adacomplianceprosblogs

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

What are the 5 core skills every digital accessibility training should teach?

Websites and apps should work for everyone. Even people who can't see well, hear well or use a mouse should not feel the frustration while accessing your website. To ensure this, your team needs digital accessibility training. It teaches teams how to make websites easy to use for all people.

If your team is learning accessibility, you might want to know what are the most important skills we should learn?

Here are the 5 core skills every web accessibility training must include.

Rule 1- How to follow WCAG rules

The first skill is learning about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. WCAG is a list of rules made by W3C to make websites easier for everyone.

The latest versions of WCAG are 2.0,2.1 and 2.2. According to these rules, your website should:

Use good color contrast like dark text on a light background Make images readable for screen readers through Alt Text * Use headings the right way (like H1, H2)

According to the accessibility specialists at ADACP, teaching WCAG in a clear, hands-on way helps teams understand and apply the rules. You cannot just learn these rules by browsing the official website of W3C.

Rule 2- How to Use Screen Readers and Tools

People who are blind or have trouble seeing often use screen readers. These are tools that read out loud what is on a screen.

Digital accessibility training should show your team:

How to use tools like JAWS or VoiceOver How to test websites using keyboard-only (no ouse) * How to check errors with tools like axe or Lighthouse

Teams should practice with these tools to learn how real users use the web. At ADACP, teams try these tools during live lessons, which helps them remember better.

Rule 3- How to Make Accessible Documents and PDFs

WCAG rules go beyond websites. PDFs, forms, and Word documents should also be accessible.

Good training should teach rules about content creation. The importance and rules of adding headings in documents or writing alt text for images in PDFs. They teach how to use tags so screen readers work properly

This is very helpful for schools, offices, or government groups that share files online. That’s why Section 508 training is also important. This rule says that U.S. federal websites and files must be accessible to all.

Rule 4- How to Work Together on Accessibility

Developers, designers, writers, and testers all help make websites. Good accessibility training should help each person learn what they need. Designers learn how to check color contrast and button labels while developers learn coding apt for screen readers. Likewise, testers learn how to find and report issues

So choose a training that gives each person in your team special lessons based on their job. That way, no one wastes time learning things that do not apply to them.

Rule 5- How to Test and Fix Problems

Learning is not enough to save your organization from lawsuits. You need to practice with a good training course that must teach your team how to:

Find errors in real websites

Fix those errors right away

Write reports like a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)

Hands-on training is better to make your team confident about accessibility rules and laws. And when training includes real audits, like the model used at ADACP, teams see faster results with fewer mistakes.

Conclusion

The 5 core skills that digital accessibility training should teach are key to building websites and apps that everyone can use.

If you want your team to learn these skills in a fun, easy, and useful way, check out the web accessibility training courses at ADACP. They offer WCAG training and Section 508 training at a competitive price.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Web Accessibility Training in 2025: What It Is and Why Your Team Needs It

Your customers use your websites on phones and laptops. But sometimes these websites are hard to read or use for someone with a disability. This is why your business needs web accessibility training

What is Web Accessibility Training?

Web accessibility training prepares you to develop websites for everyone. Even if they are blind, deaf or cannot hold a mouse or keyboard.

Digital accessibility takes care of blind users. There are provisions that they can use a screen reader to read the words on a site. Someone who cannot use a mouse might press the Tab key to access the content.

Digital accessibility training given to your team results in good websites that work for all these people.

Why is WCAG training so important in 2025?

Rules are in place to make websites easy for everyone to use. In 2025, companies that do not follow these rules may face complaints, lose users or even face penalties.

Therefore, WCAG training and Section 508 training matter so much right now.

What Are WCAG and Section 508?

WCAG means Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. W3C made these rules to help people build better barrier free websites. These guidelines cover:

Text size and contrast

Keyboard navigation

Labels for images and buttons

Section 508 is a law in the United States. It says that government websites must be usable for people with disabilities. Many schools and large companies also follow these rules.

According to ADACP, a good web accessibility training course should teach you both of these: WCAG training + Section 508 training.

Who needs web accessibility training?

Web accessibility is a team effort. Everyone who works on a website should learn at least a little:

Role             What They Learn

Developers How to write clean code for screen readers and keyboard use

Designers    How to make color, contrast, and layouts work for all

Writers        How to write alt text and clear labels

Testers        How to test with tools like NVDA or JAWS

Everyone learns their own part in a role-based training.

What do you learn in web accessibility training?

A good training session helps a team to learn about WCAG rules. Such as, color contrast, writing alt text for images and implementing keyboard only navigation. Trainers help you to test a form or a button or how to fix broken accessibility on real websites.

Some courses are videos that you watch alone. But in 2025, many teams are looking for instructor-led digital accessibility training because it is faster and more helpful.

Why hands-on accessibility training works better

Self-paced training lessons can slow the learning outcome. But hands-on training lets you ask questions, test real tools, and get live help.

For example, a designer might learn how to fix color issues inside Figma and a developer might try using the NVDA screen reader.

This way, teams fix problems while they learn and save both time and money.

Companies offering this kind of helpful training offer simple, fast and personalized digital accessibility training.

Many organizations prefer live training beyond video lessons. They prefer it because they get real examples on your actual websites. According to ADACP, the personalized training they offer along with audit is the reason organizations choose them for WCAG and Section 508 training.  

Conclusion

Make your website accessible so that more people can enjoy it.  In 2025, web accessibility training is necessary because it is a law and more importantly it is a necessity that broadens your customer base.

Now is the time to seek web accessibility training courses. Better to invest in hands-on training so that the developers, designers or testers in your team get quick and efficient lessons. ADACP’s training programs are a great place to start.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

The Ultimate Guide to Ensuring Web Accessibility with WCAG Accessibility Checker and WCAG Test

In today's digital world, accessibility is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Every website, whether it caters to a local audience or has a global reach, must ensure that it is inclusive and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. The WCAG Accessibility Checker and WCAG Test play pivotal roles in achieving this goal. Let's explore how these tools can help your website comply with accessibility standards and create a seamless user experience.

What is WCAG and Why is It Important?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were developed to provide a set of standards that ensure web content is accessible to people with various disabilities. These guidelines cover a wide range of principles, including making websites perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Adhering to WCAG ensures that your digital content meets legal compliance and fosters inclusivity.

Businesses like Adacp recognize the importance of accessibility, making it a priority to integrate tools like the WCAG Accessibility Checker into their processes to ensure compliance.

The Role of the WCAG Accessibility Checker

The WCAG Accessibility Checker is an essential tool for evaluating whether a website meets WCAG standards. This tool scans web pages for accessibility issues and provides actionable insights to improve compliance. Here are some key features and benefits of using the WCAG Accessibility Checker:

Automated Scanning: The tool identifies potential barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from accessing your content.

Detailed Reporting: It provides a comprehensive report highlighting issues and recommendations for improvement.

Time Efficiency: By automating the process, it saves significant time compared to manual evaluations.

Improved User Experience: Addressing the identified issues enhances overall user experience, making your site more user-friendly for everyone.

Understanding the WCAG Test

The WCAG Test is a systematic approach to evaluating web accessibility compliance. While the WCAG Accessibility Checker automates much of the process, the WCAG Test often involves both automated tools and manual assessments to ensure a thorough evaluation. Here’s how the WCAG Test works:

Automated Testing: Tools like the WCAG Accessibility Checker are used to identify common accessibility issues.

Manual Testing: Accessibility experts conduct manual checks to evaluate aspects like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and color contrast.

User Testing: Involving users with disabilities provides valuable insights into real-world accessibility challenges.

How to Use the WCAG Accessibility Checker and WCAG Test Effectively

To maximize the benefits of these tools, follow these steps:

Perform Regular Checks: Use the WCAG Accessibility Checker regularly to ensure ongoing compliance.

Prioritize Issues: Focus on addressing high-priority issues that significantly impact user experience.

Combine Automated and Manual Testing: While the WCAG Accessibility Checker is invaluable, manual testing ensures no issue goes unnoticed.

Train Your Team: Educate your team on accessibility best practices to maintain compliance during future updates.

Legal and Ethical Implications of Accessibility

Failure to meet WCAG standards can lead to legal repercussions, including lawsuits and fines. Beyond legal obligations, ensuring accessibility is an ethical responsibility. It’s about creating an inclusive digital environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access information and services.

Businesses like Adacp set a positive example by incorporating accessibility as a core value, demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity and user satisfaction.

Benefits of WCAG Compliance for Your Business

Investing in accessibility offers numerous benefits:

Enhanced Reputation: Compliance with WCAG standards positions your business as socially responsible.

Wider Audience Reach: Accessible websites cater to a broader audience, including individuals with disabilities.

Improved SEO: Search engines favor accessible websites, potentially boosting your search rankings.

Increased Customer Loyalty: Providing an inclusive experience fosters trust and loyalty among users.

Conclusion

Accessibility is no longer optional; it’s a fundamental aspect of web design and development. Tools like the WCAG Accessibility Checker and WCAG Test empower businesses to identify and address accessibility issues effectively. By prioritizing accessibility, you not only ensure legal compliance but also create a welcoming digital space for all users.

Embrace accessibility as part of your business strategy and watch as it transforms your online presence into a more inclusive, user-friendly platform.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Understanding the Importance of WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025 for Your Digital Accessibility Strategy

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, accessibility is becoming a top priority for businesses and organizations alike. As we move towards a more inclusive and accessible online world, it is essential to understand and implement web accessibility standards. Among the most important are WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025, which play a crucial role in ensuring that websites and digital platforms are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.

What is WCAG 2.2?

The WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2) is an update to the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines are designed to help web developers, designers, and content creators make their websites more accessible to users with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments.

The goal of WCAG 2.2 is to enhance the accessibility of the web by setting forth a comprehensive set of guidelines and success criteria for creating content that is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. The WCAG 2.2 guidelines include new criteria that address specific barriers faced by users with cognitive and learning disabilities. By adhering to these standards, businesses can ensure that their websites and digital content are accessible to a wider audience.

Key Updates in WCAG 2.2

Some of the notable updates in WCAG 2.2 include:

Additional Success Criteria for Cognitive Disabilities: The new guidelines provide more specific recommendations to accommodate individuals with cognitive impairments. This includes improving readability, reducing cognitive load, and offering clearer navigation options.

Enhancements for Mobile Accessibility: With the growing use of mobile devices, WCAG 2.2 emphasizes the importance of mobile-friendly design, ensuring that websites are accessible on smaller screens and touch interfaces.

Greater Focus on Customization and Personalization: Users are encouraged to have more control over the presentation of content. For example, allowing users to adjust text size, color contrast, and layout to suit their needs can make websites more accessible.

By following these guidelines, businesses can not only comply with legal requirements but also enhance the user experience for a broader audience.

What is EAA 2025?

Another important aspect of digital accessibility that businesses need to consider is the EAA 2025 (European Accessibility Act 2025). This is a landmark legislation that is set to create uniform accessibility standards across the European Union. The EAA 2025 is aimed at improving the accessibility of various goods and services, including digital platforms, and ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to information, products, and services.

The EAA 2025 requires businesses to make significant changes to their digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce sites, to ensure they meet accessibility standards. By 2025, all public sector websites and mobile apps in the EU will need to comply with these regulations, which are closely aligned with WCAG 2.2.

Why is WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025 Important for Your Business?

Complying with WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025 is not just about following regulations. It is also about creating a more inclusive environment for all users. By ensuring that your website is accessible to individuals with disabilities, you’re opening your business up to a larger audience. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction, higher conversion rates, and improved brand reputation.

Moreover, with the EAA 2025 coming into effect, businesses that operate within the European Union or serve EU customers must make sure they are compliant. Failure to meet these standards could result in legal consequences and damage to your business's reputation.

Steps to Ensure Accessibility Compliance

To meet the accessibility standards set by WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025, businesses must take proactive steps to assess and improve their digital platforms. Here are some strategies to help you get started:

Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Start by evaluating your website’s current accessibility status. This will help you identify areas that need improvement to meet the requirements of WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025.

Implement Accessibility Features: Incorporate features such as alternative text for images, keyboard navigation support, accessible forms, and color contrast adjustments to make your website more accessible.

Educate Your Team: Ensure that your web development and design teams are well-versed in WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025 guidelines. Training your team will help ensure that accessibility is built into the development process from the beginning.

Test Regularly: Continuously test your website’s accessibility with tools like screen readers and assistive technologies to ensure that it remains compliant with the latest standards.

Conclusion

Digital accessibility is no longer optional — it’s a necessity for businesses that want to create inclusive online experiences. Adhering to the WCAG 2.2 guidelines and staying in compliance with the upcoming EAA 2025 legislation is essential for businesses operating in the European Union. By ensuring that your website and digital content are accessible to all users, you’ll improve the user experience, increase brand loyalty, and avoid legal issues.

At Adacp, we understand the importance of accessibility and are committed to helping businesses achieve compliance with WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025. By implementing the right strategies and following the proper guidelines, businesses can ensure that their digital platforms are accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive to everyone.

This blog includes the keywords WCAG 2.2 and EAA 2025 twice and highlights the importance of adhering to these standards for digital accessibility.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

What is 508 Compliance VPAT and Why Do we Need it?

What is a 508 compliance VPAT?

A Section 508 VPAT is a self-disclosing voluntary product template (VPAT) produced by a vendor or manufacturer of an ICT product or service, which details each aspect of the revised Section 508 requirements and how the product or service supports each criterion.

Section 508 is a U.S. accessibility law that requires all federal agencies and their partner organizations to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities.

By targeting the purchasing power of the federal government, Section 508 closed any avenues for the federal government to procure products and services that are less accessible to PWDs over those that are more accessible. It has sparked interest in addressing the longstanding website accessibility ada barriers in the ICT sector.

Domains for Section 508 VPAT accessibility

The domains for Section 508 VPAT accessibility include the following:

Websites, web applications, desktop software, and mobile applications;

Printers, scanners, phones, and kiosks;

Software used but not purchased by the federal government;

Email, PDFs, MS Office documents, and support materials;

Posting to and the use of social media sites;

Survey questionnaires;

Templates or forms;

Education or training materials;

Intranet content designed as a web page;

Emergency notifications;

Decisions adjudicating an administrative claim or proceeding;

Formal acknowledgments of receipt;

Internal and external program or policy announcements; and

Notices of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunities, or personnel actions.

What is VPAT accessibility?

"VPAT accessibility" refers to the inclusive practices and actions related to the use of a VPAT to identify and deal with the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from interacting with and accessing EIT products and services.

VPAT accessibility begins with understanding the market you intend to make your EIT products and services available to for purchase. This helps to identify the correct VPAT edition to use during the rest of the VPAT certification processes.

If, for example, you intend to convince federal agencies to procure your ICT products or services, then you’ll need to complete the Section 508 compliance VPAT to perform the VPAT assessment and generate your accessibility conformance report (ACR).

Section 508 compliance certification for websites and web applications requires compliance with sixteen provisions in order for the website or application to be accessible to people with disabilities. The sixteen requirements' primary purpose is to enable accessibility for visually impaired individuals using assistive technology like screen readers by providing contextual text labels and descriptions for visuals, navigation, and other web page components.

Why we need the Section 508 compliance VPAT

There are a number of reasons why we need Section 508 compliance VPAT certification. They include the following:

Compliance with the law

Section 508 compliance VPAT helps us comply with the revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. The Act requires federal government agencies to make all technical and electronic information accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

Section 508 VPAT also helps us to demonstrate that our business is concerned about accessibility and endeavors to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the same rights and opportunities as those without disabilities.

Doing business with U.S. federal organizations

Doing business with the federal organizations is only possible if a business has completed the Section 508 VPAT for the products or services it wishes to have the federal organizations procure. We therefore need the Section 508 VPAT to be able to engage in business dealings with federal organizations.

Identifying the accessibility flaws in our products or services

The Section 508 VPAT helps us to introspect and establish any accessibility barriers associated with our ICT products or services before we offer them for public purchase. Identification of accessibility flaws happens during the VPAT assessment stage.

Planning for tailor-made compliance services

During the Section 508 VPAT assessment stage, the accessibility barriers in an ICT product or service are established based on the Section 508 accessibility criteria and technical specifications. We can, therefore, seek the services of third-party agencies to specifically help us deal with the identified accessibility challenges.

The Section 508 VPAT, therefore, helps us to avoid the time wasted in diagnosing where accessibility challenges exist in a product or service, which also saves us the money we could have used to have a consultant first establish where the accessibility challenges are before embarking on fixing them.

Need help with Section 508 compliance?

Section 508 compliance involves engaging with complex accessibility terminology that requires someone with expert knowledge about the Section 508 accessibility domain. You can learn about filling out a Section 508 compliance VPAT by reviewing a Section 508 VPAT example completed by accessibility professionals.

If you require help with Section 508 ada site compliance VPAT, ADACP is always at hand to help. You can reach them by calling (626) 486-220. Their VPAT consultations are always free.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

What is 508 Compliance VPAT and Why Do we Need it?

What is a 508 compliance VPAT?

A Section 508 VPAT is a self-disclosing voluntary product template (VPAT) produced by a vendor or manufacturer of an ICT product or service, which details each aspect of the revised Section 508 requirements and how the product or service supports each criterion.

Section 508 is a U.S. accessibility law that requires all federal agencies and their partner organizations to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities.

By targeting the purchasing power of the federal government, Section 508 closed any avenues for the federal government to procure products and services that are less accessible to PWDs over those that are more accessible. It has sparked interest in addressing the longstanding website accessibility ada barriers in the ICT sector.

Domains for Section 508 VPAT accessibility

The domains for Section 508 VPAT accessibility include the following:

Websites, web applications, desktop software, and mobile applications;

Printers, scanners, phones, and kiosks;

Software used but not purchased by the federal government;

Email, PDFs, MS Office documents, and support materials;

Posting to and the use of social media sites;

Survey questionnaires;

Templates or forms;

Education or training materials;

Intranet content designed as a web page;

Emergency notifications;

Decisions adjudicating an administrative claim or proceeding;

Formal acknowledgments of receipt;

Internal and external program or policy announcements; and

Notices of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunities, or personnel actions.

What is VPAT accessibility?

"VPAT accessibility" refers to the inclusive practices and actions related to the use of a VPAT to identify and deal with the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from interacting with and accessing EIT products and services.

VPAT accessibility begins with understanding the market you intend to make your EIT products and services available to for purchase. This helps to identify the correct VPAT edition to use during the rest of the VPAT certification processes.

If, for example, you intend to convince federal agencies to procure your ICT products or services, then you’ll need to complete the Section 508 compliance VPAT to perform the VPAT assessment and generate your accessibility conformance report (ACR).

Section 508 compliance certification for websites and web applications requires compliance with sixteen provisions in order for the website or application to be accessible to people with disabilities. The sixteen requirements' primary purpose is to enable accessibility for visually impaired individuals using assistive technology like screen readers by providing contextual text labels and descriptions for visuals, navigation, and other web page components.

Why we need the Section 508 compliance VPAT

There are a number of reasons why we need Section 508 compliance VPAT certification. They include the following:

Compliance with the law

Section 508 compliance VPAT helps us comply with the revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. The Act requires federal government agencies to make all technical and electronic information accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

Section 508 VPAT also helps us to demonstrate that our business is concerned about accessibility and endeavors to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the same rights and opportunities as those without disabilities.

Doing business with U.S. federal organizations

Doing business with the federal organizations is only possible if a business has completed the Section 508 VPAT for the products or services it wishes to have the federal organizations procure. We therefore need the Section 508 VPAT to be able to engage in business dealings with federal organizations.

Identifying the accessibility flaws in our products or services

The Section 508 VPAT helps us to introspect and establish any accessibility barriers associated with our ICT products or services before we offer them for public purchase. Identification of accessibility flaws happens during the VPAT assessment stage.

Planning for tailor-made compliance services

During the Section 508 VPAT assessment stage, the accessibility barriers in an ICT product or service are established based on the Section 508 accessibility criteria and technical specifications. We can, therefore, seek the services of third-party agencies to specifically help us deal with the identified accessibility challenges.

The Section 508 VPAT, therefore, helps us to avoid the time wasted in diagnosing where accessibility challenges exist in a product or service, which also saves us the money we could have used to have a consultant first establish where the accessibility challenges are before embarking on fixing them.

Need help with Section 508 compliance?

Section 508 compliance involves engaging with complex accessibility terminology that requires someone with expert knowledge about the Section 508 accessibility domain. You can learn about filling out a Section 508 compliance VPAT by reviewing a Section 508 VPAT example completed by accessibility professionals.

If you require help with Section 508 ada site compliance VPAT, ADACP is always at hand to help. You can reach them by calling (626) 486-220. Their VPAT consultations are always free.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

2023 VPAT Guide: Making the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template Work for You

Why you should make accessibility a priority in 2023

Are you new to the voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) discourse or have questions or general reservations about the tool? This article seeks to help you appreciate what the VPAT is and how it can significantly help your business flourish in 2023.

Did you know that constraints in various tools that help people live well, like information and communication technology (ICT), seriously affect how well individuals with disabilities can access, manage, or participate in business processes?

It was on the basis of this, as well as the fact that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) primarily applies to commercial and physical built environments rather than the federal government, that Congress revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act to require all federal agencies to procure, create, use, and maintain ICT that is accessible to people with disabilities, regardless of whether they work for the federal government or not.

Targeting the federal government’s purchasing authority, which is not subject to ADA compliance, Section 508 has eliminated opportunities for the federal government to favor less accessible ICT goods and services over more accessible ones. The section, therefore, broadens the ADA compliance requirements in favor of people with disabilities and business growth.

To help businesses document the accessibility of their ICT products and services so as to assist federal government contracting officials and procurement teams comply with Section 508 when researching for accessible ICT products and services, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) partnered with the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop the VPAT.

What is a VPAT?

Without creating and maintaining VPATs for your products and services, it will be hard for your ICT company to prosper in 2023. A VPAT is a prototype document that manufacturers and vendors of ICT products and services can use to self-generate statements that describe how their products and services adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the European Union’s EN 301 459 accessibility standards, or Section 508 accessibility standards.

Many public and private organizations around the world now demand VPAT certification, which entails selecting the appropriate edition of the VPAT template, carrying out a VPAT audit, filling out the blank VPAT document to generate an accessibility conformance report (ACR), and making the ACR publicly accessible.

With VPAT certification, companies have the opportunity to work with federal agencies, identify accessibility problems with their products and services so they can fix them, plan for specialized accessibility services, grow their customer bases, improve their online stores’ SEO rankings, and increase their conversion rates thanks to better brand recognition.

Learn about the VPAT 2.4 template

If you run an ICT-related business, you should become familiar with the 2023 VPAT, which is based on the VPAT 2.4 template. VPAT 2.4 is the most recent iteration of the VPAT document, which was launched in February 2020.

The EN 301 549 European Union accessibility standard is included in the document, and just like the original VPAT, it provides a column for tracking compliance with each requirement of the standard or recommendation that pertains to an ICT product or service.

Manufacturers and vendors of ICT products and services are required by the template to indicate the degree of accessibility conformity of their wares by selecting one of four possible options: “supports,” “partially supports,” “does not support,” or “not applicable.”

In place of the previous VPAT edition’s “supports with exceptions,” the conformance level “partially supports” was introduced at the request of representatives from the US Access Board. The VPAT 2.4 template additionally includes a column for further clarifying each reported conformance level.

Furthermore, the VPAT 2.4 template is devoid of a date, in contrast to the earlier VPAT version. This is to prevent any confusion with the VPAT report date. With this new function, the date is now included in the file name, while the document’s version information is present in the document itself.

Version-specific instructions are another new feature in VPAT 2.4. A new table header and changes to the EN 301-549 edition are also included. Links and tables in the VPAT EU and INT versions have also been modified to comply with the revised EN 301 549 standard. In VPAT 2.4, the EN 301 549 standard from the European Union is the subject of the majority of the substantial new changes. Other little adjustments were also made.

Determining your VPAT assessments and creating or updating your VPAT ACRs using the VPAT 2.4 template is therefore important if your company offers ICT products or services and you wish to target the EU and/or global markets.

Need help with 2023 VPAT compliance?

As additional accessibility hurdles are discovered within the ICT sector, the standards for accessibility and VPAT compliance are becoming stiffer. Businesses that are successful with their VPATs, therefore, enlist the services of VPAT certification professionals.

ADACP helped us when we were stuck, and I highly recommend them to you. You can contact them at (626) 486-220 to arrange for a consultation. Their consultations are always free.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Understanding the VPAT Section 508 Compliance Statement and VPAT Audit

What is the VPAT Section 508 compliance statement?

A VPAT Section 508 compliance statement is a public information page that relays a company's or organization's internal organizational policies, its accessibility objectives with regard to Section 508, and its prior achievements in relation to serving and cooperating with people with disabilities within the context of Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.

VPAT testing of the targeted information and communication technology (ICT) product or service and completion of the VPAT 508 document to produce the product's or service's accessibility compliance report (ACR) are often conducted before the VPAT statement is created.

The VPAT 508 history

The VPAT 508 is one of the four VPAT editions created by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to meet the demands of the various accessibility markets. The European Union (EU) VPAT, the International (INT.) VPAT, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) VPAT are the other editions.

The origins of VPAT 508 lay in the 1998 amendment to the U.S. Rehabilitation Act by Congress, which requires all federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. This was done with the knowledge that inaccessible technology hinders a person's capacity to get information and use it as quickly and readily as feasible.

Section 508

The goal of Section 508 is to remove obstacles that prevent individuals with disabilities from using and accessing electronic and informational technology and to open up new opportunities for them. Additionally, it aims to promote the creation of EITs that will aid in the achievement of accessibility objectives.

All federal agencies are required by law to give employees and members of the public with disabilities access to information on par with that provided to those without disabilities.

Understanding and upholding Section 508 compliance is necessary for providers of EIT products and services, both in the public and private spheres, as well as the vendors who offer ICT products and services based on EIT.

Section 508 will apply to you if you are a producer or supplier of an IET product or service that is intended for use by federal employees. Furthermore, even if you don't sell the technology to the general public directly, Section 508 still applies to you if it is made available to them.

It's also crucial to realize that Section 508 may apply to you if you offer EIT that will be utilized by anyone who is directly or indirectly financed by the federal government, since it will be assumed that you get federal funding.

However, you won't be compelled to comply with Section 508, which is why the VPAT 508 is available for those who voluntarily desire to do so. You won't be chosen as an IET provider by a government agency or a federally supported organization if you choose not to comply.

Only ICT products and services with properly completed VPAT 508 documentation are permitted to take part in procurement procedures for government agencies as well as for organizations receiving federal funding.

Do vendors who use EIT need VPAT Section 508 compliance statements?

Section 508 applies to you if you are a vendor who utilizes technology, like a website, that is utilized by anybody who receives funding from the federal government, whether directly or indirectly. If federally financed buyers discover you aren't VPAT 508 compliant, they won't consider you as a possible vendor, even though they might want to employ your products or services.

Imagine having to be bypassed in business by companies that might not offer higher-quality products and services simply because you don't comply with VPAT 508 certification. This means that if your products are not VPAT-508 certified or if your VPATs are out of date, you could be losing business.

How to secure VPAT 508 certification

Because Section 508 deals with sophisticated technology that is widely used, you should determine whether your company is covered so that you don't miss out. Unfortunately, some EIT providers make the mistake of trying to provide their own VPAT 508 reports, which falls short of what many procurement teams and contracting officials want.

A full grasp of the accessibility domain, as well as accessibility regulations and dynamics, is required for Section 508 VPAT certification, which comprises thorough VPAT testing of the targeted product or service. After the test, the VPAT paperwork must be carefully filled out in order to produce the ACR. This too calls for expertise.

Finally, expertise is needed to create a VPAT statement of compliance that concisely summarizes internal accessibility goals and procedures as well as prior achievements. You should thus seek the assistance of a third-party accessibility specialist to guide you through the VPAT Section 508 compliance procedures.

Need help with VPAT Section 508 compliance?

If you are an EIT vendor, you need to comply with VPAT 508 in order to market your products to sizable segments of the economy. If you sell goods or services but don't deal in EIT, you might need a second opinion to help you seriously consider if you need Section 508 compliance for any of your customer-facing technologies, particularly websites.

When it comes to VPAT compliance, ADACP assists EIT providers and other vendors in evaluating their operations and providing the necessary support to be compliant. You can study the Section 508 VPAT example they completed to see how a VPAT 508 ACR is completed, or you can call them at (626) 486-220 for assistance with generating or upgrading your VPATs. 

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

2023 VPAT Certification: Why and How to File Your Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

What is VPAT certification?

VPAT certification is the process of measuring the extent of an electronic and information technology (EIT) product’s or service’s compliance with the established accessibility standards that are regarded as best practices in delivering accessibility to people with disabilities: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Revised Section 508 compliance checker, and the European Union (EU) EN 301 549 accessibility standards.

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has developed four editions of the voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) to cater to the accessibility criteria and technical specifications required of ICT products and services in various markets. This ensures that ICT manufacturers and vendors tailor their VPATs to their target markets.

In actuality, the completed VPAT template is not a VPAT certificate, even if the process of creating the VPAT document is sometimes referred to as "VPAT certification." Furthermore, it is not intended to specify a pass or fail result.Instead, it provides information on how well the product or service being evaluated complies with the relevant accessibility criteria.

VPAT certification, therefore, provides the crucial VPAT security that allows vendors and purchasers of ICT products and services to have informed discussions about the product or service during the procurement process. This means that whenever a vendor or purchaser requests VPAT certification, they are most likely referring to a duly completed VPAT.

Why should your products and services be VPAT-certified in 2023?

Making your ICT products and services accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, is the main objective of VPAT certification. You won't be able to sell your ICT goods or services to buyers like the federal government or any of its agencies if they lack VPAT security.

Beyond the federal government and its agencies, a growing number of purchasers from outside the federal government prioritize accessibility when choosing suppliers for the products or services they need.

Based on the level of compliance shown in a specific accessibility VPAT, prospective buyers of products and services can make well-informed purchasing judgments. The proper accessibility VPAT is therefore a useful tool for promoting meaningful communication and a quicker procurement process. For any discerning vendor or maker of ICT goods or services, VPAT compliance must be demonstrated, and compliance levels must be actively improved.

The VPAT testing tool helps businesses consider and follow the best practices for accessibility and provides great insight into accessibility conformance for any organization. Regardless of a person's disability status, the toll also promotes accountability in the creation of non-discriminatory goods and services for everyone.

How to get VPAT certification

You can obtain your VPAT certification by visiting the ITI website, downloading a VPAT template, and having a member of your company or an impartial third party complete it on your behalf. By hiring an impartial third-party professional to assist you with your VPAT certification, you can be confident that you'll gain access to their expertise in digital accessibility.

It is important to note that accuracy is crucial when completing your VPAT form because failing to adequately describe the accessibility of your products or services could result in expensive lawsuits.

Hiring a third-party expert to assist you with your VPAT compliance processes will undoubtedly provide you with peace of mind and the assurance that their experience researching the intricacies of accessibility dynamics will keep your company at the top of the VPAT accessibility ladder.

In 2023, there will be a lot of accessibility specialists available online, but when deciding who to work with for your VPAT accessibility, it can be helpful to contact organizations like ADACP that have specialists who are specially trained to handle the challenging and time-consuming tasks of VPAT reporting, as are required by many procurement teams and contracting officials.

Always bear in mind that a reputable online VPAT accessibility professional will offer you a VPAT audit of your ICT products and services that is neutral and accurate and is based on the WCAG, Section 508 guidelines, and EN 301 459 accessibility requirements from the European Union.

Based on the mistakes found during the audit of the technical requirements, functional performance, and support requirements, it will also enhance the compliance of your products and services.

By conducting a critical path analysis to precisely understand your most important user flows and testing those flows using various assistive technologies on multiple user platforms, accessibility experts like ADACP will assist you in navigating the VPAT accessibility processes and provide thorough audits of the accessibility barriers in your product or service.

Need help with 2023 VPAT certification?

Reviewing a Section 508 compliance example completed by accessibility professionals may help you grasp some of the fundamentals of VPAT certification. This will give you important information about what you need to include in your VPAT document.

Should you require additional support toward the VPAT certification of your ICT products or services, feel free to consult ADACP at (626) 486-220 for assistance. They offer free VPAT consultations.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Who Needs a VPAT and What is it?

What is a VPAT?

The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a prototype document that vendors and manufacturers of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services can use to self-generate statements that describe how their ICT products or services adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the European Union's EN 301 459 accessibility standards, or Section 508 accessibility standards for ICT.

The VPAT document gives businesses a common framework for conducting in-depth audits of how well their ICT products and services adhere to the established accessibility standards for making them usable by people with disabilities.

How the VPAT came about

The VPAT was created in response to Congress' revision of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that federal agencies make their EIT accessible to individuals with disabilities, whether or not they are employed by the federal government.

The VPAT was created by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) in consultation with the General Services Administration (GSA). Therefore, as part of the procurement process, all federal agencies require suppliers of ICT products and services to provide proof of the accessibility of their products and services.

The VPAT becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) once it is filled out or completed. Contracting officers and procurement teams usually evaluate an ICT product's or service's support for accessibility using the product's or service's ACR. VPATs help suppliers keep track of how effectively their products and services adhere to the applicable accessibility standards or norms.

The ACR serves as a visual depiction of how a certain ICT product or service complies with all applicable accessibility standards and guidelines. The VPAT accessibility stamp is made up of the creation of an ACR for an ICT product or service and the publication of the document online.

What is VPAT accessibility?

VPAT accessibility refers to the use of a VPAT to identify and remove obstacles that impede individuals with disabilities from interacting with and using ICT products and services. Understanding the market to which you want to offer your ICT products and services for public procurement is usually the first step in the VPAT accessibility journey.

When you know which market you want to sell your ICT products and services to, it is easier to choose the right VPAT version to use throughout the VPAT certification processes. For instance, you would base your VPAT scoring on the VPAT 508 version if you wanted to convince federal authorities to buy your ICT products or services.

Why embrace VPAT accessibility?

Every company that sells ICT products and services needs to embrace VPAT accessibility, which is now an accepted corporate standard on a global scale because of the following factors:

It enables businesses to work with federal organizations.

It helps businesses identify the accessibility challenges associated with their products and services, which fosters the constant perfection of the products or services.

It helps businesses plan for custom-made accessibility services.

It helps businesses increase their consumer base by catering to the disability market.

Businesses that pay keen attention to the VPAT accessibility of their websites benefit significantly from enhanced SEO ratings, which translates to increased revenue and profits.

It leads to increased business conversions due to enhanced brand visibility.

VPAT accessibility, according to ADACP, assists businesses in making their ICT products and services compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Who needs a VPAT?

If you have companies that offer ICT products and services, such as EdTech and HealthTech companies, retail and online shops, SaaS product and software suppliers, etc., you need to complete a VPAT for each of your products or services.

If your ICT company is based in the US, do not avoid creating VPAT reports for your products or services because Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act appears to only directly apply to federal entities. Keep in mind that any private entities desiring to conduct business with the federal government or receive federal funds must also provide proof of Section 508 compliance through a VPAT.

Therefore, all companies and organizations that are directly or indirectly subject to Revised Section 508 of the United States Rehabilitation Act need to complete or update VPAT ACRs for their products or services.

This means that all U.S. federal agencies, any government agency such as a state, county, or municipal jurisdiction that receives financial aid from the U.S. federal government, charities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and federal contractors and suppliers are businesses and organizations that require a VPAT.

In addition to the updated Section 508 accessibility standards, numerous states, local governments, and businesses have adopted the WCAG in place of the federally enforced Section 508 standards. The possession of current VPAT ACRs that demonstrate how their products and services conform with Section 508, WCAG, or the EU's EN 301 549 is also becoming more and more of a requirement for large firms and organizations.

All companies and organizations looking to work with any government organization in the United States, as well as many other governments across the world, should anticipate the need for an updated VPAT report for their digital offerings.

It helps to get professional assistance in creating your VPAT

The entire VPAT accessibility procedure is replete with accessibility technicalities, and navigating the terrain successfully calls for an expert with domain understanding of the technicalities. Getting assistance from accessibility experts is advised because you don't want to create an incorrect or incomplete VPAT that could subject you to legal difficulties.

By studying a VPAT 2022 example created by accessibility experts, you can learn how to design your own VPAT. Alternatively, you can contact ADACP at (626) 486-220 to arrange for a VPAT consultation to assist you with your VPAT accessibility processes.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Digital Accessibility - How to Test Websites for Accessibility

The law mandates that commercial websites and technology products that are available to the public are developed in a way that they are accessible to everyone. In simple words, digital accessibility is the process to ensure that all your users can access the products and offerings available on the website despite their disability.

The rights of digital accessibility are protected by laws like ADA and Section 508. In this digitally driven world developing a website is crucial for every industry vertical. Be it ecommerce, healthcare, banking or education, ADA compliance is expected everywhere. Failure to meet regulatory compliance results in lawsuits. Therefore, businesses of all sizes are in pursuit of a proactive approach that helps them to:

Enhance the user experience

Increase the size of the segment of their target audience

Reduce the risk of facing legal repercussions

To prevent website accessibility lawsuits, your products and offerings need to be tested for users with visual, motor and auditory difficulties. Now the question arises, how to test a website? What should be the game of plan? Can you do it on your own or do you need to outsource the task? Let’s find out:

Quick ways to test the website accessibility in-house

There are some easy methods to quickly test the usability of your website. For instance, when aiming for website accessibility in ecommerce, one can test if the checkout form can be filled entirely with a mouse or a keyboard.

The same test can be used for ada checkercompliant banking websites where a disabled user needs assistive technology for log-in and form filling.

Another quick way to check accessibility standards is to check alt text for images, video transcripts, and zoom-in features.

Use software for checking website ADA compliance

Those who are not sure about the technical aspects of alt text, assistive features and contrast ratio can also use the fast performing software tests. 

Multiple accessibility tools are available online. You can pick one that matches your intended purpose and employ a quick run. For instance, when your goal is ADA accessibility for a healthcare website you need a tool that tests the assistive technology, easily accessible formats and color contrast.

WAVE and JAWS are some useful accessibility evaluation tools that are trusted for common evaluations related to auditory and visual impairments. These tools are great for screen reading and speech recognition testing, however, they lag in performance when it comes to identifying the challenges of users with learning disabilities like dyslexia. Therefore a better and more reliable alternative is accessibility audits which are done manually. 

Thorough website accessibility testing via manual audits

There are certain technical requirements to test website accessibility standards. These are mentioned in the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Not everyone is equipped with in-depth knowledge of the technology domain, therefore it is best to hire audit experts.

Manual audits are more efficient and accurate when compared to software testing.

Audit experts employ a personalized approach to meet the desired levels of compliance with the WCAG framework.

Manual audits accompanied by remediation are the best approach to reduce the risk of lawsuits.

Human intervention ensures that each component of the website is developed thoughtfully for barrier-free access to those who are dealing with cognitive and neurological disabilities.

One needs to pay attention while selecting the audit partners. The level of expertise and required accreditations are useful to find a reliable accessibility specialist. Moreover, you need to discuss the scope of the accessibility audit. Confirm that they include every screen reading software, browser extension and offer comprehensive remediation. To get in touch with a team of accessibility audit experts, visit the link given below. 

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

How To Enhance Loyalty With Digital Accessibility In Finance

Digital banking saves time and offers the convenience of doing it from anywhere. The recent demographics of North America revealed steady growth in the number of users who prefer banking via web or mobile apps. The latest data about digital development in banking activities are being targeted by online banking accessibilitylawsuits.

Over the past few years, the concerns of banks and financial institutions about the risks of accessibility litigations are rising. Even the biggest players in the finance sector faced a lawsuit in 2018 when 7% of the lawsuits were aimed at the finance and banking vertical.

Therefore, digital accessibility in finance has now become the prime objective for companies to survive. Every entity in the finance sector is now aiming for a strategy to ensure barrier-free access to digital properties, such as websites and apps.

Those who want to become the ‘most-preferred’ financing solutions in the US are likely to be the most vulnerable ones to legal recourse. To steer clear of the risk of lawsuit expenses, practice digital accessibility. Let’s discuss how it can be done.

How do ADA lawsuits affect the banking and finance sector?

A reputed law firm, Seyfarth, reaffirmed that California is among the busiest federal courts to handle digital accessibility lawsuits. With increasing reliance on digital mediums,ada checker violations have become easy to notice and impossible to ignore.

Despite all the measures a bank or a credit union takes for service improvements, a pitfall in website design can result in legal ramifications. Apart from civil penalties, there is a risk that customer engagement drops as they could not leverage the services.

Failure to ensure equal access results in loss of customers, loss of business and loss of the brand image.

An accountable brand is always preferred by banking users. Likewise, having a purpose-led strategy in place is vital for success and it can only be achieved by making barrier-free access fundamental in the finance sector.

What should be done to prevent ADA litigations?

When customer loyalty is your priority, your main objective is to improve the user experiences. In terms of website accessibility, ADA protects the rights of people who face challenges in accessing digital content.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offer a roadmap to prevent the risk of ADA lawsuits. In order to be immune, companies from the finance sector practice the framework mentioned in the latest release of WCAG.

A finance institute or a bank that serves the public is expected to comply with the Title III regulations of ADA.

To develop an ADA-compliant business, you need to test your website and learn about weaker areas with ADA obligations.

To meet the accessibility requirements, you may invest in automated testing tools or manual audits.

Software scans can offer a rough idea of what 508 compliance looks like, though automated testing is not enough to prevent inaccessibility complaints.

A proactive approach can be taken via accessibility audits conducted by seasoned professionals.

ADA audits help reduce the risk of lawsuits and also offer the benefit of an improved user experience. A thorough audit and remediation is the key to ADA-compliant banking. To make your business accessible for loyal yet disabled users, timely guidance from audit experts is beneficial.

Final thoughts

Customer loyalty is a key to surviving the competition. Keeping it simple and hassle free is what most financial services aim for these days. One prime aspect is to focus on improving the digital experience. While improving the website and mobile accessibility provisions, adherence to accessibility guidelines is also crucial. To learn more about the best measures to practice financial ADA Accessibility, visit the link given below.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Why Use Digital Accessibility in Finance & Banking

The Department of Justice mandates that public accommodations are accessible to everyone despite their disabilities. To enforce the law, ADA (Americans with Disability Act) came into action. Under the Title III of ADA, practising digital accessibility in finance and banking is crucial for businesses that have digital platforms.

When a commercial entity that serves the public fails to provide barrier-free access to the disabled users, it violates the law. Therefore regulatory compliance makes it essential for banks and credit unions to practice digital accessibility. ADA and Section 508 are two pillars to attain your accessibility objectives. In this post, we will discuss the significance and business benefits of adhering to these two regulations for the players in the finance and banking sector. 

What is the ADA and why is it crucial for the finance and banking sector?

As mentioned earlier, ADA is a civil rights law that protects the accessibility rights of the disabled population. When a user is leveraging the digital platform of a bank or financial institution, they expect barrier free access to login,pay the bills andaccess information about the latest products and offers.

Any type of disability that refrains the user from accessing your products and services may result in loss of business. Your loyal customers could switch to another brand or in frustration may file a lawsuit.

Legal repercussions are harmful to the business and the brand image. When more and more users are inclined toward using digital platforms, aiming for ADA compliance banking is a proactive approach.

To practice regulatory compliance, one needs to understand the ADA compliance checklist for digital accessibility. A standard framework is provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The regulations are published at different levels of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Commercial entities are expected to follow the roadmap of A, AA and AAA Levels of WCAG guidelines which are updated frequently to meet the technology advancements. WCAG 2.2 is the latest version that finance and banking entities can follow to approach digital accessibility.

How does Section 508 compliance impact the success of finance and banking?

Section 508 requires that any federal agency that uses or maintains Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products is accessible to everyone.Though it only prohibits federal programs, when you look at the bigger picture all banking and finance sector agencies are regulated by the government. Therefore, it is important for government chartered credit unions to meet Section 508 regulations. 

How to attain Section 508 and ADA compliance in finance?

The compliance checklist for digital accessibility in finance and banking includes WCAG guidelines and VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template). These frameworks enable you to practice accountability and create an accessible product for the users.

The desired level of WCAG compliance can be attained with the help of automated software scans and manual audits.It is a tedious process to verify every element of the website and fill up the VPAT. Additionally, checking every component of the website or mobile app to make it accessible for users with a disability is time consuming. Therefore, most businesses prefer the fast and easier process of automated testing.

Software to test accessibility compliance offers you result with only 30% accuracy. Whereas none of the codes can interpret the frustration of a disabled user like an audit specialist. Human interpretation is more reliable to check the website components for people with cognitive, visual and auditory disabilities. 

Bottom line

Practising digital accessibility checker in banking and financeis crucial to reducing the risk of lawsuits. It is also crucial to enhance customer loyalty. To stay ahead of the competition, visit the link given below and have a word with accessibility audit specialists.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

What is VPAT Accessibility and How is it Important in EdTech?

What is VPAT accessibility?

VPAT accessibility refers to the inclusive practices and actions related to the use of a voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) to identify and deal with the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from interacting with and accessing electronic and information technology (EIT) products and services.

VPAT accessibility begins with understanding the market you intend to make your EIT products and services available to for purchase. This helps to identify the correct VPAT edition to use during the rest of the VPAT certification processes. If, for example, you intend to convince federal agencies to procure the products or services, then you’ll use the VPAT 508 edition as the basis for your VPAT scoring.

Key VPAT accessibility milestones

Milestones are checkpoints that highlight the completion of major events, tasks, or groups of tasks along a given project or process.

In the VPAT accessibility pathway, the major milestones are: selection of the appropriate accessibility VPAT, conducting the VPAT audit, filling out the VPAT form to generate the VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR), and making the VPAT ACR accessible.

Selection of the correct accessibility VPAT

Accurate VPAT compliance starts with choosing the correct edition of the VPAT form to use. There are four different VPAT editions, each catering to the accessibility requirements for different markets: the VPAT Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Edition, the VPAT 508 Edition, the VPAT European Union (EU) Edition, and the VPAT International (INT) Edition.

The VPAT WCAG Edition is used when testing the compliance of websites and web-based digital resources with the WCAG. The VPAT 508 Edition is used to test the compliance of digital products and services with the Revised Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.

The VPAT EU Edition is used to test the accessibility compliance of digital products and services to the EU’s EN 301 549 accessibility standards for public procurement of EIT products and services in Europe.

The VPAT INT Edition is a combination of all the other three VPAT editions and is the appropriate edition of the VPAT form for documenting the accessibility of EIT products and services for public procurement globally.

Products and services meeting the accessibility standards set out in this edition of the VPAT form have all the accessibility features included in the VPAT WCAG, VPAT 508, and VPAT EN 301 549 standards.

Conducting VPAT assessments

VPAT assessments are helpful in identifying any accessibility issues a product or service has. They may take the form of manual or tool-based auditing services. Specific accessibility issues are not easily identified just through scanning with online accessibility checkers. That is because they involve technical complications that can only be identified by accessibility experts.

Completion of the VPAT ACR

Once VPAT testing has been completed, the information thus obtained is used to fill out the appropriate VPAT form to generate a VPAT ACR. This step requires high levels of accuracy and completeness to avoid the legal and financial risks associated with the submission of inaccurate and incomplete VPAT reports.

Making the VPAT ACR accessible

VPAT accessibility culminates in making the generated VPAT report accessible to anyone who may require it. Most businesses and organizations usually post the ACRs on their websites, while others provide them upon request.

How VPAT accessibility is important in EdTech

"EdTech" is short form for "education technology." It refers to new technological implementations in the classroom. Examples include in-classroom tablets, interactive projection screens and whiteboards, online content delivery, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), among others.

EdTech institutions such as schools and universities are responsible for a wide range of tools and systems, from those that deliver the required course content with day-one availability to those that empower publishers and storefronts selling directly to learners.

Regardless of their product or service offerings, EdTech institutions must ensure not only that the target content is available where and when users need it but also that the platform and the content are created using universal design principles that ensure accessibility.

The VPAT WCAG is used as a benchmark for creating accessible EdTech platforms. The tool delineates how to make content more accessible to people with disabilities.

EdTech institutions must use VPAT accessibility to ensure that all customer-facing applications conform to the WCAG standard wherever possible and make documentation about that conformance publicly available.

Need help with VPAT accessibility in your EdTech offering?

Ensuring VPAT accessibility is a shared responsibility of EdTech learning platforms.

Each EdTech institution should work closely with their product and service providers to ensure they have the tools and knowledge they need to successfully create standard-based content with the requisite VPAT passing score to be delivered through their platforms.

For help with a VPAT audit of your EdTech learning platforms, call (626) 486-220 to speak with an EdTech accessibility specialist. Consultations are always free.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

How to Register for VPAT Certification

What is VPAT certification?

The term "VPAT certification" describes the practices and actions associated with the use of a voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) to identify and remove obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from interacting with and using information and communication technology (ICT) products and services.

VPAT certification has surged to become a priority agenda due to the felt concerns about the exclusion that people with disabilities faced in many sectors of the economy, which negatively affected the quality of their lives and that of the general population.

With more than one billion people in the world and one in every four U.S. adults having a disability, any business that has not had its ICT products and services VPAT certified is losing out in a big way. That is because in the current competitive digital landscape, businesses that are making their stands on accessibility known through appropriate VPAT scoring approaches help their brands stand out.

For example, by clearly laying out your commitment to accessibility through an accessible VPAT 508 compliance certification that describes the areas that you’re working to improve in your ICT products and services, your business may reduce the risk of lawsuits about the accessibility of your products and services.

The VPAT assessments that form part of the VPAT certification processes help a business identify critical accessibility issues in their products or services, which enables it to put in place mechanisms to deal with the accessibility barriers.

These efforts are included in the VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR) and are enough to dissuade plaintiffs looking for easy targets to institute accessibility non-compliance lawsuits.

Registering for VPAT certification

VPAT certification is open to any business that wants to demonstrate commitment to accessibility as well as make efforts to make sure that its products and services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability or disability.

Here are the steps to follow to register your ICT product or service for VPAT certification:

Download the VPAT form.

You can download the correct edition of the VPAT form free of charge from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) website.

If the product or service you want to get a VPAT certification for has a website for a web-based product or service, you should download the VPAT Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) edition.

If the ICT product or service you want to get a VPAT certification for is intended for sale to the U.S. federal government, then you should download the VPAT 508 edition or the VPAT International (INT) edition.

If the product or service you’re offering is for sale in Europe, you should download the VPAT EU edition, which is founded on the European Union’s EN 301 549 accessibility standards for publicly procurable ICT.

Perform the requisite VPAT assessments.

The next step after downloading the appropriate VPAT form is to conduct an evaluation of the targeted product or service based on the technical specifications and requirements provided in the downloaded VPAT document. The evaluation will enable you decide on the appropriate VPAT passing score under each accessibility requirement.

The assessments could be manual or online tool-based. Manual audits need to be done by someone with experience and sound domain knowledge about accessibility. Online tool-based VPAT testing should not be over-relied upon because it tends to have an accuracy of about 30%.

Fill out the VPAT report

Once you’re done with VPAT assessments, you should use the collected data to fill out the VPAT form and generate a VPAT ACR. Completing a VPAT ACR should be done objectively, truthfully, and accurately. Every fillable section of the form should be filled out.

Make the VPAT report publicly accessible

It is the making of a product's or service’s VPAT ACR publicly accessible that amounts to the completion of VPAT certification for the product or service. A VPAT ACR can be made accessible by posting it on the business’ website or by making it available to anyone who requests it.

Need help with VPAT certification for your product or service?

VPAT certification may not be a walk in the park for people who are not knowledgeable about accessibility. That is why many businesses opt to hire a third-party VPAT certification service provider like ADACP to help them go through the certification process from start to finish.

If you need help with VPAT certification for your products or services, call (626) 486-220 to speak with an accessibility expert. Consultations are always free.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

Why and How to Align with VPAT Compliance Requirements

What is VPAT compliance?

"Compliance" generally refers to the state of being in accordance with the established guidelines or specifications, or the process of becoming so, while "VPAT" is an acronym for "Voluntary Product Accessibility Template," which is a prototype self-declaration form used by manufacturers and vendors of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services to document the accessibility conformance levels of their products and services.

Accordingly, VPAT compliance is the condition of adhering to the established accessibility standards or guidelines as outlined in the various editions of the VPAT, specifically Section 508 VPAT 2.4, EN 301 549 VPAT 2.4 of the European Union, the International (INT) VPAT 2.4, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Why VPAT compliance for businesses?

Compliance with the established accessibility standards is a legal necessity. Businesses could face legal and financial penalties from the authorities if they disregard the current accessibility standards and guidelines, such as Section 508 accessibility standards, EN 301 549 accessibility requirements from the European Union, or WCAG. Compliance with VPAT is crucial to preventing pointless lawsuits.

Businesses should embrace VPAT compliance for more reasons than just avoiding the financial and legal dangers connected with non-compliance. Additional advantages that a business will gain from VPAT compliance include the following:

Helping to identify critical accessibility issues in products and services

VPAT compliance requires a number of steps, including selecting the appropriate VPAT edition to document the accessibility of a product or service, conducting an accessibility assessment on the targeted products or services, completing the appropriate version of the VPAT to generate an accessibility conformance report (ACR), and making the VPAT ACR accessible.

During the VPAT assessment for the product or service, a business is able to identify residual accessibility barriers in their products or services. These can be referred to the product or service development team to deal with before the product or service is made available to be purchased or used by customers. This identification and dealing with accessibility issues in products and services ensures that a business’ products and services are not only accessible, but also continue to improve in terms of quality. Continuous improvement of the quality and accessibility of a business’ products or services enhances the brand image of the business and fosters its visibility.

Enhancing prospects for working with federal organizations

If a business wants to work with the federal government or any of its agencies, including selling or offering digital products or services to them, VPAT compliance is imperative.

Having a Section 508 compliance VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR), for example, will help federal organizations understand the accessibility features of your digital product or service. This helps to impress them into working with the business.

Reduction of procurement time

With VPAT compliance, a business helps to cut procurement times because the VPAT ACRs generated as part of the compliance make buyers review the accessibility features of the associated products or services and only contact manufacturers and vendors when they require clarifications or want to close the purchase.

VPAT compliance, therefore, helps a business better utilize its human resources because they concentrate on handling other things than what an accessible VPAT report provides.

Increase in customer base and business profits

VPAT compliance unlocks the huge market of people with disabilities. This means that more customers, who translate to increased revenue and profits for the business.

Customized compliance services

With VPAT compliance, a business will precisely understand which services they can contract a consultant to help them deal with. For example, during the VPAT audit, a business may identify access barriers that require an expert in a given technical area.

In this case, the business identifies a professional that has domain knowledge of the issue and seeks customized services as required. This saves the business time and money that could have been spent on diagnostics had it not embraced VPAT compliance.

How a business can achieve VPAT compliance

To achieve VPAT compliance, businesses can identify an internal team among its staff to help in filling out the VPAT to generate a VPAT or contract professional VPAT certification service providers like ADACP.

A review of VPAT 2022 hits and misses indicates that businesses that contracted the services of professional VPAT compliance service providers had credible and objective VPAT reports that helped them close business deals, as opposed to those that relied on internal teams to generate their VPAT ACRs. With years of experience and domain knowledge, professional VPAT compliance service providers offer fully customized compliance services within a short period of time.

A third-party VPAT compliance professional will benefit a business with personalized accessibility suggestions, offer legal help as and when required, help with periodic audits and VPAT updating, inform the business of any changes in the accessibility standards or guidelines, and offer technical expertise when dealing with the accessibility barriers identified during VPAT auditing.

Hire a professional for your VPAT compliance needs.

If you want to take a shot at creating a VPAT report for your products or services, you can use this VPAT report example developed by ADACP.

If you choose to hire a third-party service provider with a professional team of accessibility experts who offer a plethora of both manual and tool-based VPAT auditing services, call (626) 486-220 to get the assistance you need at the best possible rates.

[adacomplianceprosblogs]

What is a VPAT and Why is it Useful for Your Business?

Accessibility and business growth

The ability of people with disabilities to access, navigate, or participate successfully in business processes is severely impacted by barriers that make these individuals' quality of life difficult or impossible. These barriers also hinder the expansion of businesses by excluding products and services from the sizable market that comprises people with disabilities.

Given the catalytic role of information and communication technology (ICT) in various sectors, including enhancement of worker productivity, improved performance, and better customer experience, the amendment of Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act helped to bring accessibility from the periphery to the center of business processes.

Section 508 and accessibility

As a result of the amended Section 508, businesses and organizations are now required by law to make their digital offerings accessible for people with disabilities.

Specifically, the legislation requires all federal agencies to acquire, develop, use, and maintain ICT that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, whether or not those individuals are employed by the federal government.

This is incredible considering that 20% of Americans have a disability of some type. Additionally, the U.S. population's average age is rising quickly, which implies that in the next few decades, it is likely that the proportion of Americans who have disabilities will rise even further.

It is now not only a legal duty but also extremely profitable for businesses to make sure that their products and services are accessible to people with disabilities.

The VPAT and Section 508 accessibility

To help businesses document the accessibility of ICT products and services so as to assist federal government contracting officials and procurement teams comply with Section 508, especially when researching for accessible products and services, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) worked in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop the voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT).

What is a VPAT?

A VPAT is a prototype form that manufacturers or vendors of ICT products and services use to self-generate statements that provide information on how their ICT products or services conform to the Section 508 accessibility standards for ICT, the European Union’s EN 301 459 accessibility standards for publicly procurable ICT, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), in a consistent fashion and format.

Manufacturers and vendors of ICT products and services have to generate an accessibility conformance report (ACR) using the prototype VPAT form whenever they develop products or services that are determined to be ICT and are publicly procurable.

Manufacturers or suppliers of ICT goods and services are required to describe in detail in each VPAT ACR how their products and services comply with the accessibility requirements specified in the pertinent accessibility standards or guidelines.

Why a VPAT is useful for a business

Without a VPAT, businesses wouldn't have been able to create accessible conformance reports in a uniform manner or format. This may have meant that each business documented the accessibility of its ICT products or services however they saw fit, making it challenging or even impossible for contracting officers and procurement teams to choose the products or services with the most accessible features.

Without a VPAT, each business would have also interpreted the accessibility criteria in a way that best fit its objectives, providing no clear framework to assist in effective ICT product and service accessibility assessments. This implies that there would have been numerous problems relating to the validity of the accessibility assessments and the ensuing accessibility reports.

Without a VPAT, buyers could also have found it difficult to choose the products or services with the most accessible features. This is due to how challenging it would have been to compare the essential components when analyzing accessibility reports created with different frameworks.

Therefore, a VPAT helps businesses to document the accessibility of their products or services in an orderly and guided way. The template serves as a key tool in VPAT certification, without which a business’ products and services cannot participate in public procurements in various markets, including with federal organizations and public entities in Europe and globally.

In a nutshell, the VPAT and VPAT certification help a business in the following ways:

helps the business work with federal organizations.

helps the business identify critical accessibility issues in its products and services, which helps in the continuous improvement of the products or services.

ensures that the business plans for customized accessibility services.

helps the business increase its consumer base.

enables a business to enhance its SEO ratings, especially with website VPAT certification.

Increased business conversions due to enhanced brand visibility

Get a professional to provide you with VPAT certification services.

While you can use your internal teams to fill out your VPATs, many buyers find a VPAT report generated by a third-party accessibility professional more legit.

This means that while the choice about who helps you create your VPAT ACR is all up to you, many buyers will trust a VPAT report arising from a V audit conducted by an expert with domain knowledge about accessibility.

To generate your VPAT report, you may review a VPAT example developed by accessibility professionals or call (626) 486-220 to get a VPAT consult on the books to help you with your VPAT certification.