What Is a VPAT or ACR? A Plain-English Guide
Buyers keep asking software vendors for a VPAT or an ACR. Here is what they are, how they differ, what a credible one contains, and the mistakes that cost vendors deals.
The short answer
A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is the blank form. An ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) is the completed VPAT: a document that states, criterion by criterion, how well your product meets an accessibility standard. Government agencies and large companies often ask software vendors for one before they buy.
VPAT vs ACR
- VPAT: the template, created by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).
- ACR: your filled-in report for a specific product and version, which you give to buyers.
The four editions
The template comes in editions for the standard a buyer cares about:
- WCAG: reports against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- Revised Section 508: for US federal buyers.
- EN 301 549: for European buyers and public procurement.
- International (INT): covers WCAG, Section 508 and EN 301 549 together.
How conformance is reported
For each criterion, an ACR uses one of these terms:
- Supports: the product meets the criterion.
- Partially Supports: some parts of the product don't meet it.
- Does Not Support: the product doesn't meet it.
- Not Applicable: the criterion doesn't apply to the product.
Each row also has a remarks column where you explain what works, what doesn't and how you know. That column is what makes an ACR credible.
Who asks for one
- US federal agencies and their contractors, under Section 508
- Universities and state and local governments
- European public bodies, under tender requirements that reference EN 301 549
- Large companies with accessibility procurement policies
What a good ACR is based on
A trustworthy ACR comes from real testing: manual checks with a keyboard and screen readers, backed by automated tools, on the product version you're selling. It states the version tested, the browsers and assistive technologies used, and the date.
Common mistakes
- Marking everything "Supports" without testing. Buyers test too, and an inaccurate report damages trust.
- Copying a competitor's report or an old version of your own.
- Leaving the remarks empty, which gives buyers nothing to assess.
- Relying only on automated scans, which catch only part of the problems.
- Never updating it after major releases.
ACR vs accessibility audit
An audit is a detailed list of problems with fixes, written for your developers. An ACR is a summary of conformance, written for your buyers. The audit is the evidence the ACR should be built on, which is why I add an ACR to an audit instead of selling it alone.
How I can help
I can add an ACR in the WCAG, Section 508 or EN 301 549 edition to any audit for $300 to $500. See VPAT / ACR services and the pricing page, or look at a sample audit report.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your legal obligations or a claim you have received, talk to an attorney.