This change is due to the 2024 revisions to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that lay out new standards for the digital accessibility of websites, electronic documents, social media, multimedia, email newsletters, and software. The new revisions mandate full conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidance (WCAG) 2.1 AA-level standards by April 2027.
Luckily, there is a well-established protocol for streamlining the review of software and hardware components for accessibility purposes.
In 2001, the internationally based Information Technology Industry (ITI) Council began publishing an exhaustive accessibility questionnaire, known as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT: pronounced “vee-pat”). These VPATs are meant to provide a standardized way for vendors to disclose to customers the extent to which each of their products conforms with the WCAG standards. When a vendor fills out a VPAT, the resulting document becomes known as an Accessibility Conformance Report, or ACR.
In April 2026, the UVM Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) began working with UVM Purchasing and Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) to incorporate an accessibility review into the long-standing IT Purchasing Contract review process. OAS is using an industry-standard rubric to conduct reviews, and each review is carried out by a digital accessibility specialist in the OAS office.
OAS reviews each product to largely determine whether any accessibility barriers are likely to exist. This helps the University proactively prepare to support people with disabilities who may use each product. Additionally, this category of review is also mandated by Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 specifies that entities which receive federal funding must ensure that funding is spent on purchasing accessible digital products.
Reviews are conducted at the time of purchase or contract renewal, as well as every 24 months after that, to ensure that as vendors release new versions of their products, the accessibility conformance level remains high.
Because of the unique nature of many software packages and the myriad different needs of each department, OAS works to find ways to support departments with either moving forward with the purchase or evaluating whether a more accessible product in the marketplace can meet the same need. If a product is determined to present a high risk of accessibility barriers, OAS encourages vendors to commit to and share remediation plans, including a timeline of when they will address each accessibility shortcoming. If many barriers are anticipated but the software is still needed to ensure the successful function of University operations, OAS works with the department initiating the purchase to create an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP).
Departments can help reduce the amount of time necessary for each review by proactively asking each vendor for a copy of their most recent VPAT or ACR at the same time that they request other standard documents for purchase, such as a scope of work, and information security disclosures.
For more information, visit OAS’ VPAT and ACR Evaluations page. You can also reach out directly to OAS with any questions, by emailing access@uvm.edu, or calling the OAS front desk at (802) 656-7753.
