Accessible to Everyone, Everywhere

VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a standardized document that describes how information technology products conform to accessibility standards, particularly Section 508 requirements. We conduct third-party VPAT assessments to independently evaluate and verify that our platform meets accessibility guidelines. This assessment helps ensure our software is usable by individuals with disabilities and complies with federal accessibility requirements.

WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that define how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines provide specific criteria for creating websites and applications that work with assistive technologies like screen readers and are usable by people with various abilities. We integrate WCAG 2.2 standards directly into our Software Development Life Cycle to ensure accessibility is built into our platform from the ground up.

WCAG Level A and Level AA represent different degrees of web accessibility compliance. Level A is the most basic, ensuring minimal accessibility features like keyboard navigation and text alternatives for images. Level AA builds on this by addressing more common barriers, such as requiring sufficient color contrast, scalable text, and consistent navigation, making content accessible to a broader range of users with visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities. Neighborly Software maintains WCAG 2.2. Level AA standards.

Section 508 requirements are federal accessibility standards that ensure information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies like screen readers. These requirements mandate that government agencies and their contractors provide equal access to digital content and functionality.

Accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can effectively use our platform, creating an inclusive experience for all users regardless of their abilities. It's not only the right thing to do, but it's also legally required for government-funded programs to comply with Section 508 and other accessibility standards. By prioritizing accessibility, we help our government partners serve their entire communities and avoid compliance risks.