The Accessibility Conformance Report (also known as the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template or VPAT®) is a standard form for vendors to use to document how a given product provides accessibility support for persons with disabilities according to the Section 508 federal guidelines for accessibility. The VPAT template was designed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC).
CSU Monterey Bay is required by CSU policy (see CSU Executive Order 926) and state law to ensure that all information technology products procured for use by CSUMB students and employees are compliant with Section 508 guidelines. Our campus wants to partner with vendors that can demonstrate a good-faith effort in evaluating and building access into the product(s) they deliver to us, and the VPAT helps to document that good-faith effort. Vendors are required to prepare and submit the VPAT prior to entering into any agreement with the University.
Each of the California State University (CSU) system's 23 campuses is required by state law and CSU policy to procure technology which is accessible and usable by all, including students and employees with disabilities. The VPAT is a standard way to document compliance with accessibility requirement for IT purchases.
The VPAT is reviewed by the CSUMB Accessibility Technology Initiative (ATI) Committee as part of the IT Contract Approval process.
If you are not able to acquire a VPAT from your vendor, it is the responsibility of your department to complete an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP), which you will find listed under Resources below, as well as attached to this article.
Resources:
CSU Accessible Technology Initiative:
https://ati.calstate.edu/
Accessibility Conformance Template (AKA - VPAT v 2.3 (12/2018) detail and form links:
https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat
Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP):
Work with CAT staff to develop the EEAAP