What Is Section 508 Compliance?

Guide for Making Your Website Accessible

The Section 508 Compliance means your website follows the rules to remove all the accessibility barriers for disabled users. It may sound complicated so it is best to rely on experts for tips and certification help.

A website becomes inaccessible when it has text too small or buttons that are hard to click. Now imagine if you were blind, could not hear or could not use a mouse. You would need that website to work in a special way. This special way means the website is Section 508 Compliant.

What is the 508 Section? 

Section 508 is a rule made by the U.S. government. It says that people with disabilities can easily access websites, apps, software and digital tools. 

This is a law made to help people who are:

• Blind or can’t see well
• Deaf or hard of hearing
• Using keyboards instead of a mouse
• Having trouble with reading or understanding text

If you work for the government or sell to the government, your website or product must follow Section 508.

Why should you care about accessibility 508 law?

Failure to achieve 508 compliance can lead to certain pitfalls like you lose sales or contracts, get complaints and face legal problems. 

But if your website follows the rules, you can help more people use your website. You can show that your company cares and can win government work. 

For guidance, testing, or help with 508 compliance certification, you can explore third-party providers like ADACP. They specialize in accessibility audits and VPAT support.

What does a 508 compliant website look like?

You hired the accessibility experts and your website follow all the rules referenced in the Section 508 then your website would look something like this. 

• It will have text that screen readers can read out loud
• It has color and contrast that is easy to see
• It has buttons and forms that can be used by keyboard
• It also contains captions for videos

Everything should be easy to use for everyone no matter how they see, hear or hold the keyboard or the mouse.

What is 508 Compliance Certification?

508 Compliance Certification is not a government document or official award. It just means that your product or website has been tested and follows all Section 508 rules.

Many companies ask experts to test their websites. These experts use tools and real users to check if everything is accessible.

You might also fill out a VPAT ACR Voluntary Product Accessibility Template – Accessibility Conformance Report. This is a report that shows how your product meets the rules.

According to the accessibility pros at ADACP, it is always a smart idea to get your website tested and reviewed before calling it 508 certified.

How do you make your website 508 compliant?

Accessible website is very easy to create if you have in-depth domain knowledge. 

• Use clear text and headings
• Add alt text to images so screen readers can describe them
• Check color contrast – light text on dark backgrounds is easier to read
• Make sure all videos have captions
• Test with a keyboard that you can move around without a mouse

You can also use online tools like WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool or Axe Accessibility Checker. These tools help you find and fix problems. But remember over reliance on tools is risky. These tools are only 30% accurate. You need human intervention to ensure total compliance. 

Conclusion

Section 508 Compliance is the right thing to do. It helps more people enjoy your website and makes your business stronger. So learn the rules and test your site with expert help. If you need more guidance on filling out the VPAT or seeking Section 508 compliance certification then connect with the experts at ADACP. They have decade long experience in digital accessibility.