VPAT® vs. WCAG: What’s the Difference?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are technical standards that are comprised of accessibility requirements. The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document format for reporting on the accessibility of ICT products and services.
Think of it this way: WCAG tells us what to do for web/digital accessibility and we can fill in a VPAT to report on our accessibility status.
How it Works
There are four different editions of the VPAT:
- WCAG
- 508
- EU
- INT
Each of these editions are connected to different technical standards and WCAG is a part of each standard.
Most of our clients opt for the WCAG edition and, when this is the case, they almost always go with WCAG 2.1 AA or WCAG 2.2 AA as their technical standard.
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From here, the process is very easy:
- Audit — a formal evaluation of the accessibility of your product or service
- Remediation (optional) — your team fixes issues
- Validation (optional) — your team’s fixes are validated to ensure the issues have been resolved
- ACR — your filled in and completed VPAT now becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) and is delivered to you.
This process can be completed internally (you’ll need a technical accessibility expert on staff) or you can source out to a company like Accessible.org.
Note: A VPAT is just a template that is filled in. Once completed, technically it is an ACR.
If you’re self-issuing your own ACR, you can automatically generate a VPAT based on your audit report (in Excel spreadsheet) using Accessibility Tracker AI.
FAQ
Which WCAG version should I use for my VPAT?
WCAG 2.1 is the most widely used version, but 2.2 is becoming increasingly popular. The best way to know is to find out what your buyer(s) preference is.
Do I need an audit before completing a VPAT?
Yes. You cannot accurately fill out a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template without first auditing. The audit is necessary to accurately and completely report on accessibility.
Which VPAT edition should I use?
Again, your buyer(s) / target market is the best way to know which edition to use. If you’re selling to buyers in multiple markets, the INT edition will cover you because it includes all editions.
Final Thoughts
Although the different accessibility and compliance terminology can seem confusing at first, everything is actually fairly straightforward.
If you need help with VPAT services, of course you’re welcome to contact me at Accessible.org.
