What Supports, Partially Supports and Does Not Support mean in a VPAT
The five conformance levels a vendor can use in a VPAT, what each one really tells you, and what to ask the vendor when you see them.
Every row of a VPAT carries one of five terms. They look simple, but each has a precise meaning set by the organization that publishes the template, and vendors do not always use them carefully.
The five terms at a glance
| Term | What the template says it means | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Supports | At least one way of using the feature meets the requirement, with no known defects | Met, as far as the vendor reports. Still read the remarks |
| Partially Supports | Some of the product's functionality does not meet the requirement | A known gap. Ask where, and when it will be fixed |
| Does Not Support | Most of the product's functionality does not meet the requirement | A serious gap. Decide whether you can accept it |
| Not Applicable | The requirement is not relevant to the product | Fine if the reason is obvious or explained. Question it otherwise |
| Not Evaluated | The product was not tested against the requirement | You know nothing. Only acceptable for Level AAA |
Supports
The vendor is saying the requirement is met. Note the wording: at least one method meets it. A product can “support” keyboard access while one menu still needs a mouse, if the same task can be done another way.
Always read the remarks beside it. If they describe an exception, a limitation or something planned for a later release, treat the row as a partial gap whatever the label says.
Partially Supports
Part of the product fails the requirement. This is the most common honest answer, and the least informative one, because it covers everything from one unlabeled button to half the application.
Ask the vendor three questions:
- Which screens or features are affected?
- Who is affected, and what can they not do?
- What is the date for the fix?
Does Not Support
Most of the product fails the requirement. For a Level A requirement, such as captions on video or keyboard access, this means some people cannot use the product at all.
It does not have to end the purchase. It does mean you need a firm fix date in writing, and a plan for how affected people will be served in the meantime.
Not Applicable
The requirement does not apply to this product. A calculator with no video can fairly mark the captioning requirements Not Applicable.
Be suspicious when it appears without explanation, or on a requirement that plainly does apply. A learning platform that hosts lecture recordings cannot say captions are not applicable.
Not Evaluated
The vendor did not test this requirement. Under the template’s own rules this term may only be used for Level AAA requirements, which few buyers require.
If you see it on a Level A or AA row, the report is incomplete. Ask the vendor to test and report on it.
Older terms you may still see
Reports written on older versions of the template use different wording:
- Supports with Exceptions is the old name for Partially Supports.
- Supports through Equivalent Facilitation means the requirement is met in a different way from the one described.
- Supports when combined with Compatible AT means it works only with particular assistive technology.
These terms are a sign the report is several years old. Ask for a current one.
How to weigh them
The label matters less than the level of the requirement it sits on:
- Does Not Support on Level A: the most serious. Someone is locked out.
- Partially Supports on Level A, or Does Not Support on Level AA: a real barrier for some users.
- Partially Supports on Level AA: worth fixing, lower urgency.
Whatever the label, a VPAT records what the vendor claims. Nobody independent has checked it unless the report says so.
Sources
This guide is written in our own words. The facts in it come from these primary sources, which are the place to check anything that matters to you.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Updated .