What is a Section 508 compliance checklist?
A Section 508 compliance checklist is a collection or list that provides the evaluation criteria that must be met to ensure an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. A product or service that is accessible from the standpoint of a Section 508 checklist is regarded as having met the Section 508 compliance standards.
What is Section 508 compliance?
Section 508 compliance, also simply referred to as 508 compliance, is a legal requirement that all federal organizations ensure that the ICT they create, acquire, maintain, or use allows people with disabilities to access and use information and data that is electronically accessible.
A Section 508 compliance checklist is something every organization or business needs to have for legal protection from possible Section 508-related lawsuits as well as revenue loss due to lost business opportunities.
It is always important to work with an updated and extensive Section 508 checklist so that you donÕt miss out on some areas you need to firm up in your ICT product or service. For example, those who want to have 508-compliant websites need to conform to the requirements in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA checklist for Section 508 compliance.
The WCAG 2.0 Level AA checklist for Section 508 compliance includes:
- Providing text alternatives for non-text content
- Providing alternatives to video-only and audio-only content
- Providing captions for videos with audio
- Ensuring a high contrast between text sections and their backgrounds
- Defining the language used on the web pages
- Ensuring that all website functionalities are operable via keyboard
- Ensuring that when visitors are met with time limitations within the website, the time limit can be adjusted.
- Minimizing distractions and allowing visitors to turn off or postpone interruptions
- Ensuring that websites donÕt have flashing content that could induce seizures
- Ensuring that any single-character key shortcuts are adjustable, providing a Ôskip to contentÕ link, and ensuring that if a website visitor commits an error, the error is identifiable and can be described in text and announced by screen readers.
- Ensuring that labels and instructions are descriptive and clear for all website visitors.
- Ensuring that the website has a clear and concise heading structure.
- Ensuring that content placement and functionality are predictable.
- Ensuring that page titles are clear and helpful.
- Ensuring that functionalities requiring gestures can be performed by website visitors with limited mobility.
- Ensuring that all links have text that accurately conveys the purpose of the link.
- Ensuring that electronic documents are accessible and can be read by assistive technologies.
The merits of using an updated or extensive 508-compliance checklist
The primary objective of using a Section 508 compliance checklist is to ensure that the electronic product or service whose compliance you are using the Section 508 checklist to establish is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
The advantages of using an extensive Section 508 compliance checklist include:
- Ensuring that your electronic product or service is accessible to as many users as possible.
- Avoiding discriminating against people with certain types of disabilities, given that using a checklist that is not extensive enough could make one risk the danger of not considering how a product or service is accessible to users with a certain type of disability,
- Limiting the chances of being vulnerable to non-compliance lawsuits
- Improving the quality of a product or service based on perspectives from different angles
- Distinguishing the best Section 508 compliance checker to use in testing compliance in the case of website 508 compliance
Get help identifying Section 508 checklists that are extensive
When embarking on Section 508 compliance for your electronic product or service, having a reliable checklist will help you avoid missing out on some key areas of consideration by compensating for the potential limits of human memory and attention.
You can get help identifying an extensive 508 compliance checklist for use in ensuring your electronic product or service attains the 508 compliance standard you desire by contacting ADACP at (626) 486-2201 to set up a free consultation or to request a quick Section 508 compliance testing quote.
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