This video covers what a VPAT is, who uses one, and why it matters for organizations selling digital products.
A VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a standardized document that describes how a digital product conforms to accessibility standards. Vendors fill out the template to produce an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). The VPAT is the blank form; the ACR is the completed version with evaluation results.
Procurement teams at government agencies, universities, and large enterprises request ACRs before purchasing software or digital services. An ACR tells buyers how well a product meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) conformance levels and, depending on the edition, Section 508 or EN 301 549 requirements.
There are four VPAT editions: WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, and INT (which combines all three). Most SaaS companies start with the WCAG edition because it applies broadly across markets.
An ACR does not expire on a set date, but organizations typically update it after significant product changes. Outdated reports can raise questions during procurement reviews, so keeping the document current reflects the actual state of the product.