What is 508 compliance?
By aligning with WCAG accessibility standards, Section 508 compliance for websites ensures that federal agencies and their vendors provide a digital experience that is perceivable, operable, and understandable for users with disabilities. Unlike Section 504 accessibility, which is a broad civil rights law, Section 508 compliance standards cover exclusively federal agencies and their partners. In practice, this means integrating accessibility into user experience (UX) design, development sprints, procurement, and ongoing content governance. Organizations that achieve success in operationalizing Section 508 not only reduce legal and reputational risks but also expand their reach, improve user experience, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to a fair and inclusive Internet.
WCAG-aligned standards for federal EIT
Section 508 covers a broad ecosystem of federal Electronic and Information Technology (EIT). Section 508 compliance requirements are designed to protect people with disabilities, support public sector operators, and guide the private sector vendors that build, maintain, or integrate digital technologies for federal government use. Section 508 scope covers:
- People with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies for barrier-free access and use of federal website presentations, digital documents, web apps, internet portals, and online communication channels.
- Federal employees and contractors who must use accessible internal systems, collaboration tools, training platforms, and line-of-business applications (LOB) to perform essential job functions with efficiency and independence.
- Vendors, integrators, and solution providers that design, develop, or supply digital products and services to federal agencies while ensuring conformance through VPAT and broader ADA compliance.
Section 508 website compliance is an operating framework that turns WCAG accessibility principles and the ethos of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) into an enforceable set of requirements for all parties involved in the provision of federal technologies.
Core areas of impact
Regulatory & procurement baseline
508 compliance for websites defines technical accessibility criteria for Information and communications technology (ICT). It shapes solicitations and contracts, requiring conformance documentation so stakeholders can validate that digital products, services, platforms, and content satisfy minimum accessibility thresholds before implementation.
Governance & risk reduction
Section 508 accessibility standards establish clear governance expectations for ongoing audits, defect tracking, and remediation workflow to embed digital inclusivity into security, privacy, and quality assurance processes and reduce legal exposure and operational risks.
User experience & innovation catalyst
Careful adherence to Section 508 compliance requirements drives user-centric innovation that makes organizations prioritize perceivable, operable, and understandable user experience. It encourages collaboration between UX, engineering, and compliance departments to come up with accessible patterns that improve usability for all segments of the targeted audience.
What are the crucial advantages of 508 compliance
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01
Improve inclusion of federal services
508 website compliance expands equitable access to federal digital services, ensuring people with disabilities can independently complete critical tasks, consume information, and engage with federal agencies through assistive technologies.
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02
Minimizes legal & reputational risks
Observance of Section 508 requirements reduces legal and operational risks by embedding accessibility provisions into procurement, development, and governance workflows. It provides explicit criteria, audit trails, and remediation priorities that demonstrate compliance with federal mandates and digital rights.
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03
Improves user experience & digital performance
Keeping your organization Section 508 compliant will make your interfaces clearer, consistent, and keyboard-friendly, directly boosting your digital offer and overall user experience.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How does Section 508 impact contractors that build federal websites?
Any information and communication technology developed, procured, or maintained by federal agencies must meet Section 508 compliance requirements. If your organization is building or supporting federal websites, your obligations toward Section 508 will be outlined in the contract.
In practice, this means:
- Accessibility requirements appear in request for proposal (RFP), statements of work, and technical specifications.
- Bidders for federal contracts are expected to show how they will meet those requirements, usually through filling out a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).
- Delivered websites must pass Section 508 manual checks to ensure conformance with the provisions outlined in WCAG 2.0.
What are common Section 508 compliance issues?
Most accessibility problems reappear across federal online projects, often because teams rely only on automated tools or focus exclusively on visual design without considering broader implications to assistive technology use. The most common issues with 508 compliance for websites are:
- Insufficient color contrast between text content and background, making it hard or outright impossible to read for users with low vision.
- Missing alternative text on images, icons, charts, and infographics, or in some cases, alt text is used on decorative images where it’s not needed.
- Inaccessible forms due to unlabeled inputs, unclear error messaging, or instructions that rely exclusively on color or position.
- Keyboard access problems when users can’t reach or operate menus, dialog boxes, and interactive widgets without a mouse.
- Multimedia without captions or transcripts, including training videos, recorded webinars, and embedded media on government content pages.
- PDFs and other digital documents not tagged correctly, preventing screen readers from navigating headings, lists, and tables.
Does Section 508 apply to internal systems and intranets?
Yes, 508 website compliance does not stop at public accessibility to government online portals, sites, and apps. It also applies to information and communication technology that a federal agency procures, maintains, uses, or develops in an internal official communication capacity.
Federal guidance and training materials make it clear that internal content delivered as web pages fall under the scope of Section 508 provisions. Usual examples include intranet portals, internal directories, shared calendars, HR and benefits sites, and all other HTML content that is available through an agency intranet or shared devices.
How often should a website be tested for Section 508 accessibility?
While Section 508 accessibility standards don’t prescribe a fixed schedule, federal guidance treats accessibility testing as an ongoing process, not a one-time activity. The usual testing lifecycle covers planning, scoping, testing, remediation, and ongoing monitoring for web content and other digital assets.
It’s considered a good practice for federal sites and applications when you:
- Test early during the design phase and development to catch structural issues before they are expensive to fix.
- Run a full professional audit of Section 508 compliance before a launch or major release, including both manual checks and automated testing.
- Retest after any significant change to templates, navigation, interaction patterns, or content types, and visual refreshes.
- Ensure periodic monitoring, for example, with regular checks of intranet portals and internal applications, monthly automated scans of your website, and biannual manual audits for important assets.
How can I ensure compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards?
If you want your organization to ensure comparable access to that enjoyed by individuals without disabilities, includeUs is your proven partner specializing in digital accessibility across the US, EU, UK, and globally important marketplaces. From WCAG-aligned code and keyboard navigation to captioned media and assistive technology testing, we’ll make sure that your every touchpoint is assessed, audited, and validated.
We’ll safeguard your digital operations from legal exposure and reputational damage with measurable testing outcomes, remediation strategies, continuous monitoring of Section 508 compliance requirements, and timely adjustments. To boost your bottom line in the present and ensure future-ready operability, includeUS has the scalable, tech-driven approach you need. Schedule a free consultation today!