Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 508 requires US federal agencies and their contractors to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. The 2017 refresh aligned Section 508 standards with WCAG 2.0 Level AA and incorporated WCAG 2.1 by reference.
- In force since
- 2018-01-18
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Requires
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA
Who does Section 508 apply to?
US federal agencies and any organisation that develops, procures, maintains, or uses electronic and information technology under contract with the federal government. Does not directly apply to private-sector websites unless they have federal contracts.
Key requirements
- Web content created or procured for federal use must conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA
- Mobile apps used for federal purposes must meet equivalent standards
- Software and hardware must meet applicable technical standards in the Section 508 ICT Final Rule
- Federal agencies must post conformance information (ACR/VPAT) for their digital products
Enforcement and penalties
Private parties can file administrative complaints with federal agencies or sue in federal court. Agencies found non-compliant must remediate systems. Contractors who fail to deliver accessible ICT can face contract disputes and termination.
Section 508 requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA
Review the individual WCAG criteria and learn how to remediate each one.
Browse WCAG 2.1 criteria →Test your site against accessibility requirements
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