Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal agencies and contractors to make information and communications technology accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring equivalent access of both the public and employees to content and systems. Information and communications technology covers a broad range of categories and products, including websites, documents and media, social media sites, computers, applications, software, and office equipment.
Revised 508 Standards
In 2018, the revised 508 standards became effective. The standards now:
- Incorporate Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, an international standard.
- Address cognitive, language, and learning disabilities.
- Are organized by functionality, not product type.
- Include operating systems and authoring systems.
- Require software and operating systems to interoperate with assistive technologies, such as screen magnification and refreshable Braille displays.
The revised standards adopt WCAG 2.0 at Levels A and AA for websites, electronic content, tools, and apps.
Resources
- How To Meet WCAG (Quick Reference)
- Introduction to Web Accessibility
- Understanding WCAG 2.0
- WCAG Web Accessibility Tutorials
- HHS Accessibility Compliance Checklists
- Comparison Table of WCAG 2.0 to Original 508 Standards
For more information, contact:
Bruce Seeman
AHRQ Director of Electronic Publications
301-427-1998
bruce.seeman@ahrq.hhs.gov
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