VPATs
The ITI Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a free template that translates accessibility requirements and standards (e.g., in Section 508 and other legal frameworks) into actionable testing criteria for products and services. Users should test their products and services against each section of the VPAT and use the template to document results. Once completed, the VPAT with documented testing results is referred to as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) that details the accessible features of the tested product or service.
The VPAT is offered free of charge. Membership in ITI is not required to use the VPAT. Please note, however, that the VPAT name and report form are ITI registered service marks, and should not be altered without the express written permission of ITI. There are different versions based on the leading accessibility standards: Section 508 (U.S.), EN 301 549 (EU), and W3C/WAI WCAG, which are available at the link below.
They are not widely used by publishers to describe their content, and they are not a legal requirement. Using them would enable librarians to assess the accessibility of publisher content in a standardised format, in comparison with other publishers who use the same template. However, it is also not common for librarians to use these templates and to seek them out to make decisions.
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