A VPAT® is a standard document template that accounts for the accessibility of a product or service for a given technical standard. When the VPAT is filled in and completed, it creates an ACR.
VPAT stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template.
ACR stands for Accessibility Conformance Report.
The VPAT is simply a free template that can be downloaded from the ITIC.org website. It’s a standardized document that has multiple editions that service providers and product owners can choose from:
- VPAT 2.5 Rev EU
- VPAT 2.5 INT
- VPAT 2.5 508
- VPAT 2.5 WCAG
These different editions align with different technical standards and vary in scope. While there is significant overlap in the accessibility criteria between editions, some editions will have more criteria to account for.
Once the VPAT is completed, it becomes an ACR. The best way to think of an ACR is as an accounting of the accessibility of a product or service.
Note: In the marketplace, the terms VPAT and ACR are commonly used interchangeably even when it’s an ACR that is technically being requested.
Who Can Fill In a VPAT?
Anybody can fill in a VPAT and create an ACR. However, because accessibility expertise is necessary to evaluate the product or service and accurately fill in the VPAT, most vendors should not issue their own ACR. Also, in the private marketplace, buyers and procurement agencies are skeptical and sometimes dismissive of self-issued ACRs because of bias and the tendency to overstate the accessibility status.
What is the Point of an ACR?
The purpose of an ACR is for buyers to easily be able to assess the accessibility of a product or service. This reliance is why it’s so important that the document accurately reflects the state of accessibility.
Role of Service Providers
Where Accessible.org comes into play is we’ll conduct a full audit of your product or service against a given standard (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) and then provide an independently issued ACR that includes all required details as well as a thorough accounting of all success criteria for the technical standard requested by the client (we can also recommend an addition based on your needs).
Do you need an ACR?
Contact us, we offer fast turnarounds and competitive pricing.
