What is Accessibility Conformance Reporting?

Accessibility Conformance Reporting (ACR) is the activity of documenting the extent to which information and communications technology (ICT) conforms to technical standards for accessibility. For help Producing an ACR, submit an Accessibility Conformance Report Request.

These internationally recognized technical standards include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.0 . WCAG 2.0 is now also an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard (ISO/IEC 40500:2012).

In the United States of America, WCAG 2.0 is aligned with the refresh of Section 508, an amendment of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 , and Section 255 amendment of the Communications Act of 1934 , which went into effect in 2018.

The European Union legal requirements for meeting accessibility guidelines are based on meeting the expanded requirements included in WCAG 2.1 as outlined in the EN 301-549 “Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services”, published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

Accessibility Conformance Reporting must be completed in a standard format. This format is provided with a set of Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) published by the Information Technology Industry Council.

ACRs should only be completed after products have been evaluated for conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Accessibility Evaluations can be completed by third party vendors, product development, Quality Assurance staff, or the Pearson Accessibility Quality Assurance team.

For assistance completing an Accessibility Evaluation submit an Accessibility Evaluation Request.

How is the ACR Used?

A completed Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) may be a requirement when Pearson bids on new business opportunities. Some businesses and organizations that receive federal funding are legally obligated to offer accessible information and communications technology (ICT), including accessible digital content.

Our clients may, at any time, ask for an updated ACR for the current release of any piece of information and communications technology that is a part of the education or assessment delivery solution provided by Pearson. This includes technology that is developed and maintained by Pearson, as well as technology that is developed by a third-party vendor but is leased and provided as a part of the Pearson solution. In these cases, Pearson would obtain the ACR from the third-party vendor.

Clients, Pearson Vendors, and RFPs may refer to accessibility documentation as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) rather than an ACR. Prior to the 2018 refresh of Section 508, that is the terminology that was used. VPATs are still part of the process for gathering information on conformance to accessibility guidelines, but a completed VPAT is now referred to as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).