Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR): A written report for information and communication technology (ICT) items based on the product’s Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT™). To be considered for award, the ACR must be complete and submitted according to the instructions.
ALT text refers to the invisible description of web-based images that are read aloud to users on a screen reader. Adding ALT text allows authors to include images, but still, provide the content in an alternative text-based format.
Assistive Technology (AT): Any item, piece of equipment, or system (whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized), that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Closed captions: Optional alternative text in a video or multimedia presentation; closed captions can be displayed and hidden by the user.
Transcript: The conversion of the spoken language of an audio file into a text format.
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT™): A document template established by the Information Technology Industry (ITI) Council which evaluates how accessible a particular product is, according to Section 508 Standards. Vendors use this template to produce a self-disclosing document, called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), which details each aspect of the Section 508 requirements and how the product supports each criteria. ACRs, based on VPATs, are used by buyers to understand how accessible a product is, and any potential deficiencies.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) under their Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). The revised Section 508 standards harmonize with WCAG version 2.0 A & AA.