Section 508 Compliance
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. Updated in 2017 to incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
29 U.S.C. § 794d
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 508 Refresh (2017): Now requires WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA conformance
Who must comply?
Section 508 applies to federal agencies and organizations that work with them
Federal Agencies
All federal government agencies and departments
- Executive branch agencies
- Independent regulatory agencies
- Government-sponsored enterprises
- The U.S. Postal Service
Federal Contractors
Companies that do business with the federal government
- IT service providers
- Software developers
- Hardware manufacturers
- Consulting firms
Federal Grantees
Organizations receiving federal funding
- Universities and colleges
- State and local governments
- Non-profit organizations
- Research institutions
Covered ICT
Information and Communication Technology covered by Section 508
Software & Applications
- Web applications and websites
- Mobile applications
- Desktop software
- Operating systems
- Authoring tools
Hardware
- Computers and laptops
- Kiosks and self-service machines
- Telecommunications equipment
- Video and imaging devices
- Printers and copiers
Electronic Content
- Documents (PDF, Word, Excel)
- Multimedia content
- Educational materials
- Online forms
- Social media content
Support Services
- Help desks and support documentation
- Training materials
- User guides and manuals
- Technical support
- Customer service
WCAG 2.0 requirements
Section 508 incorporates WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA success criteria
Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
Robust
Functional Performance Criteria
In addition to WCAG, Section 508 includes functional requirements
Without Vision
ICT must be usable by people who are blind
With Limited Vision
ICT must be usable by people with low vision
Without Color Perception
ICT must be usable by people who are color blind
Without Hearing
ICT must be usable by people who are deaf
With Limited Manipulation
ICT must be usable with limited fine motor control
With Limited Cognition
ICT must be usable by people with cognitive disabilities
Non-compliance consequences
Contract Loss
Non-compliant vendors may lose federal contracts or be disqualified from bidding
Legal Action
Individuals can file complaints with federal agencies or pursue legal action
Remediation Costs
Agencies must fix accessibility issues, often at significant expense
Reputation Damage
Public disclosure of accessibility failures can harm an organization's reputation
Exemptions & exceptions
- National security systems
- Incidental ICT (e.g., HVAC systems)
- ICT maintained by contractors for internal use only
- Back-office equipment not used by federal employees or the public
- Legacy systems under certain conditions
Note: Exemptions must be documented and may still require alternative accessibility measures.
VPAT & ACR
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is used to document Section 508 conformance. Federal agencies require VPATs when procuring ICT.
- Documents accessibility conformance claims
- Required for federal procurement
- Updated VPAT 2.4 format available
VPAT 2.4 Editions
- WCAG Edition
For WCAG 2.x conformance
- 508 Edition
For U.S. Section 508
- EU Edition
For EN 301 549
- INT Edition
Combined international
Achieve Section 508 compliance
Compliable helps you achieve Section 508 compliance automatically with AI-powered accessibility solutions that meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.