Overview
ACRs and VPATs guide software evaluation and purchasing by detailing a software's accessibility.
(Note: Having one doesn't mean a product is accessible, read the report to evaluate a product's accessibility - or lack thereof). Technically the VPAT is just the template and the result of the template is the ACR, but often they are used interchangeably. For examples and to check for existing ACRs, you can view our ACR and VPAT library (UTMB login required)
Need to submit a VPAT? Request an Accessibility review using the button to the right.
Document descriptions
How the documents function.
Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) - which details the accessibility of Information and Communication software and services and their conformance to the Revised 508 Standards. When the VPAT is complete it creates an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
Best practices
- Know that ACR and VPAT are often used interchangeably
- Request an ACR or VPAT® when evaluating, renewing, or purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This will enable the accessibility features and compliance to be evaluated along with the product's other offerings.
- Review the document. Having a document doesn't mean that the product is accessible. How accessible the product is, or isn't will be detailed in the document.
- Ask for the methods used to certify the application and to see the accessibility reports
Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) - A completed version of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) - which details the accessibility of Information and Communication software and services and their conformance to the Revised 508 Standards.
Best practices
- Know that ACR and VPAT are often used interchangeably
- Request an ACR or VPAT® when evaluating, renewing, or purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This will enable the accessibility features and compliance to be evaluated along with the product's other offerings.
- Review the document. Having a document doesn't mean that the product is accessible. How accessible the product is, or isn't will be detailed in the document.
- Ask for the methods used to certify the application and to see the accessibility reports
VPAT request script
Copy and paste this script into an email to your vendor.
Hello,
As part of our institutional commitment to State and Federal laws requiring digital accessibility, we need to obtain documentation from each vendor reporting the accessibility of their products.
UTMB is looking for a completed Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or an Accessibility Compliance Report (ACR, the product of a completed VPAT form) from your company; especially in light of the new Title II regulations which include third party vendor accessibility. Would you please provide a VPAT (ideally version 2.4 or 2.5) or an ACR for your application, or if you don’t have one yet, a roadmap for your digital accessibility compliance plans for the April 24, 2027 deadline?
The VPAT is about the accessibility of the application itself; its fonts, ability to be resized, be operated by a keyboard, screen reader, etc., as well as its ability to host accessible content.
More about Texas' Digital Accessibility Requirements:
Texas institutions of higher education (IHE) are required to comply with Texas Electronic Information Resources (EIR) statutes and rules (TGC 2054.457) to provide equal access to information. The current requirement is WCAG 2.1 AA, to be in line with Federal Title II guidelines (which supersedes the State's guidelines). 1 TAC 213 enacted state standards for procurement, development, or usage of EIR for people with disabilities and also aligns accessibility standards with the federal regulations set forth in Section 508.
More about completing a VPAT:
- UT's EIR Notification
- Understanding Your VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) from deque
- Section 508 VPAT Instructions to Vendors from the State of Texas (Texas is in the process of updating documents to 2.1 AA)
- How to Create an Accessibility Conformance Report Using A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) from the federal government (completed Microsoft reports as an example).