SECTION 508

Section 508

Section 508 is a federal U.S. law that requires all electronic and information technology (EIT) developed, maintained, procured, or used by federal agencies to be accessible to people with disabilities. It ensures that individuals with disabilities—whether they are federal employees or members of the public—have equal access to digital content, systems, and services.

Originally enacted as part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 was significantly refreshed in 2017 to align with modern web standards and international guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

Who Must Comply?

Section 508 applies to:

• Federal agencies

• Contractors and vendors providing digital content or platforms to federal agencies

• Institutions and organizations receiving federal funding (in certain cases)

Although private companies not working with the federal government are not legally required to follow Section 508, many choose to align with its standards to improve inclusivity and reduce legal risk.

What Does Section 508 Cover?

The Section 508 standards apply to a wide range of digital assets and technologies, including:

• Websites and web applications

• Documents (PDFs, Word files, PowerPoint presentations)

• Software and operating systems

• Multimedia (videos, audio, captioning, and transcripts)

• Hardware (kiosks, ATMs, telecommunications equipment)

All of these must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities, including those using assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, speech recognition, or alternative input devices.

Alignment with WCAG

The 2017 refresh of Section 508 adopted the WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria as the baseline for web accessibility. This includes requirements such as:

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., alt text for images)

• Ensuring content is navigable via keyboard

• Providing captions and transcripts for multimedia

• Maintaining sufficient contrast between text and background

• Designing content that is responsive and adaptable to different devices and screen sizes

Testing and Compliance

Compliance with Section 508 involves a combination of automated testing, manual audits, and user testing with assistive technologies. Many federal agencies use tools like:

• Accessibility checkers (e.g., axe, WAVE, ANDI)

• PDF accessibility tools (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro)

• Screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)

Section 508 also requires agencies to publish Accessibility Statements and provide alternative formats or support when digital content cannot be made fully accessible.

Why It Matters

Section 508 ensures that digital inclusion is not optional—it’s a legal and ethical obligation. Accessible technology improves usability for everyone, increases reach, and supports equity in employment, communication, education, and government services.

By complying with Section 508, organizations help remove barriers and create an inclusive digital environment for over 61 million Americans with disabilities.