United States Federal Government
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Agencies that receive federal funding — including universities, healthcare systems, and state agencies — must comply.
Deadline
In effect — refreshed 2018 to adopt WCAG 2.0 AA
Who it applies to
Federal agencies and contractors receiving federal funding
Required standard
WCAG 2.0 AA (incorporated by reference)
Penalties
Loss of federal contracts and funding. Complaints investigated by agency Inspector General. Private right of action.
Key Facts
- •Applies to all federal agencies and federally-funded organizations
- •Universities receiving federal grants must comply
- •Refreshed standard (2018) directly incorporates WCAG 2.0 Level AA
- •Covers websites, software, PDFs, video, and hardware
- •VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) required for procurement
Check your Section 508 compliance
Sturdly scans your site against all Section 508 requirements and generates a compliance report you can share with legal, procurement, or regulators.