Section 508 Remediation: What It Is & How to Stay Compliant

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Section 508 Remediation: What It Is & How to Stay Compliant

Posted November 11, 2024

AudioEye

Posted November 11, 2024

Computer screen with the word '508' in the middle. A book with a hammer and gavel is in the lower right-hand corner and an accessibility icon in a gear shift is in the upper left-hand corner.
Computer screen with the word '508' in the middle. A book with a hammer and gavel is in the lower right-hand corner and an accessibility icon in a gear shift is in the upper left-hand corner.

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While designing your digital content to be compliant with Section 508 accessibility standards from the start is best practice, there may be times where you need to remediate (or fix) content once it's gone live. Below, we'll discuss what Section 508 remediation is as well as why 508 remediation is important.

Digital accessibility has been fast-tracked in the last few years for two reasons. 

First, the global population of individuals with disabilities has increased significantly in the last few years, with roughly 1.3 billion people having a disability. This means that a considerable portion of the population (16% worldwide) is excluded from online spaces.

Second, the legal risk of having inaccessible digital content is increasing — and it’s unavoidable. 

Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, has long been a requirement for digital content with organizations across industries working towards ADA compliance. Close behind the ADA is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, another law designed to enhance accessibility in online spaces. 

While meeting all the requirements included in Section 508 might feel daunting, the good news is it's not as daunting a task as it might seem. And doing so yields numerous benefits, including increased audience reach, compliance with key accessibility laws, and more inclusivity for individuals with disabilities.

Below, we’ll review what Section 508 is and the accessibility requirements associated with it and how to successfully pursue Section 508 remediation.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a U.S. federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in employment practices of federal contractors. 

Added in 1998, Section 508 specifically addresses the accessibility of electronic and information technology. The act requires all federal government agencies to ensure their digital content is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including both employees and members of the public. The act specifically applies to:

  • U.S. federal agencies, including their websites, software, multimedia, electronic documents, and any public-facing digital information. 
  • Companies or organizations that have contracts with federal agencies
  • Organizations that receive federal grants or federal funding

Under Section 508, organizations must adhere to the accessibility standards included in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), specifically WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards. More simply, to comply with Section 508, digital content must meet the following principles (commonly known as the POUR principles):

  • Perceivable: Information and user components must be presented in ways that are perceivable to all users, including those with disabilities. This includes providing alt text for images, captions for videos, adaptable layouts for content, etc.
  • Operable: Users should be able to navigate and interact with content regardless of their disabilities. For example, all content should be navigable via keyboard alone and users should have sufficient time to read and interact with content.
  • Understandable: Content and user interfaces must be easy to understand. Web pages should have a predictable layout and forms should include clear instructions and error messages as an example.
  • Robust: Content should be robust enough to work with both current and future technologies, including assistive technology such as screen readers or text-to-speech software.

Section 508 compliance is often measured through accessibility testing using automated or manual testing tools (or both) to check for compliance with WCAG 2.0 guidelines.

A green checkmark next to the phrase SEC 508 and a stylized image of a webpage.

What is Section 508 Remediation?

As the name suggests, Section 508 remediation is about making digital content compliant with the accessibility standards required under Section 508. The goal of remediation services is to ensure individuals with disabilities have full and equal access to digital content and can navigate it with ease. 

Some of the most common issues that come up during Section 508 remediation include:

Inaccessible Online Documents

Web-delivered documents, including PDFs, PowerPoint, spreadsheets, or Microsoft Word documents, are often overlooked in digital accessibility. However, these documents are required to meet the same accessibility requirements as web pages or mobile apps as enforced by the ADA and Section 508.

Missing Alt Text

Alt text (or alternative text) is a written description of non-text content such as images, graphs, charts, or tables. The description ensures that assistive technology users or those with visual impairments (such as blindness or low vision) can still interact with these elements. Missing alt text is one of the most common accessibility issues with 56% of images being inaccessible and is frequently cited in non-compliance lawsuits.

Lack of Closed Captions or Subtitles

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20% of the world’s population (or 1.5 billion people) live with hearing loss — 430 million of these individuals have disabling hearing loss. If your audio content doesn’t include closed captions or subtitles, you’re excluding a huge percentage of your users from interacting with this content. Captions and subtitles are also a WCAG guideline, meaning you could be at risk for Section 508 non-compliance and potential legal action if your auditory content doesn’t include captions.

Poor Color Contrast

Color contrast refers to the difference in light between foreground elements and the background. According to WCAG Success Criterion 1.4.3, websites need to provide a minimum color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text. Failing to provide sufficient color contrast can prevent users with low vision or colorblindness from reading digital content. Poor color contrast can also prevent individuals with neurocognitive conditions from focusing on the text.

Flashing Content

Individuals who have seizure disorders (such as epilepsy) or other neurological conditions can be triggered by content that flashes, flickers, or changes rapidly. The risk of seizures from flashing content is high enough that WCAG guidelines specifically recommend removing flashing content or limiting its frequency.

Lack of Compatibility with Assistive Technologies

Many individuals with disabilities rely on assistive technologies to navigate online spaces. Assistive technology includes devices such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech recognition software, alternative input devices, text-to-speech software, Braille displays, and keyboard commands and shortcuts. Digital content that isn’t optimized for these devices with a logical heading structure, alt text, or proper HTML tags hinder assistive technology users from easily navigating through digital content and completing tasks.

These are just some of the Section 508 violations that put your organization at risk for legal action. The good news: Section 508 remediation processes can help you minimize that risk. By proactively integrating accessibility standards into your content creation process, you ensure products, services, and content is accessible right from the start. WCAG guidelines will be your compass here as these guidelines remove accessibility issues that hinder users with disabilities from accessing and navigating digital content independently

A stylized webpage with a magnifying glass positioned over an accessibility icon.

Why is Section 508 Remediation Important?

Section 508 compliance is important for a few reasons — most importantly, it ensures that everyone has access to and can use digital content and technology. Additionally, compliance reduces the chances of legal action such as lawsuits or demand letters which can quickly get expensive. 

Below are a few more reasons why Section 508 remediation is important:

  • Promotes digital inclusion: Section 508 remediation acts as a foundation for digital inclusion, ensuring individuals with disabilities can access and use digital content on equal terms. This is especially important in government spaces where individuals apply for benefits, healthcare, employment, civic participation, and education. Ensuring websites are accessible and compliant with Section 508 ensures people with disabilities can complete these tasks independently. 
  • Compliance with legal requirements: As mentioned above, Section 508 compliance is a legal requirement for federal funded agencies, agencies, and contractors. Failing to remediation Section 508 violations can result in legal consequences, including fines, lawsuits, and loss of federal funding. 
  • Supports workplace productivity and inclusion: Accessible digital tools and content empower individuals with disabilities to perform their jobs effectively. Not only does this support inclusion but also improves overall productivity as employees can engage fully without encountering accessibility issues. 
  • Enhances user experience for everyone: Most accessibility improvements, such as simple, consistent navigation and readable text, benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. For example, providing captions on videos allows those in noisy environments to interact with the video while keyboard navigation improves usability for those with temporary injuries. 
  • Increases audience reach and engagement: By making your digital content more accessible, you expand your reach to a broader audience, including those with disabilities. This makes your services more widely available and can increase engagement and customer loyalty. 
  • Improves brand image and public trust: By prioritizing Section 508 remediation and accessibility in general, you demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility, enhancing your reputation. With accessibility becoming more important among today’s consumers — demonstrating that commitment helps you foster trust and respect among new and existing customers.
  • Prepares you for future accessibility needs: The accessibility industry is always changing. By addressing accessibility issues now, you’re more prepared for future accessibility regulations and user expectations. 
  • Reduces the need for expensive fixes: Proactive remediation is more cost-effective than reactive fixes, which may require substantial redesign efforts. By addressing Section 508 violations early, you avoid costly, large-scale changes and rework.

Here’s the bottom line: Section 508 is more than just a compliance task; it’s an essential practice for creating an inclusive digital environment where people of all abilities can access and benefit from digital information and services. More simply, Section 508 remediation not only helps you meet legal obligations but helps you create a more equitable, connected society.

How AudioEye Can Help You Comply with Section 508 Standards

Meeting Section 508 accessibility standards can feel overwhelming — especially if you don’t have the right tools in place or experts to guide you along the way. That’s where AudioEye comes in. 

AudioEye provides both the robust tools and expertise needed for successful remediation, making compliance with Section 508 a simpler, more manageable process. From our free Web Accessibility Scanner that identifies 30 WCAG violations to our Automated Fixes that fix these issues, AudioEye helps you create a more accessible, inclusive experience for all users. 

In addition to our accessibility tools, AudioEye’s Expert Audits overseen by our team of human experts and individuals from the disability community help you find and fix more complex accessibility issues. AudioEye also provides in-depth Accessibility Training where you’ll learn how to champion accessibility within your organization and create exceptionally accessible experiences. 


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