Understanding a VPAT and an ACR

The term "VPAT" stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. It is a document that describes the usability of a product or service, such as a digital platform, software, or Software as a Service (SaaS).

Before committing to a contract or purchase, procurement agents can use VPATs to evaluate the accessibility of a product or service. Typically, vendors fill out and maintain the template themselves, or they hire accessibility experts such as ADA Compliance Pros to complete the VPAT for them.

On the other hand, an ACR is an acronym for Accessibility Conformance Report. This is a formal summary of the extent to which an electronic information technology (EIT) product or service complies with an agreed-upon set of accessibility guidelines and standards.

ACRs typically document a product's or service's compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act standards, and EN 301 549, for websites, products, and services sold in the United States, and products and services sold in the European Union, respectively.

Because an ACR is based on a formal VPAT, it is also generallyreferred to as a VPAT ACR. VPAT and ACR are sometimes used interchangeably, despite the fact that a VPAT refers to the ACR's template rather than its contents. That's why it's a registered trademark. The VPAT is also available in Word format, whereas the ACR, which is the completed VPAT report, can be presented in any format desired, including MS Word, PDF, or even HTML, which could be posted on the product's website.

The ACR is divided into six sections: the product or service summary, the applicable standards or guidelines, the WCAG 2.0/2.1 report, the revised section 508 report, the EN 301/549 report, and the legal disclaimer.

Creating and publishing your VPAT and ACR

Here are the steps you need to follow when creating your VPAT:

1. Navigate to the project dashboard that contains the report or reports you want to include in your VPAT.
2. Check the reports that you want to include in your VPAT and then click the "Create VPAT" bulk action button.
3. In the resulting dialog box, select the VPAT name and then "Make it Happen."
4. A dialog box will appear, allowing you to edit the VPAT to include the support level offered by your product or service, as well as remarks and explanations about the standards and laws covered by the VPAT.

Here are the steps you need to follow to publish your VPAT:

1. Navigate to the project where your VPAT is located.
2. Navigate to the "VPATs" navigation tab.
3. Choose your VPAT or the VPAT you want to publish.
4. Choose the "Permissions" action button. This is visually represented as a padlock and is located in the VPAT's upper-right hand corner.
5. Check the "Publish This Report" checkbox and click "Show Advanced."
6. Choose "Submit."

This will publish your VPAT, and you will see the word "Published" below the "VPAT Details" box once it has been published.

The steps for developing a VPAT are identical to those for developing an accessibility conformance report. This is due to the fact that a completed VPAT is essentially an ACR. This means that a SaaS accessibility conformance report, for example, refers to a completed SaaS VPAT. It can be used by software providers to identify SaaS conformance to Section 508 standards for EIT products and services.

Need help with your VPAT ACR?

ADA Compliance Pros is the leading provider of VPAT ACR professional accessibility support for software providers, financial and banking institutions, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and retail and e-commerce businesses. I've referred several of my friends to the organization, and they've never let me down. Their dedication to service and ability to work with clients to overcome all accessibility challenges remains their distinguishing feature.

If you need trusted professionals to help you with your VPAT and ACR,check out the services offered by ADA Compliance Pros by clicking this link or calling (626) 486-2201.