If you've ever asked "how to comply with Section 508?" — you're not alone. Section 508 compliance requires federal agencies and their contractors to make their information and communication technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. With the 508 Refresh (2018) updating standards to WCAG 2.0 Level AA, compliance is more important than ever.

This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step process to achieve Section 508 compliance — from understanding requirements to testing, fixing issues, and documenting your compliance.

Step 1: Understand Section 508 Requirements

Before you start, you need to understand what Section 508 requires:

• WCAG 2.0 Level AA is the official standard (508 Refresh, 2018)
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA is recommended and increasingly required
• 50+ success criteria across four principles (POUR)
• Covers all ICT — websites, software, hardware, documents
• VPAT documentation is required for procurement

Section 508 compliance is not a one-time task — it's an ongoing process of testing, fixing, and documenting.

Step 2: Audit Your Website with a Section 508 Checker

The first step to compliance is understanding where your website stands. Use a free Section 508 compliance checker to scan your website against WCAG standards.

After scanning, you'll receive:

• Compliance Score: 0-100% overall score
• Violations List: Specific issues that need fixing
• Warnings: Potential issues to review
• Passed Checks: Areas where you're already compliant
• Fix Recommendations: Actionable steps to fix each issue

Step 3: Fix Critical Violations First

Start with the most critical violations that are easiest to fix and have the biggest impact:

Step 4: Test with Screen Readers

Automated tools can only catch about 30-40% of accessibility issues. Manual testing with screen readers is essential:

• NVDA (Windows): Free screen reader for Windows
• VoiceOver (Mac): Built-in screen reader for Mac
• JAWS (Windows): Professional screen reader

Use our free screen reader compatibility checker to test your website.

Step 5: Test Keyboard Navigation Manually

Test your website using only your keyboard:

• Tab: Move forward through interactive elements
• Shift + Tab: Move backward
• Enter: Activate links and buttons
• Space: Activate buttons and checkboxes
• Arrow Keys: Navigate dropdowns and menus
• Escape: Close modals and menus

Use our free keyboard navigation checker to test your website.

Step 6: Test PDFs and Documents

Section 508 covers all ICT, including documents:

• PDFs: Ensure proper tags, reading order, and alt text
• Word documents: Use built-in accessibility checker
• Excel spreadsheets: Ensure tables are accessible
• PowerPoint presentations: Add alt text and use accessible templates

Use our free PDF accessibility checker to test your PDFs.

Step 7: Create VPAT Documentation

A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a document that explains how your product or service meets Section 508 requirements. Federal contractors and vendors must provide VPATs for their products.

What to include in a VPAT:

• Product name and version
• Date of assessment
• WCAG 2.0 Level AA conformance status (Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support)
• Detailed notes on each success criterion
• Remediation plan for any gaps

Step 8: Train Your Team

Section 508 compliance is not just a technical task — it requires training your team:

• Developers: Train on accessibility coding standards
• Content creators: Train on alt text, headings, and accessible content
• Designers: Train on color contrast and accessible design
• Project managers: Train on accessibility requirements and documentation

Step 9: Maintain Compliance with Regular Testing

Websites change constantly — new pages, images, forms, and third-party widgets can introduce accessibility issues. Monthly scans and quarterly manual testing are recommended.

Section 508 Compliance Checklist

Websites

• ✅ All images have alt text (1.1.1)
• ✅ Color contrast of 4.5:1 (1.4.3)
• ✅ Keyboard accessibility (2.1.1)
• ✅ Visible focus indicators (2.4.7)
• ✅ Proper heading hierarchy (1.3.1)
• ✅ Form labels (3.3.2)
• ✅ Language declaration (3.1.1)
• ✅ Skip navigation link (2.4.1)

Documents

• ✅ Proper tags and reading order
• ✅ Alt text for images
• ✅ Language specification
• ✅ Form fields with labels
• ✅ Bookmarks for long documents

Procurement

• ✅ VPAT documentation
• ✅ Compliance testing for all ICT
• ✅ Accessibility requirements in contracts

Frequently Asked Questions — How to Comply with Section 508

Internal Links — Section 508 Resources