Evaluate Compliance Documentation

Vendors who contract with U-M or develop products used at U-M are expected to meet digital accessibility standards, maintain documentation about product accessibility, and prioritize emerging accessibility barriers.

Considering a new vendor product for purchase or adoption? Use this guide to assess vendor compliance.

U-M uses two industry-standard templates for accessibility compliance, the HECVAT and the VPAT.

HECVAT

The HECVAT is an industry-standard template that provides information about a vendor’s maturity in terms of accessibility and IT security. HECVAT stands for Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit.

1. Get a HECVAT version 4.x (preferred) or version 3.x. These versions include accessibility questions.
2. Review the accessibility questions and score. Determine if the vendor has a passing score.

Note: If the vendor does not have a completed HECVAT version 3 or later, provide them with the U-M Supplier Accessibility Questionnaire, which has only the accessibility questions from the HECVAT.

HECVAT Resources

• Reviewing HECVAT for Accessibility Compliance
• U-M Supplier Accessibility Questionnaire

Next Steps

Use the guidance to review the vendor HECVAT

• If the vendor has a passing HECVAT score, move on to review the VPAT.
• If the vendor does not have a passing HECVAT score, the vendor is most likely not able to deliver and maintain IT products that meet accessibility standards or provide equitable access to people with disabilities.

VPAT

The VPAT is an industry-standard template that provides information about the accessibility compliance of a specific product. VPAT stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template and is also known as ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) when completed.

1. Get a VPAT that was created or updated within the past year (as referenced in HECVAT) and is relevant to the product and version under consideration
2. Review the VPAT and determine if the vendor has a passing score

VPAT Resources

• Reviewing VPAT for Product Accessibility
• VPAT Review Template

Next Steps

Use the guidance to review the VPAT.

• If the product has a passing VPAT score, in addition to a passing HECVAT score, it is reasonable to expect the product will meet accessibility standards and provide equitable access to people with disabilities.
• If the product does not have a passing VPAT score, the product most likely does not meet accessibility standards or provide equitable access to people with disabilities, and cannot be implemented as is.

Lower risk products that pass the compliance review can usually be implemented as is.

Higher risk products that pass the compliance review usually require an accessibility review to confirm accessibility and identify barriers.