WHAT IS VPAT CERTIFICATION AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT?

VPAT Certification

VPAT certification is the process or actions navigated in measuring Voluntary Product Accessibility Template – VPAT compliance through filling out the VPAT document to determine the level of conformity with best practices in the delivery of accessibility as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

As a matter of fact, while the process of completing the VPAT document is typically referred to as "VPAT certification," the completed VPAT document is not really an ADA compliance certificate. It is also not intended to specify a pass or fail result; instead, it offers insights into the extent to which the product or service being measured meets the specific accessibility standards associated with it, thus allowing vendors and purchasers to have more informed discussions about the product or service during the procurement process. That means that whenever a vendor or purchaser requests VPAT certification, they’re most likely referring to a completed VPAT.

Why VPAT Certification?

The primary goal of VPAT compliance is to make your ICT products or services ADA compliant. If your ICT products or services do not comply with the voluntary product accessibility template - VPAT, you will be unable to provide them to the federal government or any of its agencies.

Aside from the federal government and its agencies, an increasing number of buyers outside the federal government regard accessibility as an important factor when selecting vendors of the products or services they require.

Potential buyers of products and services can make informed purchasing decisions based on the level of compliance demonstrated in the VPAT. VPATs are therefore useful resources in the facilitation of meaningful communication and faster procurement processes. Demonstrating VPAT compliance and working hard to improve levels of compliance makes good business sense for any discerning vendor.

VPAT certification offers greater insight into accessibility conformance for an organization or business and assists them to reflect on, and adhere to, the best practices for accessibility. It also serves as a tool for promoting accountability in the production of non-discriminatory products and services for all people, regardless of their disability status.

How Do I Get a VPAT Template Near Me?

You can easily get a VPAT template online, download it, and ask someone within your organization to fill it out. However, if you want the required accuracy in filling the VPAT, get someone that has sufficient knowledge about digital accessibility. Accuracy is very important in filling out your VPAT because failure to represent the accessibility of your products or services accurately may lead to expensive lawsuits. That is why hiring third-party experts will offer you peace of mind and the assurance that the experience in researching the ins and outs of Section 508 that accessibility professionals have. You can get VPAT certification online by reaching out to the accessibility professionals who are specifically trained to handle the complicated and time-consuming task of VPAT reporting.

A good online voluntary product accessibility template professional will provide you with an unbiased and accurate audit of your ICT products and services based on Section 508 guidelines; improve the compliance based on the errors identified during the audit of the technical requirements, functional performance, and support requirements; and generate the required compliance data to create a complete VPAT. They’ll achieve this by conducting a Critical Path Analysis (CPA) to accurately understand your most critical user flows and testing those flows using various assistive technologies on multiple browsers so as to deliver a comprehensive audit of the accessibility barriers.

Is Voluntary Product Accessibility Template – VPAT Compliance Vital for All Websites?

VPATs are fundamentally required for all ICT products and services. While the term "ICT" can be interpreted to include websites, the voluntary product accessibility template - VPAT compliance applies to websites and/or web-based content that is part of a product or service offering.

In the case of non-product or service offerings, a conformance statement is frequently sufficient to attest to the website's accessibility. Mobile apps, for example, may or may not require a VPAT. It all depends on how they are used and the app's go-to-market strategy. This means that completing a VPAT for such a product or service is required if its use is deemed to fall under Section 508 or any other procurement requirements. To determine whether the use of your ICT product or service falls under Section 508, consult "VPAT template near me."

Click here for more information about VPAT certification and why you need it, as well as support in getting your VPAT certification.