Section 508 of the Rehabilitation act was a landmark amendment for accessibility in the US. Organizations are now legally bound to make their digital content accessible to the disabled. And it is very important because around 20% of the people in the US have some kind of disability. Moreover, the average age of the US population is increasing rapidly. As a result, the number of citizens with disabilities is expected to increase even further in the coming decade. And all these factors make VPAT certification even more crucial for businesses. In this blog, we will discuss everything that companies need to know about VPAT.?
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template is a checking tool used to check the accessibility compliance of a particular website. It is a kind of form which contains all the requirements for accessibility in a listed manner. During VPAT compliance, the accessibility experts check the categories necessary for accessibility and fill up the VPAT. After completion, a VPAT can be used to study how accessible the website is.
VPATs can be of many types. Based on the rules they follow, section 508 VPAT, WCAG VPAT, AODA VPAT, and many others. The companies need to decide which rule they want to comply with. They can choose the VPAT accordingly. Some common types of VPAT are described below:
As we have already mentioned above, compliance with accessibility standards is now a legal necessity. If the businesses do not comply with WCAG 2.0 guidelines, section 508, and other accessibility rules, the authorities can impose legal and financial charges on such companies. Hence, if businesses want to avoid legal proceedings, VPAT certification is of utmost importance. But, avoiding legal proceedings is not the only motive behind VPAT certification. It has multiple benefits for businesses. Let?s look at some of the benefits below.
If your company wants to work with any federal organization or offers any service to them, VPAT certification is compulsory. An adequately documented VPAT will help the organization in understanding the accessibility features of your website. It will help to impress them to work with your company.
2. Helps to Identify Critical Accessibility Issues
While filling the VPAT, the companies mention all the features present or missing in their websites. Hence, it becomes very easy to identify the accessibility issues. Moreover, the experts can even calculate the accessibility compliance percentage. They can then suggest to the companies which features they must add to their websites.
3. Customized Compliance Services
Using VPAT, the companies can understand which features are necessary to make their websites accessible. Accordingly, the accessibility service providers can offer them the most appropriate solutions. It helps to reduce compliance service time and makes the process more profitable.?
Accessible websites can increase the business conversion rates by many folds, and there are some solid reasons behind it. Let?s look at some of those.
With years of expertise, professional VPAT certification service providers offer fully customized VPAT compliance services within a short duration of time. Some benefits of outsourcing to professional VPAT services are discussed below.?
With professional VPAT service providers, the companies get Personalized suggestions on ways to improve the accessibility of their websites. Apart from improving accessibility compliance, these suggestions also help to introduce targeted accessibility features to the consumers.
Many times, the companies might require legal help to fight the charges for non-compliance with accessibility guidelines. The professional service-providing companies offer support to their clients in such cases. They help the clients to understand the case background and take remedial actions accordingly.
The accessibility guidelines keep changing regularly. So, the VPAT format also keeps updating. The professional service providers offer regular updates on the latest policies and VPAT formats to their clients. They also conduct regular audits on the website to identify the missing accessibility features. They then suggest changes to the website structure.
There are specific accessibility issues whose remediation requires technical knowledge. The professional service-providing companies have technical experts who help to identify the structural barriers to accessibility. They also suggest modifications in the site structure that help to eradicate those barriers.?
The VPAT is an essential document when it comes to web accessibility. VPAT Certification proves your compliance with the various accessibility guidelines. Failing to comply with these guidelines has serious legal consequences. So, VPAT certification protects the companies from legal and financial actions.
But, specific accessibility issues cannot be identified just through scanning. They involve technical complications and can be identified by experts only. And so, taking the help of a professional VPAT service provider is necessary. Without their expertise, the companies may fail to achieve 100% compliance solutions.?
Acadecraft is one of the leading accessibility service providers in the US. We have a professional team of accessibility experts, offering both manual and tool-based auditing services. Our accessibility tool identifies 400 issues. And then, our experts thoroughly examine the structure of the website to identify technical glitches. At Acadecraft, you get the best and complete VPAT certification service at the best possible rates.
Share