What Is A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and Why You Need One
If you’ve heard people talk about a voluntary product accessibility template, also known as a VPAT, and wondered whether your company needs one, you’re not alone. VPAT accessibility documents have become a key part of proving that a product meets essential accessibility requirements. Whether you sell software, public facing digital tools, government facing products or enterprise services, a VPAT is now expected in nearly every procurement process.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a compliance expert to understand or create one. Once you know what a VPAT actually is, it becomes a powerful and simple way to communicate where your product aligns with accessibility standards like WCAG, Section 508 and even ADA accessibility expectations.
What Is a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template?
A voluntary product accessibility template is a standardized document that explains how well your product meets global accessibility standards. You fill it out voluntarily to help customers, partners and procurement teams quickly understand your product’s accessibility posture.
When completed, the document is known as a VPAT report or an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). It includes:
How your product aligns with WCAG 2.1 or 2.2
Whether you meet Section 508 requirements (for US federal markets)
Any gaps or limitations in accessibility
Notes and supporting information
Planned improvements or timelines
Think of it as a transparency document that says, “Here’s exactly where our product is accessible, and here’s where we’re still working on things.”
A VPAT isn’t just about compliance. It’s about trust. It signals that you take accessibility seriously and that you’re willing to document your progress publicly.
Why VPAT Accessibility Matters
A VPAT has become essential for several reasons:
It helps you meet buyer expectations
Government agencies, enterprises and educational institutions now require ACRs/VPATs as part of procurement. Without it, you’ll often be disqualified automatically.
It shows you understand accessibility requirements
Completing a VPAT forces your team to look closely at how your product aligns with WCAG, ADA accessibility, and global accessibility standards.
It reduces legal and compliance risk
While a VPAT isn’t a legal shield, having one shows good faith effort and awareness, which can help reduce exposure related to disability discrimination claims.
It improves user trust
A clear accessibility report signals transparency. Users feel confident choosing a product that openly documents strengths and weaknesses.
If your team is just beginning its accessibility journey, you can learn more about How To Start Designing for Accessibility When Your Team Is New to It
How To Create a VPAT (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
You don’t need to start from scratch. Here’s a simple way to build a VPAT even if you’re not an expert.
Understand the standards you’re reporting against
Most VPATs are based on:
Your VPAT should reference whichever of these apply to your product or market.
Run basic accessibility testing
Before filling out the template, run an accessibility checker to understand where your product stands.
Tools like Wally’s WAX Chrome Extension or WAX Linter for VS Code Extension can help surface issues like contrast failures, missing alt text or ARIA misuses early.
Complete the voluntary product accessibility template
A VPAT typically includes:
Be honest and precise. It's better to say “Partially supports” with details than to overclaim.
Publish it publicly
Most companies link their VPAT from their accessibility page.
If you don’t have an accessibility page yet, you can learn How To Create an Accessibility Statement That Actually Means Something
Use Wally’s Free VPAT Generator
If you don’t want to wrestle with formatting or guesswork, Wally offers a free VPAT generator that lets you create a clean, professional accessibility report in minutes.
It gives you:
A properly structured VPAT format
Space for WCAG notes and compliance levels
Easy export options
A clear, standards aligned document you can share with customers or procurement teams
For early stage teams or products just beginning accessibility work, this saves hours of manual drafting.
When You Need More Than a VPAT Template
A VPAT reflects the current accessibility state of your product. But sometimes you need deeper support:
Fixing accessibility blockers
Getting ahead of customer accessibility questions
Reducing legal exposure
Aligning your entire product with WCAG and ADA accessibility expectations
This is where a full accessibility audit becomes essential.
Ready for a Full Accessibility Audit by Certified Professionals?
If you want more than a VPAT, Wally can run a complete 30 day accessibility audit performed by certified accessibility professionals. You receive:
A full WCAG analysis
Mobile and desktop coverage
Clear remediation paths
Developer friendly fixes
Post audit reviews
A VPAT / ACR based on the results
Hands on support to meet accessibility requirements quickly
Whether you're preparing for procurement, responding to a customer request or building inclusive products proactively, we can support you from start to finish.
Book a consultation with Wally whenever you’re ready to get started.
