Why SubmittableSubmittable for everyone
We believe Submittable should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. To ensure you can run a truly inclusive program, Submittable is committed to designing a platform that supports each of your applicants.
Accessibility commitment & standards
We are constantly working to improve the Submittable platform so that it can be used by everyone.
Submittable attained a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (or VPAT), affirming that our platform is accessible to a wide range of submitters with disabilities.
Submittable’s VPAT follows industry standards outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. WCAG is maintained by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most common accessibility-related questions we receive.
A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a document that states Submittable’s conformance to accessibility requirements set by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Submittable’s VPAT follows industry standards outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, which were included in recent updates to Section 508. WCAG is maintained by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
It’s important to be aware that a VPAT is an assessment of conformance to accessibility best practices, and can be used to help potential buyers make informed decisions before purchasing a product. Just because an organization has a VPAT does not mean that it is an accessible software. When vetting a potential software, hardware, electronic or piece of documentation, be sure to ask for the results of their most recent VPAT.
Submittable’s VPAT does affirm that the platform is accessible to submitters with a wide range of disabilities. For more information about our VPAT results, contact us.
Submittable completes an annual VPAT audit, through third party Deque, called the Accessibility Conformance Report. Through a combination of automated and manual evaluations, this assessment reviews the submit process and submitter side of the platform to ensure that the Submittable platform is successfully meeting compliance goals. Deque’s team of experts help to identify any accessibility barriers, and provide guidance on how Submittable’s development team can address or remove these issues.
Accessibility is a key priority through the research and development process of all submitter-facing features on the platform, and Deque’s annual audit supports our dedication to complete submitter compliance.
We believe that building an accessible product makes for a better product overall, and want all users, regardless of ability, to be able to use Submittable.
It’s also the law. An amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 required Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others.
Because Submittable is used by many organizations that receive federal funding, and seeks to be of service to similar organizations in the future, improved accessibility is a critical factor to many customers.
Our VPAT verifies that we are accessible to a wide range of submitters with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these.
Submittable pages and forms are configured to be navigated using keyboard commands associated with a wide variety of browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer) and screen reader applications. Site pages and public-facing forms are built with ARIA labels, and the default settings for text, buttons, and hyperlinks follow WCAG guidelines for color contrast.
Current Submittable customers can ensure their application and submission forms are accessible by following this help article. Both current and prospective customers can learn more about Submittable’s best practices with accessibility and usability in this blog.
