPAT becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). While often used interchangeably, a VPAT refers to the template, and an ACR is the finalized document.
ACRs are widely used in B2B and B2G procurement. An ACR from a reputable third-party can help you demonstrate accessibility compliance to buyers and position your company as a trusted, inclusive vendor in both the private and public sectors.
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.
A professional VPAT completed by the industry leader demonstrates your commitment to accessibility, making your product more appealing to organizations prioritizing inclusivity.
We provide more than just a one-time VPAT. We help you stay up to date with evolving standards and keep your VPAT current.
We’re a pioneering force in digital accessibility with a deep understanding of accessibility laws like the ADA, Section 508, WCAG, and EN 301 549.
We’ve worked with hundreds of digital product vendors to produce reliable, accurate ACRs. We complete more than 600 VPATs annually.
Our customers benefit from tailored guidance aligned to their unique products. From identifying target standards to remediating issues, we’ll support you at every stage of the VPAT process.
With 25 years of experience, we take a comprehensive approach to VPATs, combining technical expertise and multi-faceted testing.
We follow a 5-step process:
Understand critical user flows.
Test user flows using a combination of assistive technologies and browsers.
Provide results identifying accessibility issues, with actionable guidance for fixing them.
Partner with your team to support prioritization or troubleshoot complex issues.
Deliver an objective, reliable, fully accessibility VPAT report (ACR).
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.
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:
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.
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.
Ready to obtain a credible VPAT that supports procurement, compliance, and customer retention? Our accessibility experts are ready to help.
