What in the VPAT is This? A Wake-Up Call for Accessibility in 2025

In the digital age, accessibility must serve as a foundational principle in product development, especially when working with public institutions such as colleges. However, many companies still fail to meet basic requirements for accessibility documentation. I just received a poorly handled Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) from a vendor, highlighting this issue and emphasizing the urgent need for authentic commitment to inclusion and compliance.

Video Guide

Understanding the Importance of VPATs

VPATs play a critical role in evaluating the accessibility of digital products. Organizations use them to determine whether a product meets standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These documents are particularly important for educational institutions and government entities, which often operate under legal mandates to purchase accessible technology.

For a VPAT to offer value, it must present a clear, accurate, and detailed self-assessment of a product’s conformance to accessibility standards.

A Real-World Example of Negligence

I just received a VPAT from a vendor. The document lacks all fundamental information: no product name, description, contact information, or report metadata. The company failed to assess the success criteria and left most of the accessibility evaluation sections blank, aside from randomly marking N/A in a few places. Four full pages of the VPAT contained no information at all.

This submission failed to provide any meaningful insights about the product’s accessibility, demonstrating a complete disregard for the request and accessibility compliance.

Accessibility in 2025: Progress Still Needed

Despite growing awareness of accessibility, its implementation in 2025 remains inconsistent. Many vendors continue to overlook the significance of inclusion, even when dealing with sectors that legally require accessible technology.

Educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and government agencies need technology that meets accessibility standards. Vendors who fail to provide honest and complete evaluations not only jeopardize their chances of doing business with such clients but also hinder broader efforts toward digital inclusion.

Holding Vendors Accountable

Vendors must recognize VPATs as more than routine paperwork. These documents serve as declarations of both compliance and commitment to accessibility. An incomplete VPAT undermines credibility and damages professional relationships.

To produce a valid VPAT, vendors need to conduct a genuine accessibility audit and report their findings transparently. Organizations lacking internal resources should consult accessibility experts to guide them through the evaluation and documentation process. Check out The Accessibility Guy’s web accessibility services.

Encouraging a Culture of Inclusion

Companies that value accessibility have tools and professionals available to help them succeed. Accessibility experts can support businesses in filling out VPATs correctly and improving the overall inclusiveness of their products.

Creating accurate and complete VPATs satisfies legal requirements and signals a company’s respect for users with diverse needs and abilities.

Vendors that invest time and resources into producing thorough, honest VPATs show they take accessibility seriously. In doing so, they improve compliance and foster greater trust, expand their customer base, and support the broader mission of digital inclusion.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!