The ADA Title II rule requires state and local governments to meet WCAG 2.1 AA for their web content and mobile apps, and that extends to every digital product they procure. If you sell software, platforms, or apps to government entities, you will likely need a completed VPAT® (an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)) to demonstrate your product or service’s accessibility.
Given the new digital accessibility rule under Title II of the ADA, state and local government entities across the United States must now make their websites, web content, and mobile apps conformant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA technical standard.
These public entities include schools, parks, courts, law enforcement, emergency services, and many other organizations, programs, and activities. And there are approximately 90,000 public entities in the U.S. according to the Census Bureau.
This means that these public entities, and especially educational institutions, will require WCAG 2.1 AA conformance of the digital products they use:
Digital Products and Compliance
This means that these different public entities – and especially educational institutions – will require WCAG 2.1 AA conformance of the digital products they use:
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Calendar systems
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Software
- Platforms
- Payment portals
- Virtual meeting and conferencing tools
- Email marketing tools
- Mobile applications (apps)
- Web applications
- Data analytics
- Forums and communities
- Digital publishing platforms
- Video streaming services
- Interactive eBooks
Business Opportunities and Compliance Benefits
The upcoming demand represents a multi-billion dollar opportunity for digital product sellers, but they will need to invest in accessibility to be considered for contract renewals and have procurement officers consider their product.
VPAT stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. Once the template is filled out it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
What product owners often overlook is that investing in digital accessibility has benefits beyond legal and regulatory reasons.
By ensuring their products are accessible, vendors can attract a large market that has historically been overlooked: people with disabilities. Accessibility also enhances the user experience for all users, which benefits conversions and retention.
By ensuring their products are accessible, vendors can attract a very large market that has historically been overlooked: people with disabilities. Accessibility can also enhances the user experience for all users, which benefits conversions, sales, etc.
WCAG 2.1 AA Conformance
After receiving the audit report, the next step is remediation: fixing the identified accessibility issues to conform with WCAG 2.1 AA. Tracking each issue through to resolution keeps the project on schedule and ensures nothing is missed.
After receiving the audit report, the next step is remediation, which means fixing the identified accessibility issues to be in conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA.
An optional, but highly recommend next step is user testing. During user testing a professional with one or more disabilities evaluates the product based on their practical experience. If there are any remaining issues after user testing, those are resolved.
VPAT and Documentation
Now that steps 1-3 have been completed, the service provider can issue documentation. Documentation can include:
- statement of conformance
- provider certification
- user testing attestation (and recorded session)
But, of course, the best and most requested document for product marketability is an ACR, or as procurement agents frequently say, a VPAT.
Again, the VPAT is only the blank template, but the usage of the term VPAT has become pervasive in the marketplace.
When the ACR is completed, it will be thorough and have all details filled out as well as appropriate supplemental information in the remarks and explanations column.
Will Your VPAT be Accepted?
There are a few ways you can ruin your VPAT / ACR’s marketability (which means buyers will reject it):
- Your ACR is issued by an accessibility company with a bad reputation (e.g., overlay widget sellers, overlay sellers, companies who insist that remediation can be automated)
- You create your ACR in-house, without the requisite digital accessibility expertise
- Your ACR is no longer fresh (after 2.5 years it’s time to get a new one)
- Your ACR doesn’t cover the latest version of your product
- Your ACR contains nothing in the remarks and explanations column
- Your ACR contains aspirational or marketing type messaging (an ACR is a sterile document, not a promotional tool)
VPAT Services
Do you need help with accessibility services and producing a VPAT?
Learn how Accessible.org can help you with WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. A fully accessible product will distance you from the competition and help you earn the contract.
