Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)

What is an accessibility conformance report?

An Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a formal document that records the results of a technical evaluation regarding how well a digital product or service aligns with accessibility standards. Most ACRs are created by completing a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®). The report provides transparency for buyers, particularly in government and enterprise procurement, by detailing the specific ways a product supports criteria within standards like WCAG 2.1/2.2, Section 508, or EN 301 549.

ACR vs. VPAT: Understanding the difference

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinct technical difference that is important for documentation accuracy.

VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template): This is the blank template provided by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). It is the tool used to conduct the evaluation.
ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report): This is the completed report. Once the VPAT has been filled out with the findings of an accessibility audit, it becomes the ACR.

Key components of an ACR

A high-quality Accessibility Conformance Report typically includes several standardized sections to help procurement officers evaluate the software:

Product metadata: The specific name, version, and description of the product evaluated.
Evaluation methods: A description of the testing process, including the use of automated tools, manual expert review, and testing with assistive technologies (like NVDA or JAWS).
Applicable standards: A list of the guidelines used for the assessment (e.g., WCAG 2.2 Level AA).
The conformance table: The core of the document, which lists each success criterion alongside a "conformance level."

Standard conformance levels

Within an ACR, each technical requirement is assigned a specific status. These labels do not "guarantee" compliance but rather describe the product's current state:

Conformance level	Meaning
Supports	The functionality of the product has at least one method that facilitates the requirement without known defects.
Partially supports	Some functionality of the product does not align with the criterion.
Does not support	The majority of the product functionality does not meet the requirement.
Not applicable	The requirement is not relevant to the product (e.g., a "Video" requirement for a text-only tool).

Why organizations require an ACR

The primary role of an ACR is to support informed procurement. Because many institutions have legal obligations to purchase accessible technology, they use these reports to compare vendors.

Public sector (Section 508): In the U.S., federal agencies are generally required to obtain an ACR before purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
European Accessibility Act (EAA): As European regulations tighten, more private-sector buyers are requesting ACRs to verify that their vendors align with EN 301 549.
Risk management: An accurate ACR demonstrates transparency. Even if a product "partially supports" a standard, being honest about barriers is often viewed more favorably than providing no documentation at all.

Using tools to facilitate the ACR process

Generating an accurate report requires a deep technical understanding of WCAG criteria. Many organizations use specialized A11Y software to simplify the reporting lifecycle.

Rather than a one-time "pass/fail" certificate, accessibility is an ongoing effort. Clym’s accessibility tools can assist teams in this process by providing the automated scans and remediation guidance necessary to populate an ACR with accurate, data-driven findings. This allows teams to maintain their documentation as their product evolves.

Frequently asked questions

Technically, no. The VPAT is the empty form, and the ACR is the finished report. However, in most business conversations, when someone asks for "your VPAT," they are actually asking for your completed Accessibility Conformance Report.

The vendor or developer of the product is responsible for providing the report. While some companies complete them internally, many hire third-party accessibility experts to conduct an independent audit to ensure the ACR is objective and accurate.

An ACR is tied to a specific version of a product. If you release a major update or a new version of your software, you should conduct a new evaluation and issue an updated ACR to reflect the current state of the product.

Adam Safar

Head of Digital Marketing

Adam is the Head of Digital Marketing at Clym, where he leverages his diverse expertise in marketing to support businesses with their compliance needs and drive awareness about data privacy and web accessibility. As one of the company’s original team members, Adam has been instrumental in shaping its journey from the very beginning. When he’s not diving into marketing strategies, Adam can be found cheering on his favorite sports teams or enjoying fishing.

Find out more about Adam