Documenting Accessibility for Harvard-Produced Technology
Harvard’s Digital Accessibility Policy applies to technology, whether purchased from a third-party vendor or sold by the University. Just as we expect products purchased from external vendors to be accessible, University-produced technology should likewise be accessible and have accompanying accessibility documentation to be shared with clients upon their request.
Requesting clients may have their own process and requirements. To better understand how a customer may approach accessibility, you can consult Harvard guidance on accessible technology procurement.
Facilitating accessibility documentation requests from clients
Many client assessments for accessibility start with a request for a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). An ACR is a standard document that details the compliance of a product against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The VPAT and ACR reference the same document. A VPAT is the blank template, while an ACR is what the document is called once completed. Often the terms are used interchangeably. Additionally, some higher education clients may additionally request a Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT), which includes accessibility, privacy, and security documentation.
If a client requests an ACR, you should confirm which particular product or platform they’re requesting documentation for. Harvard content could be located on a third-party platform, and in that case it may be the platform’s ACR the requestor is seeking.
There are two approaches to produce an ACR:
Buy
DAS has established contractual agreements with vendors that can perform the accessibility testing necessary to complete an ACR for your product. This makes it easier for you to get started quickly with reputable providers. Hiring a vendor works well as a starting point for groups without a robust accessibility testing process or if documentation is needed promptly.
Build
If you have a mature accessibility testing process, you may choose to produce your own ACR. The Information Technology Information Council (ITIC) which produces the VPAT has instructions on how to properly complete the template. Digital Accessibility Services (DAS) has created a guide to interpreting a VPAT that can help ensure you are completing the VPAT properly and thoroughly.
For questions and to learn more about creating and sharing accessibility documentation, please reach out to DAS at digitalaccessibility@harvard.edu.
More Procurement Resources
Guidance from DAS
Accessible Technology Procurement
If you are contracting with a vendor, tool, or service outside Harvard for a technology product, we've provided guidance on evaluating a potential vendor, signing the Accessibility Rider, building a roadmap, and renewing the contract.
How to Interpret a VPAT
Created by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC), the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document that explains how a product conforms to accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)...