What Is A VPAT?

A VPAT stands for “voluntary product accessibility template”. It is a template document developed in 2001 by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) and the General Services Administration (GSA) for vendors of electronic, information, and technology (EIT) products to use in order to provide a thorough analysis of their products’ compliance with the accessibility standards established by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

A VPAT document is essentially a public declaration of an EIT product’s level of Section 508 compliance. Therefore, it serves as a reference for adhering to the established accessibility standards, such as Section 508, WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, and EN 301:549.

The VPAT is available in four editions: the Section 508 Edition, WCAG Edition, EU Edition, and International (INT) Edition. A product’s compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is tested using the Section 508 Edition. The WCAG Edition certifies conformance with Levels A, AA, and AAA of the WCAG 2.0 criteria. While the INT Edition combines the other three criteria, the EU Edition assesses accessibility compliance with the EN 301 and 549 requirements.

The VPAT is created by the product seller and includes a description of every criterion in the VPAT document, as well as how the product under consideration supports each criterion. The ensuing VPAT report provides detailed and specific information on all the claims provided in the VPAT report about the product’s level of compliance. Here is a VPAT report example for your consideration.

What Is VPAT Compliance?

VPAT compliance refers to the use of the appropriate version of the VPAT to provide information about how your EIT product is accessible to people with disabilities. It is primarily a consequence of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that requires any EIT product used by a federal agency directly or indirectly to be accessible to people with disabilities.

VPATs involve more than merely filling out a template sheet with information and then sitting back and praying for the best in your business endeavors. While VPAT compliance is required and mandated by law, a discerning business may use it as a barometer to raise the bar on its goods and shift its focus to the needs of its customers. This may significantly impact the company’s sales and earnings. Therefore, it is critical that businesses seek VPAT accessibility for their EIT products.

What Is VPAT Accessibility And Why Is It Important?

VPAT accessibility is the compliance of electronic, informational, and technological (EIT) products to the accessible standards required by Revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and other supporting standards, and a public declaration of the same using a properly completed VPAT document.

VPAT accessibility is essential because adhering to it enables you to work with federal agencies, pinpoint key accessibility problems with your product, and obtain specialized compliance services.

Need Help With Preparing An Accurate VPAT Document?

Until a buddy gave me the tip to a very helpful VPAT document example, I struggled badly to create an accurate VPAT document for my tech product. Even though the VPAT sample gave me a ton of advice, I discovered that I still needed professional assistance to prepare the VPAT. I turned to ADA Compliance Pros for help at that point. I recommend getting in touch with them by clicking here or dialing (626) 486-2201 if you need help creating your VPAT document.