Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
Contrast
  • Default contrast
  • Night contrast
  • Black and White contrast
  • Black and Yellow contrast
  • Yellow and Black contrast
Font Size
  • Smaller Font
  • Default Font
  • Larger Font
Ananyoo Accessible WordPress Themes Logo
Contact Address

Kolkata, WB 700075, India

Contact Phone

+91 9831076758

Contact Email

shivaji@anblik.com

  • Features
  • Pricing
  • About
    • Free Website Accessibility Quote
    • Upgrades to WordPress
    • Website Compliance Certification
    • Compliance Monitoring
  • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
  • Support
    • Documentation
    • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact
You are heres:
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. What you require to know about updates to the section 508 accessibility standards?

What you require to know about updates to the section 508 accessibility standards?

Many web developers, graphic designers and others in the technology and media industries will most certainly come across a project which will need to comply with “Section 508” or other website accessibility standards. This term can be an intimidating option for a beginner as it involves a lot of legal implications. While Section 508 is constitutionally binding only for the United States federal agencies and for the ones who are funded federally, often an organisation that provides public services might request for a website or software that needs to meet the requirements for Section 508.
Approximately 20% of all Americans have some form of physical limitation; of them, about half of those are contemplated to be severe disabilities. By ignoring the accessibility demands of your audience, any business will inevitably lower the page views, lower (if not isolate) the target audience and eventually limit the website statistics.
Whether working for the federal government, a private division, or a nonprofit section, 508 compliance and accessibility best practices are for all users which should be met well before the design or development of the website is executed.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 is an amendment to the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which was further amended in 2001. It is a federal law that mandates all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or being used by the federal government should be accessible to people with disabilities. 508 Compliance, hence, involves developing a website that can be used by people with restricted vision or blindness, deafness, seizure disorders, and other kinds of physical disabilities.
Along with the revisions to the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR), the Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Standards was also published. With the law in place, federal employees with disabilities or any members of the public sector using the national information and technology will now have the same access as others to any website.

Who Needs to Fulfil 508 Compliance?

All organisations and businesses should try to make it a preference to pursue 508 compliance for their official website.
Not only does a 508 compliant website make any business accessible to more leads with potential customers with disabilities, but failing to fulfil the same might result in a costly lawsuit for a company.
Depending on the current website condition, you have to decide what you need to do to satisfy 508 compliance. While some websites may only need only a few changes to be appropriately accessible, many others are likely to require a complete website redesign.

Updates of Section 508 Accessibility Standard

Accessibility requirement for ICT mentioned in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973, was amended and the absolute rule was given in January 2017 by the US Access Board. Section 508 Accessibility Standard now has the following objectives:

  • Improving the accessibility of information technology for people with various disabilities
  • Keeping up with the continually changing technology and modernisation of the gadgets
  • To ensure that the requirements in the standards are more accessible to follow and understand for everyone
  • To ensure that the conditions conform to what is required by other international standards

Section 508 Has Three Main Elements to Meet:

  • Technical – these conditions make sure that the coding of software, website, operating systems, and others are compatible with the assistive technologies.
  • Functional – these elements ensure that apart from the extension to the technical coding, the entire system is ready for someone with a disability.
  • Support – these requirements ensure that support documents and alternative information are equally accessible by people with physical disabilities.

Every information and communication technology (ICT), which involves website, digital document, web app, agency, or even contractor is expected to completely comply with the updated Section 508 Standards from January 18th, 2018. Here are some of the significant changes in Section 508 revised standard:

Understanding the Functionality

As per the revised rule, products should be organised per their feature rather than their type to keep up with the technological progress. If your application or website is inaccessible due to the use of software or technology which is not recognised under Section 508 Standard, or if it is difficult because the technical compliance fails to translate it to suitable user experience, the website is required to review the Functional Performance Criteria to understand Section 508 compliance. Functional Performance Criteria commands that you grant options that can inscribe the type(s) of disability that is unable to access your ICT.

Adoption of WCAG AA 2.0

The new Section 508 update has compliances against WCAG 2.0 AA, and it is the same standard that is used around globally. Similar to Section 508, WCAG 2.0 AA does not give particular tasks which the webmasters must meet to make a website accessible and compliant. Instead, the guidelines describe what available sites must do, with a focus on the functionality rather than the form. This gives webmasters the capability to execute a solution that works best for their needs.

Section 255, Telecommunication Act

Section 255 is the standard that controls the telecommunication service providers along with the equipment manufacturers. This standard was updated to take into account the current improvements in telecommunication technologies, particularly mobile and smartphone technologies. This rule now also regulates the software and apps which are integrated into handheld mobile devices. Section 508 Accessibility Standard expects all telecommunication devices to comply with Section 255.

Expanded Marketplace

The revised standard incorporates all the related international standards including WCAG 2.0 (Web Contents Accessibility Guidelines) and the EN 301 549 (European Commission ICT Standards). They are used to create web standards, and to clarify the suitability of websites, software, and electronic documents, and to facilitate the creation of a broader marketplace for easy technological solutions worldwide.

We are Here to Help You

Your clients who would require 508 compliance in their websites, documents, or software will need you to have proficiency and experience in complying with 508 guidelines. So, if you expect to list Section 508 as one of your skills, you might consider getting in touch with the experts who will help you to adhere to those accessibility standards.

After going through this article, are you trying to reach a thoughtful conclusion? Accessibility of websites for all users including those with any form of physical disability is crucial regardless of the content of the site. Would you like to get further information on ways to make your website accessible? Are you excited to know the performance of your website when tested on accessibility standards? Are you looking for expert web accessibility services in India?

The Ananyoo Team can help you to estimate the performance of your website against WCAG 2.0 through a free scan that will deliver a detailed report about the findings. Our experts offer a free 30 minutes consultation which can be further utilised to take care of the concerns of your website accessibility. Visit our website to get in touch with our experts!

By Ananyoo Admin| Jun 17, 2018|Categories: Accessibility |Tags: Section 508 |0 Comments

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Previous Article Make your Website Compliant to WCAG Standards
Next Article Facts you Need to know about ADA and Web Accessibility

about the author

Ananyoo Admin

18 Articles

WordPress and Accessibility Lover. I realize that a Website or an Application is a constantly developing project and requires long-term assistance to make it perfect. Let me blend my accessibility skill with seamless design and development integration using WordPress to make a perfect website for you. I can be your team or become part of your team or let me help when you have a tricky design or development issue and need support. Whatever it is, I will be there to make your things beautiful, accessible, and functional.

Related Posts

guest
Your Name
Your Email

guest
Your Name
Your Email

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Search Ananyoo

Ananyoo Cloud Tags

Accessibility ADA Assistive Technology Ecommerce How To Guides India News Section 508 SEO User Experience Design WCAG

Ananyoo Archives

  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • June 2018
  • May 2018

Contact Information

Address

Ananyoo, 125-Santoshpur Avenue, Santoshpur, Kolkata 700075, West Bengal, India

Phone

+91 9831076758 (IN)

Email

shivaji@ananyoo.com

Quick Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer Policy
  • Refunds Policy
  • Shipping & Delivery Policy

Newsletter Signup Form

Valid W3C HTML5Level Double-A conformance, Wave WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1Level Double-A conformance, W3C WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1

Copyright 2021 Ananyoo. All Right Reserved. WordPress Accessible Themes Developed by Anblik.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.ACCEPT REJECT PRIVACY POLICY
Manage consent
Privacy Overview:-

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT