Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended)
What Is Section 508?
Section 508 is a U.S. federal law that requires government agencies to make their electronic and information technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. This includes websites, software, digital documents, and other technology used by federal employees or the public. The goal is to ensure equal access to information for everyone, including those with vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities 17.
Key Requirements in Simple Terms
Accessible Technology – Federal agencies must ensure their digital tools (websites, apps, documents, etc.) work for people with disabilities. This means:
- Websites should work with screen readers (used by people who are blind).
- Videos must have captions for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Documents (like PDFs) should be readable by assistive technologies 911.
- Procurement Rules – When agencies buy new technology, they must choose products that meet accessibility standards. Vendors selling to the government must prove their products are accessible 110.
- Exceptions (But Rare) – If making something accessible would cause an "undue burden" (extremely difficult or expensive), agencies must provide an alternative way for people with disabilities to access the information 47.
- Harmonisation with Global Standards – Since 2018, Section 508 aligns with WCAG 2.0 AA, an international set of web accessibility rules. This makes compliance easier for developers 711.
Important Dates
- 1998 – Section 508 was significantly updated to include modern technology 7.
- 2018 – The law was "refreshed" to match WCAG 2.0 standards, making websites and digital content more consistently accessible 79.
Who Must Follow Section 508?
- Federal agencies (all departments, including the Postal Service).
- Government contractors selling technology to the U.S. government 911.
Private businesses and state/local governments generally don’t have to follow Section 508 unless they work with federal agencies. However, other laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may apply to them 1113.
This explanation is based on the official document from the U.S. Access Board. For more details, visit:
https://www.access-board.gov/ict/