Section 508 compliance for federal agencies

Section 508 is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It requires all US federal agencies to ensure that the electronic and information technology they develop, procure, maintain, or use is accessible to people with disabilities, including both federal employees and members of the public. The technical standard Section 508 references is WCAG 2.0 Level AA, incorporated through the US Access Board's revised ICT accessibility standards, which came into effect in 2018.

Section 508 applies to a broader set of organisations than many realise. These include:

• All US federal government agencies
• Contractors and vendors supplying technology products or services to federal agencies
• Organisations receiving federal funding
• Any organisation developing, procuring, or maintaining electronic and information technology on behalf of a federal agency

Section 508 requires that web content produced or procured by federal agencies meets WCAG 2.0 Level AA. In practice that means:

• Text alternatives: All non-text content must have descriptive alt text so screen readers can interpret it.
• Keyboard navigation: All functionality must be operable without a mouse.
• Captions and transcripts: Multimedia content must include captions and transcripts.
• Accessible forms: Form fields must be labelled and compatible with assistive technologies.
• Document accessibility: Electronic documents must comply with accessibility standards.

Organisations that fail to meet Section 508 requirements face formal complaints filed through agency grievance procedures, followed by potential litigation under the Rehabilitation Act. The DOJ conducts surveys of federal agency compliance and submits reports to Congress, meaning non-compliance attracts ongoing oversight scrutiny. For contractors and vendors, the consequences extend to procurement. Section 508 conformance requirements are embedded in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, meaning non-compliant technology can be excluded from federal contracts. A documented record of accessibility scanning and remediation activity is essential evidence in any compliance dispute or procurement review.

Welcoming Web does not certify compliance and cannot guarantee a legal or contractual outcome. The platform scans your web-based digital assets against Section 508's technical requirements, identifies failures, suggests fixes, and maintains a dated record of your remediation activity. That record supports your compliance work and provides the audit evidence procurement processes require, however conformance is determined by whether your assets meet the defined standards, not by using any particular tool.

Consistent Section 508 compliance requires building accessibility into how your agency or organisation operates day to day:

• Conduct regular accessibility audits and testing so new failures are caught as content changes.
• Integrate Section 508 requirements into your development and content publishing process before pages go live.
• Train staff consistently on Section 508 standards so accessibility is understood across your entire team.
• Collect and act on feedback from assistive technology users, as their experience identifies issues automated scanning and internal testing might miss.
• Keep a documented record of all accessibility issues found and remediation activity taken, as procurement processes require this evidence.
• Stay informed as Section 508 technical standards develop, particularly if WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 references are incorporated in future updates.