What is a VPAT?
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Answer
A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) is a table that contains information about how an information & communications technology (ICT) product or service conforms with the refreshed version of Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is all about digital accessibility for users with disabilities. The document outlines key accessibility requirements and provides a structure for a vendor to outline the level of compliance and provide details about each accessibility standard.
Section 508 mandates that any product or technology used by the federal government must be accessible by users with disabilities. The VPAT® helps buyers understand the level of accessibility a particular product or service has. Any product or service that is used by anyone that is directly or indirectly funded by the federal government is required to be accessible.
Each row within the VPAT® document addresses a different accessibility criterion. It includes 3 columns where the first identifies subsections of Section 508, the second describes features of the product or site relevant to that subsection, and the third column is for comments & explanations.
Here are some examples:
If you are in need of a VPAT®, contact Accessible Web today!
