A prospective client was telling us how they needed to present a business case to their manager that justified the expense for VPAT services including an audit and validation. We let the client know that we’d be happy to draft one for him and he let us know that he just needed a one-page document for his manager to review.
Not a problem. In case you need a quick business case summary as well, here’s what we wrote:
(Note: Use the title of this post as your document’s H1.)
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document that opens market access. Once completed, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) – which buyers now routinely require before considering a product or service.
Legal Landscape
Recent legal updates, including the ADA Title II Web Rule and European Accessibility Act (EAA), have created a network effect, with accessibility documentation now required by more entities, even when it wasn’t mandated before.
Market Reality
Without an ACR, your product won’t be eligible for purchase by federal agencies, educational institutions, and large enterprises. Even small to medium sized companies now request a “VPAT” during procurement. This trend is widespread and accelerating.
Under Section 508, U.S. federal agencies must procure accessible ICT products and services. State agencies, universities, and healthcare organizations have adopted similar policies. The ADA Title II Rule and EAA extend these requirements across more sectors.
Competitive Edge
Products and services with ACRs win contracts while those without get filtered out before evaluation. When comparing similar products, accessibility documentation becomes the deciding factor.
Unless specified, full WCAG conformance isn’t necessarily required. Buyers need transparent documentation showing where your product stands against WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA standards.
Cost of Waiting
Waiting until buyers request documentation can result in missed procurement windows. Typical ACR turnaround is 2-10 weeks, with more time necessary if you’d like to fix accessibility issues. Having documentation ready enables immediate advancement during procurement and increases selection chances because you’ve addressed accessibility issues.
Independent Issuance Matters
Self-assessment carries less weight than third-party evaluation. Procurement teams look for evidence of experienced auditors using comprehensive evaluation methodologies: screen reader testing, keyboard testing, visual inspection, and code inspection – not automated scan results.
Risk Mitigation
ACRs provide documented evidence of accessibility commitment. Strong accessibility documentation demonstrates compliance with various laws and regulations, including the European Accessibility Act.
