A completed VPAT (see below) is known as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). The Digital Accessibility team reviews ACRs and determines whether the product meets minimum accessibility requirements (namely, WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 Standards). This review is crucial in determining potential barriers to users with disabilities. Examples of barriers include:
- Requiring a mouse (important for individuals who primarily operate with a keyboard or other device).
- The absence of closed captions for videos with audio.
- The absence of alternative text for graphics, including graphics containing images of text.
- Insufficient color contrast between text and background, making it difficult to distinguish characters.
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a free template that outlines how a product conforms to various accessibility criteria (e.g., if closed captions are provided for videos). The manufacturer (or a third party) fills out a VPAT by testing the product with a variety of tools and measures.
The purchaser of a product should typically not fill out this form, but they may provide the manufacturer a blank VPAT to fill out (especially if the manufacturer is unfamiliar with VPATs). The latest VPATs can be downloaded from the Information Technology Industry Council’s website. There are four different editions of the VPAT. The Texas A&M University System recommends manufacturers and testers download the international (INT) version, as it contains the three leading ICT accessibility standards: Section 508, WCAG, as well as EN 301 549.
Note: Many refer to ACRs as VPATs, but ACR is the more applicable term. A VPAT is a blank document that the tester fills out; ACR is a completed VPAT. To avoid confusion, we typically include both terms when communicating (e.g., ACR/VPAT).