Request a VPAT

If a department or area offers digital content in the form of a website, web app, online form, digital document, or even internal platform as a part of a program, service, or activity of SUNY Broome, that department is required to go through the EIT Procurement process.

This requires obtaining a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) from the vendor to ensure the product is ADA compliant with the most current WCAG guidelines, WCAG 2.2 AA.

For help reaching out to vendors to acquire the VPAT, please follow the steps below:

Requesting a VPAT from Vendors

Sample email: Requesting a VPAT from a vendor

Dear (vendor contact name),SUNY Broome is committed to creating a culture of access for an inclusive learning and working environment that ensures all campus information resources and technologies are accessible to persons with disabilities. We are therefore required to purchase the most accessible products and services.

The first step of this process is to request a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT); a comprehensive guide for your technology team to help understand the various criteria within the template(s), along with the criteria’s application to ADA Title II, Section 508 and WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Please send me your VPAT so that we may begin our review process.

If you have not created a VPAT for this product, you can find more information on VPATs as well as a template here: www.section508.gov/sell/vpat.

Thank you and please contact me if you have further questions,
(campus requestor name and contact information)

Sample email: Requesting documentation if a vendor doesn’t have a VPAT

Dear (vendor contact name),Thank you for checking on the VPAT availability for this product.

In the absence of a VPAT, can you provide us with any information regarding the accessibility of the product? For example, what are known supports for accessibility criteria? What are known accessibility gaps of the product and how are those addressed? Do you have clients who require accessibility? If so, can you provide a reference for someone who can speak with us about the accessibility of your product? What experiences does your team have coding for accessibilities? What standards are used (e.g. WCAGs)? Do you do testing with users with disabilities? Does your company have a roadmap for accessibility going forward? Have you tested mobile apps with accessibility in mind? Would your company indemnify the college against legal action related to accessibility?

Is there a plan to create a VPAT for this product? We currently request and review VPATs at purchase and renewal. For purchases to move forward, a VPAT will be requested at the next purchase/renewal period. Information on creating VPATs, as well as a template, may be found here: www.section508.gov/sell/vpat.

Thank you for your assistance,
(campus requestor name and contact information)