VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a standardized document that describes how an ICT product, such as software, a website, mobile application or hardware, conforms to recognized accessibility standards. When completed, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), a critical compliance tool for federal procurement, enterprise sales and legal protection
If you sell to U.S. federal agencies, enterprise organizations or operate in regulated markets, a VPAT is not optional. It's a requirement or significant business advantage. This guide answers every key question about creating and using VPATs to open government contracts, build buyer trust and demonstrate compliance.
What Is a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)?
A VPAT, short for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a standardized document that describes how an ICT product (such as software, a website, mobile application, hardware, or electronic document) conforms to established accessibility standards. The completed document is formally called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
The VPAT framework was developed and is officially maintained by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). It gives ICT vendors a structured way to self-report against recognized accessibility criteria, criterion by criterion, so that buyers, procurement officers and accessibility teams can evaluate a product's accessibility level before purchasing.
Key fact: A VPAT is not a pass/fail certification. It is a detailed, good-faith disclosure of where a product succeeds and where gaps remain, giving buyers transparency and giving vendors an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to accessibility.
What Are the Four VPAT Editions?
ITI publishes VPAT in four editions, each targeting a different regulatory market. Always use the most current version, VPAT 2.5, when creating a new Accessibility Conformance Report.
| Edition | Standard Covered | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| VPAT 2.5 Section 508 | Revised U.S. Section 508 Standards | U.S. federal contracts & government procurement |
| VPAT 2.5 EU | EN 301 549 (European Standard) | EU public sector & European market |
| VPAT 2.5 WCAG | WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 | Choose this for Digital only products when contracts or policies call for WCAG directly |
| VPAT 2.5 INT | All three standards combined | International products targeting multiple markets |
Read more on Voluntary Product Accessibility Template or VPAT 2.5 – What’s New?
What Accessibility Standards Does a VPAT Cover?
A VPAT Accessibility Conformance Report can document conformance against:
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (Revised 2017 Refresh) - the U.S. federal ICT accessibility law
- WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) - the globally recognized web accessibility standard
- WCAG 2.2 - the most current version of WCAG, increasingly referenced in updated ACRs
- EN 301 549 - the European accessibility standard for ICT products and services
Choosing the right edition ensures your ACR aligns with the regulatory requirements of your target market.
Should You Create a VPAT for Your Product?
Short answer: Yes! While a VPAT is technically voluntary, the business and legal case for creating one is compelling, especially if your product is sold to government agencies, enterprise organizations or educational institutions.
Three reasons to create a VPAT immediately:
- Federal agencies require it for procurement: If you sell to .gov, a current VPAT is a condition of purchase, not optional. Missing one disqualifies you from consideration.
- Enterprise buyers increasingly request it: Fortune 500 companies, healthcare providers and financial institutions now request VPATs during RFP evaluation.
- It legally protects you: Documenting your conformance status (including known gaps and remediation timelines) demonstrates good-faith accessibility commitment and reduces litigation risk.
While technically voluntary, the business and legal case for creating one is compelling, especially if your product is sold to government agencies, enterprise organizations or educational institutions.
When Is a VPAT Legally Required?
Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, U.S. federal agencies are required to procure ICT that meets accessibility standards. In practice, this means federal agencies routinely request a current VPAT/ACR as a condition of procurement. If you sell or intend to sell to the federal government and cannot produce a VPAT, your product may be disqualified from consideration, regardless of its features or price.
When Is a VPAT Strongly Recommended?
- You sell to state and local government agencies
- Your buyers are higher education institutions
- Your enterprise clients have accessibility procurement policies
- You operate in the EU or target international markets requiring EN 301 549 compliance
- You want to proactively demonstrate your commitment to inclusive design
What Are the Benefits of Creating a VPAT / ACR?
A well-prepared VPAT delivers value beyond regulatory compliance:
- Opens Doors to Federal and Government Procurement
Federal agencies and many state/local government bodies require vendors to submit a current VPAT as part of the purchasing process. An up-to-date ACR places your product in contention for contracts that would otherwise be off-limits, directly impacting revenue.
- Builds Trust and Brand Reputation
Publishing a VPAT signals to the market that your organization takes accessibility seriously. Even where a VPAT isn't legally required, enterprise buyers and procurement teams increasingly view it as a trust indicator and differentiator.
- Identifies Accessibility Gaps and Guides Remediation
Creating a VPAT requires a thorough accessibility audit of your product. This process surfaces specific WCAG or Section 508 failures, giving your development team a clear, prioritized roadmap for accessibility remediation. The VPAT becomes an internal quality tool, not just an external sales document.
- Empowers Buyers to Make Informed Decisions
Procurement officers use ACRs to compare competing products on accessibility. A transparent, detailed VPAT helps buyers understand exactly what your product supports, streamlining their evaluation process and reducing friction in the sales cycle.
- Reduces Legal and Compliance Risk
Proactively documenting your product's conformance level, including known gaps and your remediation timeline, demonstrates good faith. In the event of an accessibility complaint or audit, a current VPAT provides evidence of due diligence.
As a VPAT vendor, BarrierBreak works with our customers to create an effective and complete VPAT and ACR of the product. Discuss your VPAT Strategy with an Accessibility Expert today.
What are the Common VPAT Misconceptions?
A VPAT is not a certification. There is no third-party body that certifies VPAT documents. It is a vendor-authored disclosure document.
A VPAT is not a pass/fail test. Products with partial conformance can and should have a VPAT. Transparency about gaps is more valuable than silence.
A VPAT does not list every bug. It provides a summary-level view of conformance against each criterion and not an exhaustive bug report.
A VPAT is not a one-time document. As your product evolves, your VPAT should be updated to reflect the current state of accessibility. An outdated VPAT can be worse than none.
Who Should Create Your VPAT? Internal Team or External Vendor?
While a VPAT can be authored by your internal accessibility team, most organizations benefit from partnering with an experienced external accessibility vendor. Here's why:
- Objectivity: An external audit team evaluates your product without the blind spots that come from internal familiarity.
- Accuracy: Experienced VPAT vendors know how to interpret and apply each WCAG success criterion and Section 508 requirement precisely.
- Credibility: Buyers are more likely to trust an ACR produced or validated by a recognized third-party accessibility firm.
- Legal standing:Since a VPAT functions as a legal representation of your product's accessibility, accuracy matters. Errors or overstated conformance claims can expose your organization to risk.
Always ensure your final VPAT document is published in an accessible format so that the document itself meets the standards it claims to support.
Read more on Why Should You Work with a VPAT Consultant?
Conclusion: Is a VPAT Worth It?
Absolutely. Whether you are required to submit a VPAT for federal procurement or simply want to signal your organization's commitment to digital accessibility, creating an accurate, up-to-date Accessibility Conformance Report is one of the highest-ROI accessibility investments you can make.
A current VPAT opens government and enterprise sales channels, builds buyer trust, surfaces your product's accessibility gaps for remediation and provides legal protection, all at once.
Ready to create a VPAT for your product? BarrierBreak has created 100+ production VPATs for software vendors, SaaS platforms and government contractors. If your VPAT is part of an RFP or procurement process, third-party validation from an IAAP member firm significantly increases buyer confidence and accelerates contract closure. Contact our accessibility experts at sales@barrierbreak.com today to Discuss your VPAT Strategy.
