VPAT, short for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a reporting format that gauges the level of accessibility for a product. It evaluates how usable your product is for people with disabilities.
This is crucial if your business provides Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to federal customers or customers who are directly or indirectly funded by various federal governments. The document helps procuring officers assess the level of compliance of the product to applicable accessibility regulations.
One way not having a VPAT might be affecting businesses is by losing clients to competitors who are offering a VPAT to their customers.
How are VPATs Used?
A VPAT enables procuring officers of government contracts to make an informed decision whether to buy your product and services or not.
Here are 3 ways a VPAT can be used by governments:
- It can help them understand the level of accessibility compliance your products or services offers.
- They can compare accessibility compliance of similar services or products.
- They can choose the appropriate services or product that meets their needs in terms of accessibility standards and legal requirements.
How to create a VPAT?
The easiest way is by downloading a freely available template and customizing it to your needs such as this one offered by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).
A VPAT usually includes:
- Product or Service Information: Basic details on your product or service
- Accessibility Standards: Accessibility standards you’re using to assess your product or service accessibility
- Conformance Level: Indicating level of compliance (WCAG A, AA or AAA)
- Product or Service Features: Components of your product or service and their accessibility status
- Supporting Documentation: i.e Accessibility test results
After completing your VPAT you can add it on your website or provide it to end-clients when requested.
Web accessibility is always evolving and updating your products and services can affect how accessible they are. Regularly updating your VPAT at least once a year is recommended to align with your feature releases, new accessibility and government regulations. The biggest mistake we encounter is having an in-house product manager complete the VPAT which leaves room for error if they don’t have accessibility experience.
Engaging with an external accessibility company to complete your VPAT is advisable to ensure that it’s completed accurately by relying on their expertise to provide insight on testing methods, establish best practices and certify that the report is filled out accurately so you don’t miss anything.
There are multiple formats of VPATs which is a globally recognized template. Whether you are doing business in the U.S., Europe, or Internationally, our accessibility specialists can assist you create a VPAT.
Have a VPAT already? We can help you review or update it! Contact us at info@advancedbytez.com to get started with your VPAT today.
