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Section 508

The U.S. law requiring federal agencies, and the technology they buy, to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires U.S. federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. It applies when an agency develops, buys, maintains, or uses technology, which is why vendors selling software, websites, or documents to the federal government have to meet it too.

The Revised 508 Standards from the U.S. Access Board took effect on January 18, 2018 and line up with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Federal buyers usually ask for an Accessibility Conformance Report written on the VPAT template. Each agency handles complaints about its own technology through a formal process. Our maintained summary is at Section 508.

Source

IT Accessibility Laws and Policies

Section508.gov, U.S. General Services Administration. Checked .

VPAT
The standard template vendors fill in to report how a product does against accessibility standards.
ACR
An Accessibility Conformance Report, a completed VPAT that says how a specific product does against the standard.
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. civil rights law that the Department of Justice says applies to websites.
Section 504
The U.S. law covering organizations that receive federal money, with a health rule naming WCAG 2.1 AA for websites and apps.
Tagged PDF
A PDF with a hidden structure of headings, lists, tables, and alt text that lets a screen reader read it in order.

Get help with every step.

We can work with organizations of every size and industry, from a startup serving its first customers to a bank. We find where you stand, help your team fix what matters, and keep checking as your product changes. That work is evidence of your effort, not a legal guarantee.

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