As more organizations commit to digital accessibility, businesses and educational institutions alike are expanding their focus beyond websites to third-party software products. Aiming to meet compliance obligations and uphold inclusive values, organizations are prioritizing solutions that are usable by people with disabilities.
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) is crucial in this effort, providing documented proof of a digital product’s accessibility. For organizations purchasing software, the VPAT allows teams to factor accessibility into their procurement decisions. And for vendors, obtaining a VPAT report is crucial for meeting buyers’ accessibility requirements.
In this article, we’ll define the VPAT and VPAT report, and explain the role of this documentation in providing accessible digital environments for all.
What Is a VPAT? And What Is a VPAT Report?
A VPAT is a template that is used to document how well a digital product—such as software—conforms with accessibility standards. Different versions of this template are available for demonstrating conformance with different standards, including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and EN 301 549 (the harmonized European standard).
A completed VPAT is known as an accessibility conformance report (ACR), sometimes called a VPAT report. This report indicates whether a product supports, partially supports, or does not support each criterion in the standard, giving stakeholders a clear understanding of the product’s accessibility status.
Why VPATs Matter for Digital Accessibility in Business
For software providers, obtaining proof of digital accessibility can unlock valuable business opportunities. Here are just a few of the ways that a VPAT report can help product vendors achieve their growth objectives:
1. Increased Sales
Accessibility is now a widespread procurement requirement across both the public and private sectors—not just when selling to the government. Having a VPAT report ready to share with potential buyers is key to maximizing new business opportunities.
2. Building Trust with Clients
An accurate, up-to-date VPAT report signals to clients that your company values inclusivity. It demonstrates an active commitment to providing accessible products, which can help build loyalty and trust among the organizations your business serves.
3. Enhancing Innovation and User Experience
Accessibility improvements often result in better overall usability. For example, captions initially designed for people who are deaf also benefit those in noisy environments. Similarly, voice-activated features not only assist those with mobility disabilities, but also busy users on the go. A VPAT report is now widely recognized as an indicator of software quality, communicating to buyers that your company upholds high user experience standards.
The Role of VPATs in Educational Institutions
In education, digital accessibility is fundamental to ensuring that all students have equal learning opportunities. It’s also a compliance imperative: educational institutions must meet obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To satisfy regulatory requirements, and create inclusive learning environments, it’s best practice for colleges and universities to request a completed VPAT when purchasing digital products. Let’s explore some of the areas in which requiring VPAT reports from vendors benefits educational institutions:
- Evaluating the Accessibility of Educational Technology
Universities and schools increasingly rely on e-learning platforms, digital textbooks, and other online resources from third parties. A VPAT report provides a detailed assessment of whether these tools meet accessibility standards. For example, if a learning management system (LMS) offers closed captioning or screen reader support, a VPAT report for the LMS should document that information. - Ensuring Equal Access to Learning
Educational institutions are legally obligated to provide accessible resources to all students, including those with disabilities. By obtaining VPAT reports from potential vendors, organizations can ensure that the digital tools used in classrooms, libraries, and remote learning settings meet accessibility requirements, and they can avoid purchasing tools that create unfair barriers for students. - Supporting DEI Goals
Digital accessibility aligns with the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives many schools and universities are prioritizing. Organizations that proactively vet the accessibility of third-party vendors by requesting VPAT reports show that they’re committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment by addressing the needs of all students.
Accountability Drives Continuous Improvement
For organizations buying and selling digital products, a VPAT report is not just a one-time document, but part of an ongoing accessibility strategy. Software vendors must update their reports regularly to ensure this documentation remains credible for buyers. And organizations purchasing software, including educational institutions, must embed obtaining proof of accessibility into their procurement processes to ensure their standards are consistently upheld. Ultimately, obtaining—or evaluating—a VPAT report is just one step in an organization’s continuous effort to build a more equitable digital world.