How the VPAT form emerged

"VPAT" is an acronym for "voluntary product accessibility template." This is a standard form that was developed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) to deepen the web accessibility resources of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services.

Vendors and manufacturers of ICT products and services use the VPAT form to document how their products and services conform to the established accessibility standards and guidelines.

The development of the VPAT followed Congress’ substantial amendment to Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act to require that the federal government procures, creates, uses, and maintains ICT that is accessible to people with disabilities, regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.

The VPAT 2.4 template

The VPAT 2.4 template is the latest iteration of the VPAT form. This version of the VPAT document was introduced in February 2020, and what makes it a hack is that it basically includes Europe and Australia’s EN 301 549 standard and other very minor changes when mirrored against the previous version of the template.

Only pros will detect that, like the original VPAT, the VPAT 2.4 template has a column for recording conformance to each provision in the standards regarding the accessibility of a product or service.

As can be deduced from this VPAT 2.4 example, this iteration of the VPAT form requires vendors and manufacturers of ICT products and services to indicate the level of conformance associated with their products or services by simply choosing one of four probable options. The options are "supports," "partially supports," "does not support," or "not applicable."

Any pro will tell you that the conformance level "partially supports," as captured in the VPAT 2.4 form, replaced the conformance level "supports with exceptions," as was in the previous version of the VPAT form. The VPAT 2.4 form also has something that VPAT industry pros have lauded: it does not include a date! For starters, the inclusion of a date in the previous version of the VPAT form brought confusion between this date and the date of the VPAT report. The VPAT 2.4 template has a new feature that allows the date to be integrated into the file name.

The distinguishing features of the VPAT 2.4 template

A review by pros indicates that the VPAT 2.4 template has the distinctive feature of version-specific instructions. It also has new table headings as well as significant updates with regard to the EU VPAT 2.4 edition.

Many VPAT pros intimate that the fact that declaration of the website ada compliance test of a product or service can be made by simply choosing one of the provided options: "supports," "partially supports," "does not support," or "not applicable," hacks!

That is because it limits their creativity for providing finer details about how a product or service is superior to others so as to help buyers make better choices. However, for people who are not so experts in VPAT accessibility, this is great because completing the document doesn’t have to wait for an expert to do it.

Probably, what VPAT pros say hacks with regard to the VPAT 2.4 template is fodder for ICT buyers and procurement officials who do not need to be accessibility experts. The fact that conformance is demonstrated through four compliance options helps them to easily compare the accessibility of similar products and services.

What VPAT pros like about the VPAT 2.4 template

While the VPAT 2.4 template limits VPAT professionals' ability to be creative when filling out the VPAT by limiting the conformance levels to four, most pros agree that the template relieves the pressure that comes with VPAT testing by directing the audit to focus on whether the features a product or service has align with the four conformance levels.

Get VPAT consulting support in filling out your VPAT 2.4 template

Whereas filling out the VPAT 2.4 template appears easy, it requires expert assistance to ensure that the accessibility conformance report created at the end of the VPAT certification process is accurate and trustworthy.

You can learn how to complete the template by reviewing a VPAT 2.4 example filled out by VPAT experts such as ADACP. Alternatively, you can Call Our Consultant Today to learn about how you can be helped to complete your VPAT 2.4 form clearly and accurately. 

Who are VPAT consultants?

VPAT consultants areExcellent Advice to New VPAT Consultants people who are experts in VPAT free ada website compliance checker and give professional help and advice to individuals, organizations, and businesses in such VPAT domain areas as choosing the appropriate edition of the VPAT template to use in documenting the conformance of an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service to standards applicable in a particular market, undertaking VPAT testing of products and services, filling out the appropriate VPAT template to generate a VPAT report, and making the VPAT report accessible to members of the public

VPAT consultants may provide VPAT consultations on a temporary or contractual basis until the client’s particular VPAT consulting need is fully accomplished.

Why VPAT consultants are hired

Individuals, organizations, and businesses usually hire VPAT consultants to help them get an objective outsider opinion on the accessibility of their ICT products or services. VPAT consultants help to solve internal accessibility blind spots as well as provide guidance on resolving accessibility problems associated with their products and services.

A VPAT consultant does not just help VPAT vendors document the accessibility of their products and services; they also help buyers and procurement officials interpret what is written in VPAT reports so that they choose the most accessible product or service to purchase.

The consultants, therefore, provide an opportunity for a business or organization to fill a temporary staffing gap in a scalable way. If you’re a buyer or procurement official involved in buying ICT products or services for your organization or business but lack the requisite VPAT accessibility skills to enable you to select the VPAT reports leading you to the most accessible products or services, you don’t have to hire a member of staff for such non-core functions because a VPAT consultant will effectively fill that gap for you.

The accessibility market also has few people who understand and have specialized in the available accessibility laws, standards, and guidelines. VPAT consulting helps you get access to top expertise that would otherwise be difficult to source and hire if the employment option were to be pursued.

When you look for VPAT consultants, choose those who enjoy problem solving, make the most of presentations, and employ stellar communication skills. Besides being knowledgeable in accessibility issues and emerging dynamics, the consultants should also be flexible and be willing to put you, as their client, first. They should also be able to clearly demonstrate the value they’re going to add to you and your business in terms of optimizing the benefits of VPAT compliance for your business growth.

Guidance for new VPAT consultants

The VPAT consulting arena is rapidly expanding as more and more individuals, organizations, and businesses embrace VPAT compliance. The danger with promising consultancy opportunities is that they tend to attract people who are overly focused on the financial gains they will receive from the consulting services rather than learning to offer their clients value for money services.

If you’re new to VPAT consulting, here are a few tips to help you succeed in delivering value to your clients:

• Master the VPAT compliance terrain

VPAT compliance requires learning the different laws and policies that regulate the domain. You must not only keep your knowledge of these issues up to date, but you must also constantly scan for new and emerging issues and their implications for the various types of VPAT vendors about whom you will be inquiring.

There is no secret to mastering the VPAT accessibility issues other than immersing yourself in the literature on the matter and attending trainings offered by accessibility experts.

• Work under a trusted umbrella

If you’re new to VPAT consulting, it is advisable that you work with an established VPAT consulting agency like ada checker. You cannot succeed in VPAT consulting unless you work under an umbrella or VPAT compliance agency that is trusted and can offer you opportunities to work, learn, and grow.

Working with an established accessibility-consulting agency will provide you with the exposure and experience you need to be able to effectively deliver great VPAT accessibility service to clients.

• Always focus on improving the quality of your services

The VPAT consulting arena is very dynamic. You need to ensure you’re always on top of things by joining the right networks and managing your listings and reviews.

You’ll also significantly grow by honestly reviewing the feedback you gather.

It is also crucial that you improve your presentations and keep the platforms through which your clients learn about you always updated and professional. Also, make sure that you use strong content in all of your marketing.

• Be picky about choosing your clients

Who are VPAT consultants? VPAT consultants areExcellent Advice to New VPAT Consultants people who are experts in VPAT free ada website compliance checker and give professional help and advice to individuals, organizations, and businesses in such VPAT domain areas as choosing the appropriate edition of the VPAT template to use in documenting the conformance of an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service to standards applicable in a particular market, undertaking VPAT testing of products and services, filling out the appropriate VPAT template to generate a VPAT report, and making the VPAT report accessible to members of the public   VPAT consultants may provide VPAT consultations on a temporary or contractual basis until the client’s particular VPAT consulting need is fully accomplished.   Why VPAT consultants are hired Individuals, organizations, and businesses usually hire VPAT consultants to help them get an objective outsider opinion on the accessibility of their ICT products or services. VPAT consultants help to solve internal accessibility blind spots as well as provide guidance on resolving accessibility problems associated with their products and services.   A VPAT consultant does not just help VPAT vendors document the accessibility of their products and services; they also help buyers and procurement officials interpret what is written in VPAT reports so that they choose the most accessible product or service to purchase.   The consultants, therefore, provide an opportunity for a business or organization to fill a temporary staffing gap in a scalable way. If you’re a buyer or procurement official involved in buying ICT products or services for your organization or business but lack the requisite VPAT accessibility skills to enable you to select the VPAT reports leading you to the most accessible products or services, you don’t have to hire a member of staff for such non-core functions because a VPAT consultant will effectively fill that gap for you.   The accessibility market also has few people who understand and have specialized in the available accessibility laws, standards, and guidelines. VPAT consulting helps you get access to top expertise that would otherwise be difficult to source and hire if the employment option were to be pursued.   When you look for VPAT consultants, choose those who enjoy problem solving, make the most of presentations, and employ stellar communication skills. Besides being knowledgeable in accessibility issues and emerging dynamics, the consultants should also be flexible and be willing to put you, as their client, first. They should also be able to clearly demonstrate the value they’re going to add to you and your business in terms of optimizing the benefits of VPAT compliance for your business growth.   Guidance for new VPAT consultants The VPAT consulting arena is rapidly expanding as more and more individuals, organizations, and businesses embrace VPAT compliance. The danger with promising consultancy opportunities is that they tend to attract people who are overly focused on the financial gains they will receive from the consulting services rather than learning to offer their clients value for money services.   If you’re new to VPAT consulting, here are a few tips to help you succeed in delivering value to your clients:   Master the VPAT compliance terrain VPAT compliance requires learning the different laws and policies that regulate the domain. You must not only keep your knowledge of these issues up to date, but you must also constantly scan for new and emerging issues and their implications for the various types of VPAT vendors about whom you will be inquiring.   There is no secret to mastering the VPAT accessibility issues other than immersing yourself in the literature on the matter and attending trainings offered by accessibility experts.   Work under a trusted umbrella If you’re new to VPAT consulting, it is advisable that you work with an established VPAT consulting agency like ada checker. You cannot succeed in VPAT consulting unless you work under an umbrella or VPAT compliance agency that is trusted and can offer you opportunities to work, learn, and grow.   Working with an established accessibility-consulting agency will provide you with the exposure and experience you need to be able to effectively deliver great VPAT accessibility service to clients.   Always focus on improving the quality of your services The VPAT consulting arena is very dynamic. You need to ensure you’re always on top of things by joining the right networks and managing your listings and reviews.   You’ll also significantly grow by honestly reviewing the feedback you gather.   It is also crucial that you improve your presentations and keep the platforms through which your clients learn about you always updated and professional. Also, make sure that you use strong content in all of your marketing.   Be picky about choosing your clients As a new VPAT consultant, you need to know that you won't succeed if you do not develop a clientele niche to focus on. When you get picky with your clients, you’ll develop a scope that will enable you to always pay attention to detail. This also helps you become a "go-to" person.   Need help to grow as a new VPAT consultant? ADACP can provide you all the support you require to succeed in your VPAT consulting. Our VPAT vendor portfolio is large and ever growing, which will provide you with the right mix of experience to enable you to succeed. Learn more about our VPAT consultancy and find out where you can benefit from our ever-dynamic accessibility journey. As a new VPAT consultant, you need to know that you won't succeed if you do not develop a clientele niche to focus on. When you get picky with your clients, you’ll develop a scope that will enable you to always pay attention to detail. This also helps you become a "go-to" person.

Need help to grow as a new VPAT consultant?

ADACP can provide you all the support you require to succeed in your VPAT consulting. Our VPAT vendor portfolio is large and ever growing, which will provide you with the right mix of experience to enable you to succeed. Learn more about our VPAT consultancy and find out where you can benefit from our ever-dynamic accessibility journey. 

What is 508 compliance certification?

"508 compliance certification" is the attestation that a product or service has attained certain acceptable levels of accessibility as required by the revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.

Certification for 508 compliance is done using the VPAT 508, which is the edition of the voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) used for documenting the accessibility of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services procurable by U.S. federal organizations.

Section 508 coCertification for 508 Compliance: The Essential Guidempliance VPAT is used to test the features of websites and applications, software, and hardware to establish the extent to which they are usable by people who are blind or have low vision, deafness or hearing loss, and other types of disability. Without Section 508 VPAT compliance, an individual, organization, or business cannot engage in business with the U.S. federal government, departments, and agencies, as well as federally funded organizations.

What is VPAT compliance?

VPAT compliance refers to the use of the VPAT to carry out evidence-based documentation that helps a company or organization assess and demonstrate how its ICT products and services conform to the accepted accessible standards and guidelines.

VPAT compliance entails choosing the right edition of the VPAT template to use in documenting how your ICT products or services are accessible, conducting VPAT testing of the products or services, filling out the VPAT document to generate a VPAT report, and making the report accessible to the public.

There are four editions of the VPAT template a vendor can use to document the accessibility of his or her ICT products or services. These are the Section 508 VPAT, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 or 2.1 VPAT, the European Union (EU) VPAT, and the International (INT) VPAT.

The market a vendor wants his or her products or services to be procurable in informs the choice of the VPAT edition to use in a VPAT compliance process. For instance, the Section 508 compliance VPAT is used for VPAT certification of products and services procurable by the U.S. federal government, departments, and agencies, as well as federally funded organizations, while the EU VPAT and the INT VPAT are used for VPAT certification of products and services that are publicly procurable in Europe and internationally, respectively. The WCAG VPAT is used for documenting the accessibility of websites and web-based applications.

What does "ICT" refer to in certifications for 508 compliance?

When ICT is mentioned in VPAT 508 compliance, it refers to software and websites, electronic documents such as PDFs, multimedia content, phones, call centers, hardware equipment like computers and printers, applications, etc.

Any kind of electronic or web asset that you have that people may use in order to access federal services requires Section 508 compliance certification.

Section 508 compliance VPAT testing procedures

Section 508 VPAT testing involves testing a product or service against the provisions of the 508 accessibility standards as well as the WCAG success criteria via automatic testing or manual testing.

Automated VPAT compliance testing involves using accessibility checkers to scan an ICT and generate a list of barriers that require fixing. Automated accessibility checkers typically identify but do not resolve accessibility issues in ICT. They also do not identify all the accessibility barriers present in the ICT product or service and could lead to non-compliance fines or lawsuits.

Manual testing is usually the best way to get a clearer picture of the state of accessibility of your ICT, and it is the VPAT testing approach that provides the most reliable Section 508 compliance certification.

While some organizations may choose to use either the automated or manual VPAT 508 testing approaches, it is advisable to go for the holistic approach that embraces a hybrid of the two. That is because Section 508 compliance testing is complex, and using a suitable combination of testing methods allows one to cover more ground in terms of identifying probable accessibility challenges.

Get help with your Section 508 compliance certification

Section 508 compliance certification is a complex but vital step in a business’ journey toward ensuring the accessibility of its products and services to all users. Your business does not need to go at it alone because you can be assisted throughout the VPAT compliance journey, right from VPAT testing to making your VPAT report publicly accessible.

If you’re interested in how you can be helped through your Section 508 compliance, Call Our Consultant Today to find out how you can be assisted to bring your business into compliance with Section 508.

What is the Section 508 VPAT?

The Section 508 VPAT is a voluntary product accessibility template that evaluates how accessible a particular information and communication technology (ICT) product or service is according to the Section 508 Standards.

The template is a self-disclosing document produced by VPAT vendors who seek to have their ICT products or services procurable by the U.S. federal government, its departments, and its agencies, as well as the organizations that receive funding from the federal government. It details each aspect of the Section 508 compliance requirements and how a given product or service supports each of the provided accessibility criteria.

Realities of the VPAT 508

The VPAT 508 has very interesting realities that shock anyone who encounters them or is made aware of them. The facts are as follows:

• It was the first tool for reporting accessibility issues

Section 508 compliance VPAT is the pioneer edition of the VPAT template. It was mooted by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to deepen accessibility about two years after Congress amended Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act to require all federal agencies to create, buy, maintain, and use ICT that is accessible to people with disabilities, regardless of whether they work for the federal government or not.

ITI collaborated with the General Services Administration to develop the VPAT 508, which, though voluntary, has become a common factor for companies wishing to do business with federal organizations as well as those that are funded by the federal government.

• Widely regarded as best practice in deepening accessibility

Whereas some ICT vendors and manufacturers initially viewed the VPAT 508 as a burden, the businesses that embraced it leapfrogged their peers in terms of business growth and penetration into the disability market.

The success of Section 508 compliance certification in driving ICT businesses toward refining their products and services to integrate accessibility made the European Union and other global public authorities embrace VPAT certification.

• No VPAT 508, no federal contract

When the federal government embraced the Section 508 compliance VPAT as a tool to help their procurement officials undertake effective market research for accessible ICT products and services to procure, some businesses viewed the tool as optional.

They were shocked that though the template’s name indicated that it was voluntary, it wasn’t after all. That is because no business could succeed in placing bids to supply ICT products or services without the Section 508 compliance certification. This shocking reality still persists to date, with the underlying accessibility requirements becoming tighter and tighter.

• No waivers

The Section 508 VPAT anchors the accessibility requirements provided in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Given that Section 508 does not provide for waivers, the VPAT 508 will not provide you with any.

The reprieve that you might get with the Section 508 VPAT is that there are some exceptions provided with the Section 508 law that the federal agencies and departments may claim based on how the product or service they procure will be used. These exceptions, however, cannot be claimed by the ICT industry.

• WCAG 2.0 requirements are used instead of WCAG 2.1 requirements

While the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 was unveiled as an extension of the WCAG 2.0, the VPAT 508 continues to have the WCAG 2.0 technical specifications and accessibility criteria as part of its components instead of upgrading to the updated WCAG 2.1.

While WCAG 2.1 is not a replacement for WCAG 2.0, it has additional success criteria to cater to the needs of different user groups. In fact, it brings in 17 new success criteria spread across all three-conformance levels.

• Helps to ward off ADA lawsuits

While Section 508 compliance certification aids in deepening accessibility via the commercial pathway and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) via the legal pathway, commercial entities seeking to be ADA compliant frequently use the VPAT 508.Undertaking 508-compliance certification helps businesses achieve ADA compliance.

Despite these shocking realities about the Section 508 VPAT, it is what is rocking the ICT space in the United States. Businesses are increasingly relying on it to improve the quality of their products and services so as to have wider and deeper market penetration. Businesses that have embraced the VPAT 508 are reporting phenomenal growth and profits due to their products and services being purchased by people in the disability market.

Need help with Section 508 compliance certification?

Call Our VPAT 508 Consultant Today to learn more about how we can assist you with Section 508 compliance certification, including sharing with you our Section 508 VPAT example. Our VPAT consultations are always absolutely free. 

Who are the VPAT vendors?

VPAT vendors are individuals or businesses that offer duly filled-out voluntary product accessibility templates (VPATs) for consideration by buyers or procurement officials as part of the process of buying information and communication technology (ICT) products and services within the economic production chain.

Businesses or companies that sell or supply ICT products or services to the organizations directly or indirectly governed by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act can be regarded as VPAT vendors. These include all businesses selling or providing ICT products and services to U.S. federal agencies, any government agency that receives financial aid from the U.S. federal government, and private businesses or companies operating as contractors to U.S. federal agencies.

Completion of VPATs by VPAT vendors 

What buyers and procurement officials seeking accessible ICT to purchase hardly know is that most VPAT vendors lack the technical understanding of the complex accessibility issues that VPATs usually require.

Filling out a VPAT is a technical process that requires one to be knowledgeable about accessibility as well as have experience regarding how buyers and procurement officials glean through submitted VPAT reports to select one with the most accessibility features.

Some of the vendors may have some in-house resources to help them undertake their VPAT certification, but a good number of them outsource the VPAT certification task to VPAT consultants for help. When you have an opportunity to review a VPAT report submitted by a VPAT vendor, keep in mind the following facts about the vendors:

• Many VPAT vendors can lie about the accessibility of their products

VPAT vendors are human beings who want to eke out a living from what they do. Consequently, when provided with an opportunity to submit VPAT certification for their ICT products or services to help in decision-making to select the product or service with the most accessible features, they may not divulge the negative aspects of their products or services that act as barriers to accessibility. They will want to portray their products or services in the best way possible so they can be selected as the most accessible. While this negates the intent of developing the VPAT form, it is an unbelievable fact about VPAT vendors.

• The majority of VPAT vendors are not accessibility experts

The majority of VPAT vendors are entrepreneurs whose main focus is the growth of their businesses and making their ICT products or services penetrate deeper into various markets. This means that they don’t have time to establish the key issues associated with accessibility. Therefore, they may not be familiar with the technicalities of VPAT certification.

Because of this lack of accessibility expertise, some of those who choose to do their VPAT certification internally produce laughable VPAT reports.

Some of the vendors could be interacting with the VPAT for the first time, which means that their push for VPAT certification is not for people with disabilities but to avoid the consequences of not being compliant.

When reviewing the VPAT reports from such VPAT vendors, they may contain inaccurate information that could make you select their products. That is because some of them engage VPAT consulting firms that fill out the VPATs very accurately but do not take the time to undertake the requisite VPAT testing of the products or services.

• Start-ups VPAT vendors could be disadvantaged

Some VPAT vendors are start-up ICT businesses trying to establish themselves in the highly competitive environment. While such start-ups may not have the resources to hire high-caliber VPAT consultants to help them with the VPAT certification, their ICT products or services could be way better than those being offered by the established VPAT vendors.

Reviewing the VPAT reports without the hindsight of the unbelievable facts about VPAT vendors could make a buyer or procurement official select a product or service with less accessible features just because it has a superior VPAT report.

Therefore, there is a need to strike a balance between VPAT certification and undertaking some degree of due diligence so as to ascertain that what is indicated in the VPAT report reflects the product or service the report is associated with. This is a very important consideration that buyers and procurement officials ought to keep in mind during the market research for accessible products and services.

Need help ascertaining the reliability of submitted VPAT reports?

ADACP understands all the dynamics associated with VPAT certification by various VPAT vendors and can help you ascertain whether the VPAT report provided by a vendor matches the accessibility realities of the associated product or service. To get assistance on this matter, Call Our Consultant Today. Our VPAT consultations are always free.

 What are VPAT vs. WCAG intermediations?

VPAT vs WCAG intermediation is the act of intervening on matters relating to the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) on one side, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) on the other.

The VPAT is a self-disclosing document that was developed to deepen accessibility by providing a standard framework for evaluating how information and communication technology (ICT) products and services confirm to the established accessibility standards and guidelines: Section 508, the European Union (EU) EN 301 549 standard, and the WCAG.

The VPAT WCAG intermediations improve understanding of how the VPAT and WCAG accessibility tools work together to improve accessibility.

The VPAT WCAG is the best tool for predicting how VPAT vs. WCAG interactions will play out in 2024.This is the VPAT edition that incorporates the technical requirements and criteria for accessible websites, electronic content, and web-based and mobile applications.

This edition of the VPAT is underpinned by four key principles: perceiveability, operability, understandability, and robustness (POUR). The basic structure of accessibility for websites, electronic content, and web and mobile applications hinges on these four principles.

Global trends that will affect the VPAT vs. WCAG space

It is important for VPAT vendors to be cognizant of the global trends in the ICT sector that will affect the happenings in the VPAT vs. WCAG space.

That is because ICT is more important than ever for the success of the global business community, and the ICT space is evolving in ways that will necessitate VPAT and WCAG intermediation to evolve accordingly.

Some of the global trends that could be anticipated in 2024 and that will impact how VPAT vendors will need to reorient themselves in the VPAT accessibility space include the following:

• Emerging ICT initiatives that change how data is processed and stored

The edge computing phenomenon is a key ICT initiative that is likely to affect the VPAT vs. WCAG operations that we have become accustomed to.This is a form of distributed computing where computation and data storage take place closer to the end user.

This has a bearing on the VPAT vendors because as more data is processed and stored each day, it will become more difficult to have it located in far-off data centers.

As a result, they must begin planning to create VPAT statement and reports for products and services that use smart objects and network gateways to process and store data close to end users' locations. This occasions new VPAT vs. WCAG thinking.

• Rise of remote work and growth of IOT and smart devices

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices, and the rise of remote work will have a bearing on VPAT vs. WCAG intermediation.

As 5G and IoT proliferate, devices close to the data sources can be expected to capture larger portions of the new data that is created, which presents accessibility issues that VPAT and WCAG accessibility requirements need to factor in.

• Rising cyber attacks and the importance of cyber security

Data breaches can be expected to rise in 2024 compared to prior years. This is something that affects VPAT vs. WCAG intermediation because VPAT vendors are likely to become more cautious about disclosing the features of their ICT products and services for fear of giving fodder to cyber criminals.

• The Internet of Behavior (IoB) is gaining popularity.

The Internet of Behaviors (IoB) is an emerging trend that can be expected to explode in 2024. It involves the interpretation of data collected by the IoT and uses this data to influence consumer or employee behavior.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data will help organizations process the massive amount of behavioral data collected, which may make organizations reduce their focus on VPAT vs. WCAG interventions in favor of IoB-based interventions.

• Privacy-enhancing computation

Privacy-enhancing computation is a trend that is anticipated going forward in 2024. This is aimed at securing customer data.

This is likely to affect VPAT vs. WCAG interventions because VPAT vendors will be increasingly cautious about exposing the key features of their products or services that enhance the privacy of customer data. This means that if you’re an ICT buyer, you may not get as much information from a VPAT statement or report provided by a VPAT vendor. The vendors will need to understand you so as to provide you with deeper information about their products and services.

Do you require VPAT consultations that are informed by global trends for 2024?

Going forward, successful VPAT compliance will be underpinned by an astute understanding of the emerging trends and how they impact the safety and security of the buyers and vendors. ADACP understands all these and has integrated them into our VPAT consultations.

Feel free to Call Our Consultant Today to learn about how we can help you with our interventions that take cognizance of the dynamic global trends in the ICT sector. Our VPAT consultations are always free.

The truth about VPATs

For people who are new to VPATs, the term "VPAT" is short form for "voluntary product accessibility template," which is a self-disclosing document that is produced by a vendor or manufacturer of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services and used to evaluate how accessible a particular ICT product or service is according to the established accessibility standards and guidelines: Section 508 standards, Europe and Australia’s EN 301 549 accessibility standards, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

VPAT certification is becoming an accepted norm in the procurement community, but VPATs are a complex issue to deal with and provide many challenges on both the vendor’s and purchaser's parts.

On one hand, the vendor does not want to get too detailed about the deficiencies in his or her products or services, even if the problems are quite small and they are working on them. On the other hand, buyers don’t want to have to do a full-blown VPAT accessibility evaluation of a product or service and simply want to take the provided VPAT report at its face value.

Does VPAT testing really matter?

While having a VPAT report for your ICT products and services significantly demonstrates your commitment to accessibility and sets you apart from your competitors who don’t have the same, questions have been raised regarding the truthfulness of the VPAT testing that forms a critical component of the products’ or services’ VPAT certification.

One company can be quite honest in its VPAT certification by listing the numerous accessibility flaws in their products or services, which others could be dishonest in their product or service appraisal and not list many details so the deficiencies in their products or services seem to be fewer.

This makes it difficult for the procurement officers who receive the VPAT reports to distinguish which of the provided VPAT reports to go for when choosing a more accessible product or service. This dilemma has made many people in the VPAT accessibility space raise concerns about the credibility of the VPAT testing done prior to developing VPAT reports.

It is also obvious that in many instances, vendors who either undertake their internal VPAT certification processes or hire a VPAT consultant who lacks independence during VPAT testing and reporting usually sway the VPAT authors to provide documentation that is antagonistic to their products or services. These are the sad realities that make me believe that VPAT testing is totally overrated.

How to remedy the overrating of VPAT testing

While there are VPAT certification agencies that have credible histories of being reliable in their duty to investigate all features of an ICT product or service and determine how each conforms to the provisions of the relevant standards or guidelines, upcoming VPAT consultancy agencies may be so focused on financial rewards from the vendors and manufacturers who hire them to the extent that they throw their independence to the wind.

Going forward, buyers and procurement officials who receive VPAT reports need to develop some skills to help them interpret the reports and distinguish those that contain credible information obtained through objective VPAT testing from those hell-bent on misleading buyers.

If buyers and procurement officials don’t actually validate and clarify some of the things that VPAT reports state, products and services with many inaccessible features will end up being selected over those with fewer problems.

Probably, to eliminate the mischief that is dogging VPAT testing processes, buyers and procurement officials should promote a component of the VPAT certification process where they take time to validate all the shortlisted VPAT reports prior to selection and awarding of contracts to supply. This could entail using a credible VPAT testing tool or working with a reliable VPAT consultant to carry out a counter-VPAT test on the selected products or services.

Efforts need to be put in place to promote the commitment from both the vendors and buyers to do their part toward ensuring that the importance of VPAT testing is not eroded due to a lack of truthfulness in the process.

Vendors need to commit to being truthful, and the buyers need to agree to do their due diligence in assessing a product or service for its accessibility, so that truthful businesses do not get bypassed in business deals with those who undertake fraudulent VPAT testing.

Need help validating the VPAT testing for a product or service?

If you’re an ICT product or service buyer or procurement official who needs help validating the truthfulness of a VPAT report, ADACP can help. Get Quick VPAT Testing Today to learn whether the VPAT report provided to you is reliable. We’ll provide you free consultations.