Category: Compliance and Reporting

Partially Supports

Simply put

"Partially Supports" is a term used in accessibility conformance reporting to indicate that a product or feature meets some, but not all, of a given requirement. In practice, it signals that certain functionality works for people using assistive technology, while other parts do not, so gaps remain that could affect some users.

Formal definition

"Partially Supports" is a conformance value commonly used in Accessibility Conformance Reports (such as those following the VPAT format) to indicate that a product meets some but not all requirements of a specified criterion, or meets the criterion in some contexts but not others. It is distinct from values such as "Supports" and "Does Not Support," and it typically requires accompanying remarks that identify which functionality conforms and which does not. Because this value reflects vendor or evaluator self-assessment against a standard (for example, WCAG success criteria), it does not by itself establish full conformance, usability for all users, or legal compliance; the specific evaluation methodology, including whether manual and assistive technology testing was performed, should be reviewed.

Why it matters

"Partially Supports" is one of the most consequential values in an Accessibility Conformance Report because it communicates that a requirement is met only in part, leaving gaps that can affect some users of assistive technology. When a report marks a criterion as "Partially Supports" rather than "Supports" or "Does Not Support," the accompanying remarks carry most of the meaning: they should identify which functionality conforms and which does not. A report that uses this value without clear, specific remarks offers little actionable information and can obscure barriers that matter to real users.

For procurement teams, compliance officers, and legal counsel, the term is easy to misread as "good enough." It is not a statement of full conformance, and it does not by itself establish usability for all users or legal compliance. Because the value reflects a vendor or evaluator self-assessment against a standard such as WCAG success criteria, its reliability depends on the underlying methodology, including whether manual and assistive technology testing was performed rather than automated checks alone. Treating a "Partially Supports" rating as reassurance, without reading the remarks and asking about testing methods, can lead organizations to acquire or deploy products with unresolved accessibility gaps. This entry is informational and not legal advice; consult qualified counsel and current agency guidance for compliance determinations.

Who it's relevant to

Procurement and Vendor Management Teams

Teams evaluating products against accessibility requirements rely on conformance values to compare offerings. A "Partially Supports" rating should prompt questions about which functionality is affected, the severity of the gap, and the evaluator's testing methodology, rather than being accepted as adequate on its face.

Accessibility Engineers and QA Testers

Practitioners use the remarks tied to a "Partially Supports" value to locate and reproduce specific barriers. Because this value indicates partial coverage, it often flags exactly where manual and assistive technology testing is needed to characterize the remaining gaps.

Compliance Officers and Legal Counsel

Those assessing organizational risk should understand that "Partially Supports" does not establish full conformance or legal compliance. It signals known gaps that may warrant remediation planning. Determinations about legal exposure should involve qualified counsel and current agency guidance.

Product Vendors and Evaluators

Vendors and evaluators completing conformance reports are responsible for applying the value accurately and documenting supporting remarks that distinguish conforming from non-conforming functionality, along with the methodology used, so that recipients can interpret the rating meaningfully.

Inside Partially Supports

Conformance Level Terminology

"Partially Supports" is one of the conformance level values used in a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and its underlying Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). It indicates that some functionality of a product meets a given accessibility criterion, but not all.

Applicable Standards Context

The term is applied against specific success criteria drawn from standards such as WCAG (2.0, 2.1, or 2.2 at the A, AA, or AAA levels) or the Revised Section 508 standards, depending on which VPAT edition is being used. The conformance value is reported per criterion.

Remarks and Explanations

A "Partially Supports" rating is generally expected to be accompanied by a remarks field describing which aspects conform, which do not, and any known limitations or workarounds, so that readers can assess the practical impact.

Relationship to Other Rating Values

"Partially Supports" sits between "Supports" (functionality meets the criterion) and "Does Not Support" (the majority of functionality does not meet the criterion), and is distinct from "Not Applicable" and "Not Evaluated."

Common questions

Answers to the questions practitioners most commonly ask about Partially Supports.

Does "Partially Supports" mean the product basically works and only needs minor fixes?

Not necessarily. "Partially Supports" indicates that some functionality does not meet the criterion, but the rating itself says nothing about the severity or number of the gaps. A criterion can be rated "Partially Supports" because of a single edge case or because of significant barriers that affect core tasks. The label is a starting point for review, not a measure of how usable the product is. To understand the actual impact, you should read the accompanying remarks and, where possible, conduct manual and assistive technology testing rather than relying on the term alone.

If a criterion is marked "Partially Supports," does that mean the product is not legally compliant?

The conformance terms used in accessibility documentation describe how a product measures against a technical standard such as WCAG; they are not legal determinations. A rating of "Partially Supports" reflects a technical assessment against specific success criteria and does not by itself establish or rule out compliance with the ADA, Section 508, or other authorities. Legal obligations depend on the applicable law, jurisdiction, and evolving case law and regulation. This is general information, not legal advice, and questions about legal exposure should be directed to qualified legal counsel.

How should "Partially Supports" be documented in a conformance report?

When a criterion is rated "Partially Supports," the accompanying remarks should describe what does and does not conform, ideally identifying the specific functionality or components affected. Clear, specific remarks help readers understand the scope of the gap and are generally more useful than the rating label on its own. Vague notes make it difficult for reviewers to assess impact or plan remediation.

How do I decide between "Partially Supports" and "Does Not Support" for a given criterion?

The distinction generally turns on whether some functionality meets the criterion. "Partially Supports" applies when parts of the functionality conform while other parts do not, whereas "Does Not Support" applies when the majority of functionality does not meet the criterion. Because reasonable evaluators can differ at the margins, it is important to document the reasoning and the specific observations that led to the chosen rating.

Can automated testing alone determine whether a criterion should be rated "Partially Supports"?

No. Automated tools detect only a portion of potential accessibility issues and cannot fully evaluate many success criteria that depend on context, meaning, or interaction. Accurately assigning a rating such as "Partially Supports" generally requires manual review and testing with assistive technologies in addition to any automated checks.

How should a "Partially Supports" rating inform remediation planning?

A "Partially Supports" rating flags a criterion that has both conforming and non-conforming aspects, so remediation planning should focus on the documented gaps rather than the label itself. Reviewing the remarks to understand which functionality is affected, and prioritizing based on the impact to users completing key tasks, is generally more effective than treating all partially supporting criteria as equally urgent.

Common misconceptions

A "Partially Supports" rating means the product is legally compliant or close enough to compliance.

A VPAT is a self-disclosure document describing the vendor's assessment of conformance to technical criteria. It is not a determination of legal compliance under the ADA, Section 508, or any other authority, and a "Partially Supports" value indicates identified gaps rather than full conformance. Legal obligations should be evaluated with qualified counsel.

"Partially Supports" reflects a precise, standardized percentage of conformance.

The term does not correspond to a fixed numeric threshold. It signals that some but not all functionality meets the criterion, and its meaning depends heavily on the accompanying remarks. Without those explanations, the rating alone conveys limited actionable detail.

A rating of "Partially Supports" can be reliably determined through automated testing alone.

Automated tools detect only a portion of accessibility issues. Accurately assigning conformance values, including "Partially Supports," generally requires manual review and testing with assistive technologies to capture problems automation cannot surface.

Best practices

Require that every "Partially Supports" entry include specific remarks identifying which functionality conforms, which does not, and any known workarounds, rather than accepting the rating value in isolation.

Confirm which standard and version the VPAT addresses (for example, WCAG 2.1 AA or the Revised Section 508 standards) so that each "Partially Supports" rating is interpreted against the correct criteria.

Corroborate vendor-reported ratings with your own manual and assistive technology testing, since automated checks alone cannot validate a "Partially Supports" determination.

Assess the real-world user impact of each partially supported criterion by considering how the identified gaps affect people relying on assistive technologies, not just whether a box is checked.

Treat the VPAT as one input into procurement or compliance decisions, and consult qualified legal counsel regarding obligations under the applicable authority, as conformance ratings do not establish legal compliance.

Ask vendors for remediation timelines or roadmaps for criteria marked "Partially Supports," and re-evaluate as products and applicable standards evolve.