Accessibility Conformance Reports

What is an Accessibility Conformance Report?

Microsoft Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) document the degree of conformance to global accessibility standards of products, services, and accessibility features. Microsoft uses the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), a commonly used template for creating ACRs developed by the Information and Technology Industry Council, for most new reports. Exceptions in support identified during the assessment process are noted and explanatory remarks are provided in the reports.

Which accessibility standards are used to assess products and services?

1. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally adopted technical standards for making web content accessible. Each guideline has testable success criteria. Microsoft assesses products and services against WCAG levels A and AA criteria. The WCAG are developed and maintained by the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C), an international organization for the development of web standards.
2. US Section 508 guidelines were developed by the US Access Board for use by federal agencies in implementing Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act. Federal agencies use the Section 508 guidelines to develop, procure, maintain, and use accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The guidelines contain scoping and technical considerations to facilitate accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
3. ETSI EN 301 549 is a European-developed accessibility standard for ICT products and services developed by the European Standards Organizations CEN (European Committee for Standardization), CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). The standard contains accessibility criteria for ICT products and services and incorporates the WCAG standards for web accessibility. The standard was originally developed for purposes of public procurement in the European Union and is also referenced by jurisdictions outside of Europe.
   
   

How does Microsoft evaluate the accessibility of its products and services?

Microsoft evaluates products and services using the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Tester program, Version 5, which creates a common testing approach for determining conformance to Section 508. Microsoft’s methodology also assesses products and services against W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and ETSI EN 301 549. Along with Trusted Tester, our evaluation is commonly supported by automated testing; manual testing; testing with assistive technology; and functional testing by individuals with disabilities.

Where do I find which version of the standards Microsoft has used to evaluate the product or service?

In newer reports based on version 2.4 of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), the standards version is listed in the Applicable Standards/Guidelines section.

In older reports, the standards version is listed in the title line of WCAG reports and Section 1 Scope of EN 301 549 reports.