Section 508 Compliance
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
Who does Section 508 apply to?
Section 508 applies to:
- All US federal agencies
- Government contractors and vendors who build or provide technology to federal agencies
- Organizations receiving federal funding (grants, contracts)
If you're a contractor bidding on government work, Section 508 compliance is typically a procurement requirement. Non-compliance can mean losing contracts.
What standard does Section 508 require?
The 2017 Section 508 Refresh aligned the requirements with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Federal agencies are increasingly adopting WCAG 2.1 AA in practice, and the US Access Board has signaled future updates.
For practical purposes, if you meet WCAG 2.1 AA, you meet Section 508 requirements.
What are the consequences?
- Administrative complaints — filed with the agency or the US Access Board
- Contract loss — non-compliant vendors can be disqualified from federal procurement
- Lawsuits — federal employees and members of the public can sue under Section 508
- Reputational risk — government agencies face public scrutiny for inaccessible services
VPATs and ACRs
Government procurement often requires a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) — a document that describes how your product conforms to Section 508 standards.
A completed VPAT is called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). SiteSmoke's scan results can serve as a starting point for preparing your VPAT, identifying which WCAG criteria your product meets or fails.
Check your Section 508 compliance
Scan your site for free. See which WCAG criteria pass or fail — useful for VPAT preparation and procurement readiness.