Accessibility Conformance Report — Complete Guide for Businesses 2026

If you've ever wondered "what is an accessibility conformance report?" — you're not alone. An Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a comprehensive document that details how a product or service meets accessibility standards. It's the formal version of a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and is essential for ADA, EAA, Section 508, and AODA compliance.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about accessibility conformance reports — from what they are and what they include to how to create one and best practices.

What is an Accessibility Conformance Report?

An Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a formal document that details how a product or service meets accessibility standards. It is the standardized format for VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) reporting, required for federal procurement and increasingly expected by enterprise customers.

An ACR typically includes:

• Product information: Name, version, description
• Applicable standards: Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA, EN 301 549
• Conformance status: Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support, Not Applicable
• Detailed notes: Explanations for each criterion
• Remediation plans: Timeline for fixing issues
• Date of assessment: When the evaluation was completed

Why Accessibility Conformance Reports Matter in 2026

Accessibility conformance reports are essential for several reasons:

1. Federal Procurement Requirements

All federal agencies require ACRs (VPATs) for ICT procurement. Without an ACR, your product cannot be considered for federal contracts.

2. Legal Protection

An ACR demonstrates due diligence and proactive compliance. It provides legal protection by documenting accessibility conformance. ADA lawsuits frequently cite lack of documentation as evidence of non-compliance.

3. Enterprise Vendor Requirements

Many enterprise customers require ACRs from their vendors. Having an ACR can differentiate your product from competitors.

4. Global Compliance

ACRs are increasingly used internationally. The EN 301 549 standard (EAA) requires conformance reporting.

Accessibility Conformance Report — Structure

A standard accessibility conformance report includes the following sections:

Section 1: Executive Summary

• Product name and version
• Overall conformance status
• Date of assessment
• Contact information

Section 2: Product Information

• Product description
• Vendor information
• Supported platforms and browsers
• Required assistive technologies

Section 3: Applicable Standards

• Section 508 (US)
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• EN 301 549 (EAA)
• AODA (Canada) — optional

Section 4: WCAG 2.1 Conformance

Detailed evaluation of each WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA criterion:

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content
• 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only
• 1.3.1 Info and Relationships
• 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
• 2.1.1 Keyboard
• 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
• 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
• 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum)
• And all other WCAG 2.1 A and AA criteria

Section 5: Conformance Status

For each criterion, the ACR indicates:

• Supports: Fully meets the criterion
• Partially Supports: Partially meets the criterion
• Does Not Support: Does not meet the criterion
• Not Applicable: Criterion does not apply

Section 6: Notes and Explanations

• Detailed notes for each criterion
• Remediation plans for partial support
• Timeline for fixing issues

Section 7: Date of Assessment

• When the evaluation was completed
• Version of the product tested
• Testing methodology used

How to Create an Accessibility Conformance Report

Step 1: Download the VPAT Template

Download the latest VPAT 2.5 template from the IT Industry Council website or use our multi-law compliance checker to generate a draft.

Step 2: Evaluate Your Product

Test your product against WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria:

• Use automated testing tools
• Conduct manual accessibility testing
• Test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• Test with keyboard-only navigation

Step 3: Document Results

For each criterion, document:

• Conformance status (Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support, Not Applicable)
• Detailed notes and explanations
• Remediation plans (if partially supports or does not support)
• Timeline for fixing issues

Step 4: Review and Update

Regularly review and update your ACR:

• After product updates
• When standards change
• When new versions are released
• At least annually

Accessibility Conformance Report — Example

========================================
ACCESSIBILITY CONFORMANCE REPORT (ACR)
VPAT Version 2.5
========================================

Product Name: Your Product Name
Version: 1.0
Date of Assessment: January 2026
Vendor: Your Company
Contact: accessibility@yourcompany.com

========================================
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
========================================
Overall Conformance Status: Partially Supports
Standards Assessed: Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA, EN 301 549

========================================
WCAG 2.1 CRITERIA - CONFORMANCE STATUS
========================================

1.1.1 Non-text Content - Level A
Status: Supports
Notes: All images have descriptive alt text.

1.3.1 Info and Relationships - Level A
Status: Partially Supports
Notes: Some heading structures need improvement.
Scheduled for Q2 2026 remediation.

2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) - Level AA
Status: Does Not Support
Notes: Touch targets below 24x24px in the navigation menu.
Remediation planned for Q1 2026.

========================================
REMEDIATION PLAN
========================================
Q1 2026: Fix touch target sizes
Q2 2026: Fix heading structure
Q3 2026: Complete WCAG 2.1 AA conformance

========================================
CONTACT INFORMATION
========================================
For questions about this ACR, contact:
accessibility@yourcompany.com
(555) 123-4567

Common ACR Mistakes to Avoid

1. Incomplete Evaluation

Issue: Not all criteria are evaluated. Leaving criteria blank or marking "Not Applicable" incorrectly.

Fix: Thoroughly evaluate all criteria. Only use "Not Applicable" when the criterion truly does not apply.

2. Overly Optimistic Status

Issue: Marking criteria as "Supports" when they only partially meet the requirement.

Fix: Be honest about limitations. Use "Partially Supports" with detailed notes.

3. Outdated ACR Version

Issue: Using VPAT 2.4 or 2.3 instead of the current VPAT 2.5.

Fix: Always use the latest VPAT version (VPAT 2.5 as of 2024).

4. Missing Notes

Issue: No notes or explanations for each criterion.

Fix: Always include detailed notes for each criterion, especially for "Partially Supports" and "Does Not Support."

5. No Remediation Plan

Issue: No plan for fixing issues.

Fix: Include remediation plans and timelines for all "Partially Supports" and "Does Not Support" criteria.

Accessibility Conformance Report Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions — Accessibility Conformance Report

Internal Links — Multi-Law Compliance Resources