What are Section 508 accessibility requirements?
Section 508 accessibility requirements stem from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates federal agencies to ensure that the information and communication technology (ICT) they develop, procure, maintain, or use allows employees with disabilities and individuals with disabilities who are members of the public to have access to and use of digital information and data.
Therefore, Section 508 accessibility requirements are conditions or capacities that need to be attained to ensure ICT products and services attain the established Section 508 accessibility standards.
What are the latest Section 508 accessibility requirements for websites?
The WCAG 2.0 Level AA standard, which is the accepted industry standard, is used to evaluate whether websites comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The WCAG 2.0 Level AA does not specify any particular requirements for websites to meet in order to be compliant and accessible, much like the previous Section 508. Instead, the requirements for WCAG 2.0 Level AA section 508 compliance provide a precise picture of what accessible websites must do, with a more concentrated focus on functionality.
Because it eventually makes businesses more accessible for people with disabilities and helps them increase traffic and conversions, website owners need to navigate this terrain with the highest resolve.
You run the danger of diminishing page views, limiting statistics, and narrowing your target market if you overlook the accessibility requirements of your website's users. You might also be more likely to be the target of ADA-related lawsuits as a result.
How you can navigate the latest Section 508 accessibility requirements
The most recent Section 508 accessibility requirements include making sure that users can navigate and access content using the keyboard, providing screen reader functionality, having alternative (ALT) text for videos, making sure that there are no time limits, paying attention to color and contrast, and avoiding flickering objects on the screen.
In order to avoid overlooking important Section 508 accessibility concerns throughout the website's design stages, many website owners prefer collaborating with reputable website accessibility professionals like the ADACP. These professionals have experience navigating these Section 508 online accessibility regulations. These specialists can manage these Section 508 accessibility standards in a variety of ways.
Users with various motor disabilities or those who use screen readers mainly rely on keyboard-only visual indications; hence, it is important to ensure navigation and accessibility using the keyboard. In order to comply with this requirement, assistive technology must be made available for interactions. This involves making sure that buttons, links, or input fields can be readily navigated without a mouse by using the arrow, tab, or other keys.
By making sure that the ALT descriptions are precise, illustrative, and useful, you may also navigate the most recent Section 508 accessibility regulations for websites. If your website has links to any images, make sure the ALT text for those links includes the link destination in case users click the links and are taken to a new page.
Additionally, make sure that screen readers can be used by website visitors to view the material. Because the screen readers read the website content aloud, they make it easier for users with visual impairments or those who have cognitive and learning challenges to access the information and data on the website.
You should make sure that your website offers alternate descriptions for videos that are embedded on the page, similar to ALT text for photos, so that screen readers can simply describe the videos to those with visual disabilities.
In order to comply with Section 508, you should also make sure that your website has no time restrictions so that visitors who might need additional time to complete a particular action won't time out. Make sure the website is color-savvy as well. Use green to indicate that all information was input correctly in an online form, for instance, and red to draw attention to any errors. Make sure your website is developed with a frequency higher than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz to prevent things from flashing on the screen.
Get help navigating Section 508 accessibility requirements for your website
Having a fully accessible website is a best practice to adhere to regardless of whether your company or organization is legally compelled to comply with Section 508 accessibility criteria. Although it could be difficult, with the assistance of professionals like ADACP, you will have a fully accessible website.
You can discuss the options ADACP has in the realm of supporting businesses or organizations like yours achieve Section 508 accessibility by calling them at (626) 486-2201 to arrange a free consultation or to ask them for a quick Section 508 accessible website quote.