VPAT accessibility audit
We check your product (website or app) for accessibility against recognized standards — WCAG 2.1/2.2, Section 508, EN 301 549 — and help prepare a VPAT: the document in which you, as the vendor, describe how well the product conforms. It is often requested in sales to the public sector and large companies, especially in the US and EU. Honestly upfront: a VPAT is your self-declaration based on the assessment, not a certificate and not a legal guarantee of protection from lawsuits; the legal assessment is given by a lawyer, while we do the technical review and the document.
VPAT accessibility audit — overview
A VPAT accessibility audit is a one-time expert review of a product's accessibility (a website or app) against WCAG 2.1/2.2 (levels A/AA), Section 508 (US) and EN 301 549 (EU), plus help preparing a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) — the document with which a vendor describes conformance. What it includes: a review of a representative sample of key screens and scenarios (the sample size is agreed in advance) — keyboard navigation, screen-reader operation, contrast and zoom, alternative text, headings and structure, forms and errors, focus, ARIA, multimedia; a prioritized list of non-conformities mapped to the standard's criteria; a filled-in VPAT using a current template. Honestly and importantly about the boundaries: a VPAT is a vendor's self-declaration based on the assessment, NOT a certification, NOT a conformance mark and NOT a legal guarantee that you will face no accessibility claims or lawsuits (for example, under the ADA in the US). We are not lawyers: the technical review and the document are our part, while the legal qualification and the risks for your situation are determined by a lawyer. Honestly about the method: automated checks find only part of the problems (by various estimates the smaller part) — real accessibility is tested by hand and with assistive technologies (a screen reader, keyboard-only), and part of the assessment is expert judgment against the criteria, not a "pass/fail" at the press of a button. It is a snapshot in time: when the product changes, the conformance and the VPAT need updating, and updating after changes is a separate request. And it is an assessment with a document, not code fixing: remediating what is found (markup, ARIA, contrast) is separate work, by us or by your team. An important boundary: this is an accessibility audit and a VPAT, not a general UX audit and not a legal compliance audit (152-FZ/GDPR etc. — separate). If you do not need a formal declaration but a quick check of "how bad our accessibility is", tell us — we will tailor the scope and format, possibly without a full VPAT. Picture this: instead of "we are probably accessible" you get a list showing that checkout cannot be completed with a keyboard, half the images have no alt text, contrast is below the norm, and a screen reader does not read form errors — mapped to WCAG criteria, plus a ready VPAT for your clients. The base price starts from 22,000 ₽; it depends on the size of the product and the number of scenarios (this is a manual review with assistive technologies plus document preparation, so it costs more than a regular UX audit).
Problems we solve
- A client (public sector, large company, US/EU market) requires a VPAT and there is none.
- You do not know how well the product conforms to WCAG / Section 508 / EN 301 549.
- You fear accessibility claims and lawsuits, especially in Western markets.
- You have an automated accessibility report but it is unclear what it really means.
What's included in the VPAT accessibility audit service
- A review against WCAG 2.1/2.2 (A/AA), Section 508, EN 301 549
- Keyboard navigation and screen-reader operation
- Contrast, zoom, alternative text
- Headings and structure, forms and errors, focus, ARIA, multimedia
- A review on a representative sample of screens and scenarios
- A prioritized list of non-conformities mapped to the criteria
- A filled-in VPAT using a current template
- A review of the results and what to do next
What you get
- A clear picture of how well the product conforms to accessibility standards
- Priorities: which non-conformities to remediate first
- A ready VPAT you can show to clients
- Understanding the boundary: what is technical and what is a question for a lawyer
How the work goes: steps
- We clarify the product, target standards and markets, key scenarios and collect access
- We test accessibility by hand and with assistive technologies on a sample of screens
- We prepare the non-conformity list and the VPAT and review the results with you
Why PDV Expert
- Fixed price and timeline — no surprises on the invoice.
- Report and recommendations in plain language — clear without a technical background.
- In touch at every step and answering questions about the result.
FAQ
Will a VPAT protect us from accessibility lawsuits?
No. A VPAT is your self-declaration based on the assessment, not a certificate and not a legal guarantee. It shows clients your level of conformance and reduces some risk, but it does not provide protection from claims and lawsuits (for example, under the ADA). We are not lawyers — the legal assessment for your situation is given by a lawyer.
Is an automated accessibility check enough?
No. Automated tools find only part of the problems. Real accessibility is tested by hand and with assistive technologies (a screen reader, keyboard-only navigation), and part of the assessment is expert judgment against the standard's criteria. So we do not rely on an automated report alone.
Will you fix the problems found?
This is an audit and VPAT preparation: the assessment, the non-conformity list and the document. Remediation (markup, ARIA, contrast, alternative text) is separate work, by us or by your team.
About the provider
The «VPAT accessibility audit» service is provided by PDV Expert — a team specialising in «Diagnostics & monitoring». We work under contract and deliver a written report with recommendations.