Digital Learning Solutions for Education & Enterprise | Dimentics
Accessibility is no longer an optional feature for digital learning—it is a legal, ethical, and business necessity. Organizations across the United States, including corporations, universities, government agencies, and training providers, are expected to deliver learning experiences that are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
One of the most important documents used to demonstrate accessibility compliance is the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®). If your organization develops or purchases online learning solutions, understanding how to create a VPAT for eLearning content can help you meet procurement requirements, reduce legal risks, and improve learner experiences.
This guide explains everything U.S. organizations need to know about creating a VPAT for eLearning content, including best practices, testing methods, common mistakes, and why partnering with accessibility experts can simplify the process.
Table of Contents
A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) is a standardized document used to describe how well a digital product conforms to recognized accessibility standards.
Rather than being a certification, a VPAT provides buyers with detailed information about accessibility features and limitations. It serves as the foundation for creating an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), which many U.S. organizations require before purchasing software or digital learning products.
For eLearning providers, a VPAT demonstrates that your courses, LMS, assessments, multimedia, and interactive learning modules have been evaluated against accessibility standards.
Educational institutions, federal agencies, state governments, healthcare organizations, and Fortune 500 companies increasingly require accessibility documentation before purchasing training solutions.
A well-prepared VPAT helps organizations:
For many U.S. buyers, the absence of a VPAT can immediately eliminate an eLearning vendor from consideration.
A VPAT can evaluate compliance with multiple accessibility standards, including:
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the global standard for digital accessibility. Most organizations evaluate conformance at Level AA.
Areas evaluated include:
Federal agencies in the United States must procure accessible technology under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If your eLearning platform serves government organizations, Section 508 compliance is essential.
Organizations serving international clients may also prepare VPATs that address European accessibility requirements.
Creating a VPAT requires much more than completing a form. It involves detailed accessibility testing and documentation.
Clearly define what is being evaluated.
Examples include:
Every feature included in the evaluation should be documented.
Choose the appropriate VPAT edition based on your target market.
For most U.S. organizations, the VPAT covering:
is the most common option.
This is the most important part of the VPAT process.
Testing should include:
Accessibility experts manually inspect every component.
This includes:
Test with popular assistive technologies such as:
Verify that users can complete learning activities without barriers.
Automated tools help identify issues such as:
However, automated tools alone cannot identify all accessibility problems.
Evaluate:
Each VPAT criterion must receive an accurate conformance level.
Common responses include:
Each response should include detailed remarks explaining the testing results.
Very few products achieve perfect accessibility.
If limitations exist, explain:
Transparency builds credibility with procurement teams.
The completed VPAT becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report.
An ACR provides buyers with:
This report is often requested during procurement.
Organizations should follow these best practices:
Whenever possible, involve users with disabilities in usability testing.
Their feedback identifies issues that automated tools often miss.
Every major product update should trigger a VPAT review.
Accessibility changes over time as features evolve.
VPATs should be prepared by professionals familiar with:
Expert reviews significantly improve report accuracy.
Don’t evaluate only the LMS.
Review:
Many organizations unintentionally weaken their VPAT by making these mistakes:
Automated scanners typically detect only a fraction of accessibility issues.
Manual evaluation is essential.
Every VPAT should reflect the actual product.
Generic wording reduces credibility and may raise procurement concerns.
Embedded tools, plugins, and external learning resources should also be evaluated.
Accessibility issues often occur in:
These require detailed testing.
Organizations investing in accessibility documentation enjoy several advantages.
Federal and state agencies frequently require VPAT documentation before awarding contracts.
Large corporations increasingly prioritize accessible learning solutions during vendor selection.
Accessible content creates better learning experiences for everyone—not just learners with disabilities.
Accessibility compliance helps organizations minimize the risk of ADA-related complaints and litigation.
Demonstrating a commitment to inclusion enhances credibility and reflects positively on your organization.
Preparing a VPAT requires technical expertise, accessibility knowledge, and detailed documentation.
Professional accessibility teams can:
Organizations that rely on experienced accessibility consultants typically produce more accurate and procurement-ready VPAT documentation.
If your organization is looking for expert support with accessibility audits, eLearning remediation, curriculum modernization, and digital learning solutions, explore the comprehensive accessibility and eLearning services available at dimentics.com. Their team helps organizations create inclusive learning experiences while aligning with modern accessibility standards and compliance requirements.
Understanding how to create a VPAT for eLearning content is becoming increasingly important as accessibility expectations continue to grow across the United States. Whether you develop online courses, corporate training programs, higher education content, or government learning solutions, a well-prepared VPAT demonstrates your commitment to accessibility, compliance, and inclusive education.
Creating a VPAT involves much more than filling out a template—it requires comprehensive testing, detailed documentation, and ongoing maintenance as your content evolves. By following best practices, conducting thorough evaluations, and partnering with experienced accessibility professionals, organizations can confidently meet procurement requirements while delivering learning experiences that everyone can access.
Investing in accessibility today not only supports legal compliance but also strengthens your reputation, expands business opportunities, and ensures that every learner has an equal opportunity to succeed.
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