Section 508 Accessibility: Requirements for IT Products

Ensure your IT products and services meet federal accessibility standards.

intermediate12 min readStep-by-step guide

Source & Authority Information

Information as of: January 2026
Author: GovContractFinder Team
Additional sources:

Understanding Section 508 Legal Requirements

Types of Technology Covered Under Section 508

  • Web content and web applications: All websites, web applications, online forms, web-based systems, and internet-connected services must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA success criteria, ensuring perceivability for users with visual or auditory disabilities, operability for users with motor disabilities, understandability for users with cognitive disabilities, and robustness across diverse assistive technologies.
  • Software applications: Desktop software, mobile applications, cloud-based platforms, and software development tools must be accessible including full keyboard navigation support, screen reader compatibility, support for alternative input methods, and programmatic access to all application functionality and information.
  • Electronic documents: Documents in formats including PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other electronic formats must be properly structured for accessibility with semantic headings, alternative text for images, accessible data tables, properly tagged form fields, and reading order that makes sense for assistive technology users.
  • Hardware and physical technology: Computers, kiosks, telecommunications equipment, copiers, printers, and other physical technology products must meet accessibility requirements for physical access, including operable controls, visual and auditory outputs with alternatives, and compatibility with assistive technologies commonly used by people with disabilities.
  • Multimedia content: Video content requires synchronized captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, audio descriptions for blind users when visual information is essential to understanding, and text transcripts providing access to both audio and visual information in a single accessible format.
  • Support documentation and services: Technical documentation, user manuals, help systems, customer support services, and training materials must be provided in accessible formats or with accessible alternatives that provide equivalent information to users with disabilities.

Accessibility Conformance Reports and Documentation

  1. 1
    Identify all applicable accessibility standards

    Carefully determine which Section 508 standards apply to your specific product based on its type, functionality, and intended use. Web content follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines requirements. Software applications follow the software requirements in the Revised 508 Standards. Hardware follows physical accessibility requirements. Electronic documents follow document accessibility requirements. Some products may fall under multiple standard categories requiring comprehensive evaluation against all applicable requirements.

  2. 2
    Conduct comprehensive accessibility testing

    Test your product systematically against each applicable accessibility standard using appropriate testing methods for each requirement. Use established automated accessibility testing tools for initial broad assessment of common issues. Conduct thorough manual testing with multiple assistive technologies including screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver, screen magnification software, voice recognition tools, and keyboard-only navigation. Document testing methodology, tools used, assistive technology versions, and detailed results for each standard tested.

  3. 3
    Document conformance status accurately

    For each applicable accessibility standard, document whether your product Supports (fully conforms), Partially Supports (conforms with some exceptions), Does Not Support (does not conform), or finds the standard Not Applicable to this product. Provide detailed, honest remarks explaining the conformance level determination and describing any specific limitations, exceptions, or accessibility issues that users with disabilities may experience when using the product.

  4. 4
    Address identified accessibility issues

    Where accessibility testing reveals gaps, deficiencies, or areas of non-conformance, prioritize remediation efforts based on user impact severity, number of users affected, and standards compliance requirements. Some accessibility issues may be resolved before product delivery while others may require documented workarounds, accommodations, or planned future remediation commitments. Develop and document mitigation strategies for issues that cannot be immediately resolved.

  5. 5
    Maintain ACR currency through product lifecycle

    Update Accessibility Conformance Reports whenever products are modified, updated, or enhanced to accurately reflect current accessibility status rather than outdated historical assessment. Major product updates, new feature additions, and significant user interface changes require accessibility retesting and ACR revision. Provide current ACRs to federal agencies upon request and include updated ACRs with deliverables as contractually required.

Building Accessibility into Development Processes

  • Include specific accessibility requirements in design specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria from the earliest project planning stages, treating accessibility as a core requirement rather than an optional enhancement.
  • Use accessible design patterns, component libraries, and development frameworks that correctly implement accessibility features, reducing the burden on individual developers to implement accessibility from scratch.
  • Conduct accessibility design reviews at wireframe and mockup stages before development begins, catching accessibility issues when changes are inexpensive rather than after code is written.
  • Integrate automated accessibility testing into continuous integration and deployment pipelines, providing immediate feedback to developers about accessibility regressions introduced by code changes.
  • Conduct manual accessibility testing with real assistive technologies throughout development and before major releases, verifying that automated testing results translate to actual usability for people with disabilities.
  • Maintain accessibility documentation, coding standards, testing procedures, and ongoing training programs to build and sustain organizational accessibility capability.

Common Accessibility Issues and Prevention

Section 508 Requirements in Federal Solicitations and Proposals

Accessibility Testing Resources and Tools

  • Automated testing tools: ANDI from SSA, axe from Deque, WAVE from WebAIM, Lighthouse from Google, and Pa11y provide automated accessibility scanning identifying common issues efficiently.
  • Screen readers for testing: JAWS (commercial, widely used in federal environment), NVDA (free, open source), VoiceOver (built into Apple devices), TalkBack (built into Android devices), Narrator (built into Windows).
  • Color contrast checkers: WebAIM Color Contrast Checker, Colour Contrast Analyser from TPGi, and browser developer tools help verify sufficient color contrast ratios.
  • Document accessibility checkers: Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility checker for PDFs, Microsoft Office accessibility checker for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
  • Training and certification: DHS Trusted Tester certification program, IAAP certification programs, WebAIM training courses, Deque University accessibility training.
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