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‘Voluntary Product Accessibility Template‘, a VPAT is, as it sounds, a template for which a company documents compliance with accessibility requirements — as is outlined in both Section 508 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). A VPAT can cover product accessibility for e-learning, websites, mobile apps, remote access tools, documentation, software, or hardware. No matter what they are for, a VPAT will always fulfill the same basic purpose: to serve as a template to both evaluate and demonstrate that your product or service is up to requirements when it comes to being accessible for people — no matter what their needs are.
Once completed, a VPAT will be used to create your Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), which will state what accessibility standards you meet. It also alerts users to any impediments to accessibility they may find.
While technically the VPAT refers specifically to your voluntary product accessibility template, rather than the filled-out completed product that goes into creating your ACR, they are generally used interchangeably with the completed document specific to your company.
Although this all may seem like a strange concept, it really is nothing new. After all, we are well used to seeing signs indicating a place may not be suitable for wheelchair users, a theme park ride may not be suitable for someone with a heart condition, or a film or tv show may not be suitable for those with epilepsy. A VPAT, and subsequent ACR, is just a continuation of this process for the digital world, to ensure people with disabilities are aware of what they can use, and what they may have issues with. Also of note: this is a highly litigious area of ADA laws and not being accessible can lead to a costly lawsuit.
VPAT Helps Documenting Your Products Accessibility
Despite the ‘voluntary’ in ‘voluntary product accessibility template’ and the fact there is no legal requirement to have a VPAT specifically, there are U.S. federal and EU regulations that lay out vigorous accessibility requirements and transparency for ICT (information and communications technology) products.
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For example, Section 508 standards of the Rehabilitation Act requires that U.S. federal government agencies ensure that any ICT they develop, procure, maintain, or use meets certain accessibility standards. This applies to all companies that receive federal funding, such as educational institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers, and a whole host of others. Similar compliance guidelines are mirrored in the European Union’s EN 301 549 standard. In fact, given that the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) actually created the VPAT for vendors to supply the documentation to fulfill these requirements 20 years ago, it is safe to say that while they are not a legal requirement, for many companies they are indeed a practical one.
Even if your company is not receiving federal or EU funding, you may still require some form of accessibility documentation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, requires that any person, business, or organization covered by the act must communicate effectively about their programs, services, and activities.
With regulations and laws such as these, and others, it is highly likely that you need to document the accessibility of your ICT product or service, and a VPAT is the most efficient, comprehensive, and widely acknowledged way to do that. Also of note: most purchasers of ICT products will want a VPAT from the seller to verify the level of ADA compliance.
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"ADACP is an absolutely amazing company, the quality of their work and the patience of their entire team is truly impressive! During our collaboration at SiliconExpert (a subsidiary of Arrow Electronics), they displayed remarkable professionalism in navigating miles of bureaucracy and red tape, keeping a positive attitude during the long process. Their team consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of digital accessibility requirements, making them an invaluable partner in working to ensure our application was inclusive and compliant. I would use them again for any accessibility solution in a heartbeat!"
"We contacted ADACP as part of our search for a third party to conduct our accessibility audit for a VPAT. ADACP stood out due to their excellent value proposition. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of expertise and guidance provided by ADACP during the diligence process, even before contract signing. It was evident from the outset that they were a team of dedicated experts aligned with their mission, mirroring my commitment to ours. The audit was prompt, and the resulting report was comprehensive and well-structured. Our software engineering team utilized the report to address flagged issues efficiently, with the assurance that ADACP is available for further assistance if required. Overall, our experience with ADACP has been highly positive, and I would enthusiastically recommend their expertise to anyone in my network."
I reached out to ADACP as we were up against a tight timeline to complete our VPAT certification. David and his team accommodated our request for a meeting on very short notice and began the process of reviewing our website right away. Working with ADACP made all the difference in helping us to better understand digital accessibility standards and what we needed to do to improve on various aspects of our product's accessibility, including its user interface, interaction design, and compatibility with assistive technologies. The process didn't take more than a few weeks from start to finish. We are happy to be able to provide better service to our Customers.
"ADACP's thorough understanding of ADA regulations and commitment to excellence has been instrumental in helping us provide an inclusive learning environment for all users. David and the team's responsiveness and streamlined process for remediation make the compliance journey easier. I highly endorse ADACP to any organization seeking reliable solutions for digital accessibility compliance."
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