Section 508 requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding to make their websites, software, electronic documents, and digital content accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes people with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments.

The law is enforced by the U.S. Access Board, which develops and maintains the standards that must be met to achieve compliance. The standards align closely with WCAG guidelines, specifically WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA, ensuring content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Section 508 applies to a wide range of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), including: 

• Public-facing and internal websites 
• Software applications and mobile apps 
• Electronic documents such as PDFs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files 
• Multimedia content including videos and audio 
• Online forms and training materials 
• Hardware like kiosks, printers, and telecommunication devices 

 All digital files must be fully accessible, allowing users to navigate using keyboard commands and screen reader accessibility tools such as JAWS screen reader. 

• Websites and digital content must conform to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. 
• PDFs and other documents require remediation to become compliant. 
• All images and non-text content must have descriptive alternative text. 
• Content must have sufficient color contrast and be navigable via keyboard. 
• Forms must have accessible labels and error identification. 
• Multimedia must include captions and transcripts. 
• ICT must be compatible with assistive technologies. 

• Compliance: Federal agencies must comply with Section 508 law by ensuring accessibility in all ICT they use or procure. 
• Conformance: Products and services must conform to the Revised 508 Standards, which incorporate WCAG guidelines. 

Procurement and development processes should integrate accessibility requirements from the start to ensure ongoing compliance. 

Achieving Section 508 compliance is essential not only to meet legal obligations but also to provide equitable access to information and services for all users. It reduces legal risks, improves user experience, and demonstrates a commitment to inclusion.

Our team specializes in expert accessibility remediation services to help organizations meet Section 508 compliance requirements, including: 

• Creating and remediating PDFs and other accessible digital documents. 
• Ensuring websites and applications meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. 
• Conducting accessibility checks and ongoing monitoring.