When it comes to creating and maintaining products that are accessible to all users, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards is critical. The commitment to inclusivity has become a cornerstone for organizations across the public sector spectrum. From federal agencies to provincial bodies and municipal entities, diverse public sectors share a common goal — ensuring their products and services are accessible to everyone. One of the key tools that organizations use to assess and communicate the accessibility of their products is the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template or VPAT.
While these hoops may pose a challenge, the IT Industry Council (ITI) created VPAT as a guide to ensure that digital products and services adhere to accessibility standards. If your business is wondering how to navigate the VPAT process, you’re in the right place! Continue reading to learn more…
What Is VPAT?
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document that helps businesses evaluate how well their products, such as software, websites, and electronic devices, meet accessibility standards. The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a standardized form that evaluates how accessible a product is for users with disabilities. This assessment helps prospective buyers understand the product’s alignment with accessibility standards and its suitability for accommodating users with disabilities.
VPAT documents are tailored based on the required standards:
- WCAG Edition: Focuses on WCAG 2.0/2.1 compliance.
- 508 Edition: Evaluates U.S. Section 508 compliance.
- EU Edition: Addresses EN 301 549 compliance.
- International Edition: Combines WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549.
The VPAT helps companies demonstrate their commitment to accessibility by detailing the specific ways their products comply with accessibility criteria. It provides transparency about a product’s accessibility features, helping individuals with disabilities understand how they can use the product.
For organizations that work with the public or government, having a VPAT can be crucial for ensuring compliance with legal accessibility requirements and promoting inclusivity.
Who Needs a VPAT?
When Canada introduced the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), it aimed to help organizations provide accessible services to those with disabilities, including web accessibility and accessible digital content like PDFs. While the ACA is enforced on the federal level, each province in Canada has its own regulations that add to the federal accessibility law—such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Depending on which province the organization is located in, public sectors must submit accessibility plans to ensure they’re actively promoting inclusivity and adhering to regional accessibility standards. In provinces that don’t have a requirement, offering a VPAT is common practice to ensure they’re sticking to federal laws and providing accessible opportunities.
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) evaluates a product’s conformance with accessibility standards and guidelines. Specifically, it checks against the following standards:
- Section 508 (Revised Standards)
- Source: U.S. Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d), as amended in 2017.
- Scope: Applies to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) procured, developed, maintained, or used by federal agencies in the U.S.
- Key Guidelines: Based on WCAG 2.0 AA success criteria for web, software, and electronic content.
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Source: Published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
- Versions: WCAG 2.0 or WCAG 2.1 (depending on the VPAT edition).
- Levels: A, AA, and sometimes AAA (optional).
- Scope: Focuses on web and digital content, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- European Standard EN 301 549
- Source: Mandated by the European Union for public procurement of ICT.
- Key Areas: Covers web, software, hardware, documentation, and services, aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Applicability: Required for ICT products and services sold to EU public sector agencies.
- International Standards (ITU, ISO, etc.)
- ISO/IEC 40500: International adoption of WCAG 2.0.
- Some organizations choose to customize VPATs for specific international accessibility standards, but this is less common.
The VPAT helps vendors disclose how accessible their products are and highlights areas for improvement to ensure compliance with these standards. VPATs are a requirement for a diverse range of organizations and businesses. This includes Government Contractors, Private Sector Companies, Educational Institutions, Large Enterprises, and Small Businesses. Overall, any entity that creates or delivers products to the public must consider a VPAT!
Why is a completed VPAT report Important?
VPATs are crucial because they act as a bridge between product developers and users, ensuring that accessibility is an integral part of product design.
Part of promoting accessibility and inclusivity is ensuring accessibility standards are incorporated into new practices, policies, products, and services early in the process. This includes:
- Creating or adopting an accessibility checklist
- Implementing the checklist in the beginning stages of new projects
- Educating staff and members in charge of new projects
- Testing accessibility features throughout milestones
- Updating the checklist to meet the latest accessibility standards
Some organizations may create their own checklist, and others may reference the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. Regardless, the importance of a completed VPAT accessibility report lies within its function: ensuring the products and services organizations procure align with accessibility standards, fostering inclusivity and equal access for all citizens.
How to get a VPAT?
To obtain a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template), start by checking the vendor’s website, as many companies publish their VPATs online, typically in the accessibility or compliance sections. If you cannot find it there, you can contact the vendor directly through their sales or support team to request a copy.
What is the difference between VPAT and ACR?
The Accessibility Conformance Report or ACR is a representation of how a product meets the applicable accessibility standards.
ACR stands for Accessibility Conformance Report which is a representation of how a product meets the accessibility standards.
The main difference between ACR and VPAT is that ACR is the complete VPAT result of a product while VPAT is just a blank template that can be filled out to account for the product state.
Further, in the marketplace, the VPAT term indicates domination even though its usage is technically wrong because VPAT accessibility is just a blank template.
How Accessibility Partners Can Help with A VPAT Report?
Let us review your Voluntary Product Accessibility Template to ensure it’s accurately up-to-date. And if you don’t have one, we’ll help you make one. We customize our solutions to meet your unique needs, helping you achieve lasting accessibility improvements. Here are the key ways Accessibility Partners can assist with a VPAT report.
Recognized Government Vendor
We are a recognized and trusted government vendor, having successfully navigated the rigorous qualification processes required to serve federal, provincial, and municipal entities. Our status as a Vendor of Record (VOR) for numerous government bodies proves that we meet the highest standards of service quality, security, and reliability. This experience ensures that you can trust us to handle your accessibility reporting with the utmost professionalism and precision.
Detailed Reports
Our VPAT Report Services are crafted to provide a thorough and clear picture of your organizational accessibility status. We offer comprehensive evaluations that go beyond basic checklists, giving you detailed insights into compliance with accessibility standards. Our reports include concise executive summaries as well as in-depth remediation guides, offering you actionable recommendations to improve your products and service’s accessibility and usability.
Industry-Recognized Tools
To deliver the most accurate and thorough testing, we employ manual testing with the guidance of expert users of assistive technology using industry-recognized screen readers and other tools. These tools are considered the gold standard in the accessibility field, enabling us to effectively identify and address accessibility barriers in your digital assets.
Expert Guidance
Our team consists of accessibility experts who don’t just identify issues—they provide clear, actionable guidance to resolve them. We collaborate closely with your team to ensure that you not only meet accessibility standards but also enhance your organization’s overall usability. Whether you are new to accessibility compliance or looking to improve existing practices, our guidance ensures you stay on track.
Proven Track Record
With a solid track record of success in securing government contracts and providing top-tier accessibility services, Accessibility Partners has established itself as a trusted leader in the field. Our history of successful partnerships with various levels of government demonstrates our expertise and reliability. By choosing us, you gain a partner with a proven ability to navigate complex accessibility requirements and deliver results that meet your organizational goals.
How to Create your own Voluntary Product Accessibility Template?
Luckily, creating a VPAT is a manageable task. As a matter of fact, you can either create your own (as long as it follows the latest WCAG 2.0 or 2.1 guidelines), or you can find the latest templates available on the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) site most relevant to your needs.
If you choose to create your own VPAT, there are a few things to consider:
1. Be sure you understand the latest accessibility standards.
Organizations need a deep understanding of relevant accessibility standards when creating their Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. This includes understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508, and any federal or provincial act to ensure accurate assessments and documents of product accessibility.
2. The created VPAT must have a thorough product assessment.
Organizations must thoroughly evaluate each accessibility feature and functionality to determine its level of accessibility. This includes testing aspects like navigation, multimedia, forms, and other interactive elements.
3. Document all findings throughout the assessment.
Clear and detailed documentation of findings is crucial for transparency and understanding. Organizations must document not only whether a feature is accessible but also provide information on how it complies with specific accessibility standards.
4. Ensure you are aligned with legal requirements.
Because there are multiple accessibility acts enforced throughout Canada, it’s crucial that your VPAT aligns with all legal requirements and industry standards, which includes understanding the ACA and the accessibility act enforced in your province.
5. Include in-house or third-party accessibility experts.
Having accessibility experts involved in the process is highly beneficial. Whether you hire in-house experts or third-party organizations, they can provide insights into best practices, offer guidance on testing methodologies, and ensure the evaluation is thorough and accurate.
6. Incorporate user feedback.
User feedback, especially from individuals with disabilities who have used the product, plays a vital role. This real-world feedback provides valuable insights into the user experience (UX) and identifies areas for improvement.
7. Make sure to perform regular updates.
Accessibility standards and technologies evolve. Therefore, it’s essential that you stay up-to-date by regularly updating VPATs to reflect changes in standards, technologies, or the product itself.
8. Provide VPAT Training for assessors.
VPAT training should be available for individuals responsible for creating the template. This includes training on accessibility standards and evaluation techniques to provide consistency throughout the process.
Conclusion
All in all, a VPAT is an essential document. It is a vital tool in assessing the accessibility of products and services. It helps businesses and organizations evaluate how their products meet accessibility standards, ensuring they are usable by everyone including individuals with disabilities.
The information generated by a VPAT report can help organizations foster a genuine push toward inclusivity and equity!
FAQs
What Information is Included in a VPAT?
A VPAT includes details about how a product meets accessibility standards, such as WCAG, CAN/ASC – EN 301 549:2024, and AODA.
Where Can I Find a Template for Creating a VPAT?
You can easily find and access a VPAT template by reaching out to Accessibility Partners— the accessibility experts!
What Happens if a Product or Service Fails to Meet VPAT Standards?
If a product or service fails to meet VPAT standards, the document will highlight the areas where accessibility is lacking, and resolutions will be provided to overcome these gaps.
Can a VPAT be Updated?
Yes, a VPAT can be updated. If a product undergoes significant changes or updates that affect its accessibility, the VPAT should be revised to reflect the new conformance status.
How does a VPAT help with Accessibility Compliance?
A VPAT helps businesses assess and document how well their products or services comply with accessibility guidelines and regulations.
Is VPAT Legally Required?
While a VPAT is not always legally required, it is often necessary for organizations that do business with the federal government or meet provincial accessibility standards.
