Is a VPAT the Same as WCAG Compliance?

 VPAT and WCAG Compliance

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have become household terms in the 508 compliance matrixes. In attempting to answer the question, “What is a VPAT?” some people erroneously mistake a VPAT to be same as WCAG compliance.

A VPAT is not the same as WCAG compliance. Whereas a VPAT is a self-disclosing document that is used for VPAT accessibility evaluation according to Section 508 standards of the Rehabilitation Act, WCAG defines how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. A WCAG compliance checker assesses a web’s conformity with a wide range of disabilities including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological.

WCAG compliance is part of the accessibility standards covered in the VPAT. Other standards currently covered are Section 508 compliance and EN 301 549. Essentially, VPATs outline the level of accessibility conformance that an entity has achieved, and establishes each technical requirement of the accessibility standards.

The Accessibility Standards Currently Covered in a VPAT

The accessibility standards that are currently enshrined in a VPAT are four, namely, the Revised Section 508, WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, and EN 301 549.

Section 508

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires agencies to ensure that people with disabilities have comparable access to and use of ICT information and data as people without disabilities, unless doing so would place an undue burden on the agency.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) revised the standards for electronic and information technology that federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use. Section 508 standards are being revised and updated to ensure that ICT covered by the respective statutes is accessible and usable by people with disabilities.

WCAG 2.0

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) cover a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. It was created with the help of individuals and organizations all over the world to provide a shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of people, organizations, and governments all over the world.

WCAG 2.1

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) includes a wide range of recommendations for improving the accessibility of web content. The guidelines address web content accessibility on desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. WCAG 2.1 supersedes WCAG 2.0. Web content that complies with WCAG 2.1 also complies with WCAG 2.0. The release of WCAG 2.1 does not devalue or supersede WCAG 2.0. When developing or updating web accessibility policies, it is recommended that the most recent version of WCAG be used.

EN 301 549

EN 301 549 is a European standard for digital accessibility that applies to all ICT and includes virtually every digital product imaginable, such as cell phones, printers, ATMs, electronic documents, software, web content, and so on.

Get Help on VPAT and WCAG Compliance

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