1.  Screen-Reader Compatibility:

1.  Alt-tags For Images:

1.  Alt-tags To The Tables:

1.  Automation Scripts:

1.  Using Style Sheets:

1.  Accessible Forms:

1.  Links To Text Fragments:

1.  Inclusive Designs With Color Accessibility:

1.  Keyboard Compatibility:

1. Screen reader functionality: Users with vision impairment use screen readers to access the content. Therefore, every non-text element presented to the users should be assigned a text alternative. For instance, a caption for the images mentioned on the page which a user can interpret via a screen reader. 

1. Assistive technology:For tasks like form filling, users should be able to implement an assistive technology or may substitute the mouse usage with keyword or vice versa.

1. Navigation: Accessing the content can be long and daunting for users with a physical disability. When they use a screen reader, they should be able to skip the navigation to read the content they want. 

1. Visibility standards: There are certain guidelines for contrast ratio to make the content accessible for visually impaired users. Additionally, the content displayed on the screen should not trigger seizures. For instance, flashes, blinks, flickers or Gifs can induce seizures so the issue should be addressed when you aim for accessibility. 

• Universities and colleges are bound to follow accessibility regulations under ADA and Section 504. 
• Failure to achieve digital accessibility education might result in expensive lawsuits. 
• It even creates barriers for students and the consequences can be low student strength or reputational loss. 

• Violating ADA regulations result in legal actions.
• For students, the lack of access can lead to an incomplete education. 
• OCR investigation is also bad for the reputation of education leaders and can lead to punishments and fines.

• Registration
• Payments
• Administrative usage
• Coursework requests
  
  
  

• Define the scope of the section 508 website compliance certification you want. This should include a list of all sites and sub-sites to be evaluated, as well as the minimum set of browsers and assistive technology that the website will support.
• Investigate the target website to learn about the various types of templates, functions, and content. The various technologies used on the website, such as JavaScript, Flash, and so on, should also be documented.
• Obtain a representative sample of the website's pages for the audit.
• Examine the selected webpages for any barriers to accessibility, such as limitations in the use of assistive technologies and browsers.
• Document the review's findings, as well as detailed recommendations for removing any identified barriers to access.
• Follow the recommendations for resolving the accessibility issues identified by the audit.
• Conduct quality assurance testing to ensure that the audit's recommendations have been implemented and that no new barriers to accessibility have been created.
• Conduct a final check of the website to ensure that no accessibility issues have been overlooked.

• Universities and colleges are bound to follow accessibility regulations under ADA and Section 504.  
• Failure to achieve digital accessibility in education might result in expensive lawsuits.  
• It even creates barriers for students and the consequences can be low student strength or reputational loss.  

1. Strive to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

1. Review all the existing online learning to ensure ADA compliance

• Every essential photo, logo, or other non-text element should have text alternatives. Thisisimperative because people with visual disabilities who can't see the images properly will rely on the text alternatives to understand what's in them.
• Filling out online forms with assistive technology or a keyboard should be possible. This is important because if only the only way to fill out forms is by using a mouse to click from one field to another, then people with limited hand agility will be disadvantaged in completing such forms.
• There should be enough contrast between the information on the web and the background color so that people with low vision can read the information.
• Pages should not flicker at more than three times per second. In people with seizure disorders, this reduces the risk of triggering seizures.
• To get to the main content, people should be able to skip through long lists of navigation links and multiple logs. This ensures that people with physical disabilities who are unable to scroll down quickly and easily can navigate directly to the main part of the page. It also allows users of screen-reading software to skip to the content they want to read.

• The automated approach, which entails high-volume 508 conformance testing, The conformance testing tools scan through and test large volumes of electronic content. You can find them by searching for 508 compliance testing online and evaluating their accuracy levels as well as the credibility of their service providers, which will help you decide which one to use. The accuracy of automated tests is usually limited compared to those involving manual tests.
• The manual approach, which tests all the electronic content using a documented, consistent, and repeatable process, Manual tests offer the best accuracy results, whose levels depend on the knowledge and experience of the professionals conducting the tests.
• The hybrid approach, which combines the advantages of automated and manual testing,

• “Level A compliance” denotes that the site meets a few of the overall ADA site compliance requirements but does not take a comprehensive approach to site accessibility.
• “Level AA compliance” demonstrates that the ADA site compliance audit that preceded the declaration of the compliance level established that the site meets the most critical aspects of site accessibility.
• “Level AAA compliance” goes beyond providing access to people with disabilities, such as ensuring that a site's landing page meets these standards.

1. Working with federal government agencies and federally funded entities

1. Demonstration of compliance with Section 508

1. Customized compliance services

1. Identification of critical accessibility issues

1. Increase of your customer base

1. Better SEO scores

• Unbiased and accurate audit of the targeted ICT products or services, based on the Revised Section 508 Standards.
• Improving the product or services’ compliance, based on the errors identified in the audit of the products and services’ technical requirements, functional performance, and support requirements.
• Generation of the requisite compliance data to create the VPAT ACR.

• Revised Section 508 standards
• EN 301549
• WCAG
• INT

1. It provides a vendor competitive advantage over others who are not compliant with Section 508 or not showcasing their compliance standards.
2. A VPAT improves the accessibility features of a product/service and makes the vendors search for areas of improvement to get better.
3. A VPAT also offers compliance with WCAG guidelines, thus VPAT testing allows vendors to minimize the risk of penalty and lawsuit that might occur due to violations of the ADA (Americans with Disability Act).

• Revised Section 508 standards
• EN 301549
• WCAG
• INT

1. It provides a vendor competitive advantage over others who are not compliant with Section 508 or not showcasing their compliance standards.
2. A VPAT improves the accessibility features of a product/service and makes the vendors search for areas of improvement to get better.
3. A VPAT also offers compliance with WCAG guidelines, thus VPAT testing allows vendors to minimize the risk of penalty and lawsuit that might occur due to violations of the ADA (Americans with Disability Act).
4.  

1. Understand the basics about the ADA

1. Develop a written ADA compliance implementation plan

1. Execute your ADA compliance plan

1. Put in place a policyto assure compliance with the periodic ADA updates

1. Provide an accessible ADA compliance statement

• For each non-text element, a text equivalent must be provided.
• Equivalent replacements must be synced with the display for any multimedia content.
• Designing web pages should ensure that every information given through color is likewise available in black and white.
• The layout of documents should be such that they may be read without the use of a style sheet.
• For every active area of a server-side picture map, redundant text links must be provided.
• Except in cases where the areas cannot be built with a readily available geometric shape, client-side image maps should be offered instead of server-side image maps.
• For data tables, row and column headers must be clearly visible.
• For data tables with two or more logical levels of row or column headers, markup should be used to link data cells with header cells.
• To make it easier to identify and navigate between frames, each frame should have a title.
• Pages ought to be made to prevent screen flickering at frequencies higher than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
• When compliance with Section 508 requirements cannot be achieved in any other way, a text-only page with similar information or functionality must be provided. Such text-only pages have their content updated anytime the main page is changed.
• Assistive technology should be able to read the information provided by scripts when pages use them to display content or generate interface components.
• When a web page necessitates the presence of an applet, plug-in, or other application on the client system in order to interpret page content, the page must link to an applet or plug-in that adheres to the relevant Section 508 regulations.
• When electronic forms are to be filled out online, they should be accessible to persons who use assistive technology and include all instructions and signals as well as the data, field components, and functionality needed to complete and submit the form.
• There ought to be a way for users to avoid tedious navigation.
• The user should be informed and given enough time to request extra time when a timed response is required.

• Consider the level of accessibility compliance of products or services.
• Compare the compliance for similar products.
• Choose the product or service that best meets the accessibility standards as well as the functional and legal requirements of the organization.
• Plan for equally effective accessible products or services when the desired accessible products or services are unavailable.

1. Download the VPAT form.

1. Perform the requisite VPAT assessments.

1. Fill out the VPAT report

1. Make the VPAT report publicly accessible

• Private organizations with 15 employees or more
• State and local government organizations
• Places of business considered by Title III of the ADA to be places of public accommodation, like websites
• Public benefit organizations like public transportation, schools, bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, banks, law offices, gyms, etc.

• WCAG is a set of formal guidelines for developing accessible digital content, while the ADA is a civil law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities.
• The ADA focuses on ensuring the same level of access to people with disabilities as is the case for people without disabilities, and to that effect, it provides guidelines for state governments, local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, ICT, digital media, and websites to adhere to. On the other hand, WCAG provides guiding principles for making websites accessible to all users.
• WCAG is not a regulatory or statutory mechanism, which means that there is no need to have a compliance plan for it. Nonetheless, its guidelines for the different tiers of accessibility can serve as a cornerstone for compliance with the ADA.
• Non-adherence to WCAG does not result in any penalties or punitive measures; however, missing out on these guidelines could put you in violation of the ADA and result in lawsuits and hefty fines.

• Download the appropriate edition of the VPAT 2.4 template

• Read the instructions on the VPAT template and start filling it out

• Fill out the VPAT template in a way that encourages discussion

• Examine your VPAT ACR to ensure that it is complete.

• Always get help from a third-party VPAT professional

• Making it easy to navigate and access a website using a keyboard

• Ensure alternative text (ALT) is provided for all images and videos

• Make sure that the website has screen reader capability

• Transcription and captioning of videos and audios

1. Creation of a common framework for comparison of similar EdTech products

1. Helping in the fixing of accessibility barriers in EdTech products

1. Helping to prioritize areas to be improved in EdTech products

1. Sets a clear matrix for accessibility conformance

1. Helps to provide insights about the EdTech product’s accessibility baseline

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content
• Providing alternatives to video-only and audio-only content
• Providing captions for videos with audio
• Ensuring a high contrast between text sections and their backgrounds
• Defining the language used on the web pages
• Ensuring that all website functionalities are operable via keyboard
• Ensuring that when visitors are met with time limitations within the website, the time limit can be adjusted.
• Minimizing distractions and allowing visitors to turn off or postpone interruptions
• Ensuring that websites don’t have flashing content that could induce seizures
• Ensuring that any single-character key shortcuts are adjustable, providing a ‘skip to content’ link, and ensuring that if a website visitor commits an error, the error is identifiable and can be described in text and announced by screen readers.
• Ensuring that labels and instructions are descriptive and clear for all website visitors.
• Ensuring that the website has a clear and concise heading structure.
• Ensuring that content placement and functionality are predictable.
• Ensuring that page titles are clear and helpful.
• Ensuring that functionalities requiring gestures can be performed by website visitors with limited mobility.
• Ensuring that all links have text that accurately conveys the purpose of the link.
• Ensuring that electronic documents are accessible and can be read by assistive technologies.

• Ensuring that your electronic product or service is accessible to as many users as possible.
• Avoiding discriminating against people with certain types of disabilities, given that using a checklist that is not extensive enough could make one risk the danger of not considering how a product or service is accessible to users with a certain type of disability,
• Limiting the chances of being vulnerable to non-compliance lawsuits
• Improving the quality of a product or service based on perspectives from different angles
• Distinguishing the best Section 508 compliance checker to use in testing compliance in the case of website 508 compliance

• Navigation and accessibility using the keyboard

• Alternative text for images

• Alternative text for videos

• Transcripts or captions for videos and audio

• Screen reader capability

• Color and contrast

• No time limits

• Avoidance of flickering objects on the screen

• Broadening your target audience
• Averting expensive lawsuits
• Boosting web search visibility
• Enhancing the overall experience for users of your product or service

• Manual 508 testing method

• Automated Section 508testing 

• Hybrid 508testing 

Before delving into what the impact of 508-compliance is on user experience and engagement, let’s ensure that everyone reading this article understands Section 508 and the 508-compliant design of digital products and services.

What is Section 508?

The question, “What is Section 508?” often lingers in the minds of many people who join the digital and accessibility space, as they may not have been accustomed to it in their previous disciplines. It is therefore essential to bring these individuals on board before delving into other facets of Section 508 compliance.

Section 508 is part of a 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It requires all federal agencies to procure, maintain, and use electronic information technology (EIT) that is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

What is the 508-compliant design of digital products and services?

508-compliant design of digital products and services refers to conformance to the established Section 508 compliance requirements when designing the products and services.

To ensure conformity with Section 508, the U.S. Access Board, which is an independent federal agency, develops and maintains standards that must be met to achieve Section 508 compliance and helps to deliver 508-compliant digital products and services.

How 508 compliance impacts user experience and engagement

Designing EIT products and services with 508 compliance requirements in mind is not just about meeting legal accessibility requirements or catering to the needs of users with disabilities. Rather, it is about creating inclusive and intuitive experiences that deliver benefits to every user of the EIT product or service. Some of the key impacts of 508 compliance on user experience and engagement are as follows:

(a) Usability

508-compliance precipitates accessibility, which, in turn, is a critical aspect of EIT product or service user experience and engagement design that has immense potential to lead to better usability of the product or service as well as unquestionable user satisfaction.

Usability, which is a key outcome of 508 compliance, is the degree to which an EIT product or service can be used by its intended users to effectively and satisfactorily achieve their goals. 508-compliance plays a significant role toward achieving better usability by removing barriers to access and enabling all users to engage with or interact with the product or service effortlessly.

(b) User-centric design of EIT products and services

508-compliance ensures that when EIT products and services are designed for accessibility, their designers consider the needs of users with various disabilities and how they will experience and engage with the product or service based on their state. This user-centric design of EIT products and services ends up benefiting all users, not just those with disabilities.

(c) User satisfaction

Designing EIT products and services to conform to Section 508 compliance requirements can also lead to better user satisfaction. Section 508 compliance helps to create inclusive experiences and engagements that enable the enhancement of satisfaction for all users.

For example, designing EIT products and services for users with visual disabilities by using high contrast and ALT text for images can make the content experiential and engagingly accessible for all users, including those with good vision. Similarly, when content is designed using simple language, clear navigation, and consistent design so as to cater for users with cognitive disabilities, it can end up helping all users to understand and navigate the product or service better.

(d) User retention

Section 508 compliance also has a positive impact on user retention. The accessibility delivered by 508-compliance not only helps to increase the number of users of a 508-compliant product or service by bringing on board those who were previously excluded, but also retains the existing users because of the delivered user experience.

Need assistance with designing your digital products for the user experience?

Designing your digital products and services for 508-compliance has impactful benefits for businesses or organizations, as well as for users of the products or services. It helps you create inclusive experiences by removing access barriers and enabling users to have an experiential and effortless interaction with the product or service.

If you need help designing 508-compliant products or services, ADACP can assist you with how to consider the needs of users with various disabilities so you can effectively design for accessibility. Discuss this with them by calling (626) 486-2201.

Section 508 accessibility is a term used in reference to efforts aimed at providing people with disabilities equal access to electronic information and data comparable to the access available to people who do not have disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the business providing the digital experience. It derives from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires agencies to provide equal access to ICT products and services for people with disabilities.

Testing tools for ensuring Section 508 accessibility compliance

Did you know that if you are a federal agency, an organization funded by the federal government, or a service provider to any federal agency or federally-funded organization, you need to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act? Under the law, your digital properties or those that you display must be accessible to people with disabilities.

To determine if the digital properties you own or display comply with Section 508, you will need to test them. While you will find some level of manual testing essential, a major part of your properties can be tested through automated Section 508 accessibility tools.

Testing your digital properties using automated testing tools can provide you with critical information regarding the properties’ conformity with Section 508 accessibility requirements, which can save you time and money.

To help you ensure test 508 compliance, a number of testing tools have been developed for your use. They include accessibility checkers, color contrast analyzers, PDF editors, and screen reader tools, among others.

1. Accessibility checkers

Accessibility checkers are testing tools that evaluate the level of conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards a web page has. Once these checkers scan a web page, they generate a detailed report highlighting the 508 compliance-accessible issues existing within the web page.

To help you deal with the issues found, the checkers will normally recommend tools to help you resolve the issues.

1. Color  contrast analyzers

Color contrast analyzers are 508 accessibility testing tools that let one measure the contrast ratio between two colors with a simple eve-drop feature. They are handy tools for making digital content more accessible, including both text and graphics, especially for users who are color-blind or have low-vision conditions.

(c) PDF editors

PDF editors tend to have built-in features that assess PDF documents and provide thorough reports that detail the level of the document’s conformance to WCAG 2.0 Level AA, which is Section 508’s standards for compliance.

(d) Screen readers

Screen reader testing tools can be used to test how accessible a digital property is on various ICT tools, such as iPhones, Apple products, etc.

Testing techniques for ensuring Section 508 accessibility compliance

There are two common techniques for ensuring a digital property attains the set Section 508 accessibility requirements, namely, manual testing and automated testing. Each technique has its own unique advantages.

Manual tests are more labor-intensive and costly, but they provide valuable quantitative and qualitative data for achieving 508 accessibility compliance. Skilled 508 accessibility testers undertake manual testing by performing a thorough examination of a digital property’s features and technologies and assessing them against the Section 508 accessibility requirements.

Manual testing offers qualitative insights into the accessibility status of the digital property and uncovers any potential challenges the digital property may pose for people with specific disabilities. The information gleaned from this process usually serves as a foundation for developing a plan to deal with the noted accessibility issues.

The other testing technique for ensuring 508 accessibility is automated testing. This technique is particularly efficient during the initial stages of 508 accessibility compliance testing. Great automated testing tools can greatly enhance manual testing techniques by offering speed and cost-effectiveness.

The automated testing technique is very beneficial for larger digital properties, such as websites, or when dealing with a high volume of ICTs that require compliance testing.

Need help with testing tools and techniques for 508 accessibility?

You can get the assistance you require to achieve 508 accessibility compliance by reaching out to ADACP for help. Call them at (626) 486-2201, or simply schedule a 508 testing tool or technique consult.

Section 508 compliance is the legal requirement that federal agencies and federally funded organizations ensure that the information and communication technology (ICT) they create, acquire, maintain, or use allows people with disabilities to access information and data.

Section 508 compliance versus ADA compliance

Understanding the essentials of Section 508 compliance requires some background knowledge about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a civil rights law that was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The ADA is divided into three titles: the first one concerns employment, the second one concerns state and local governments, and the third one refers to public accommodations and commercial facilities. More generally, the ADA sets out rules prohibiting discrimination in all areas of public life. It aims to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The ADA was enacted after people with disabilities began to challenge the societal barriers that cause them to be excluded from society because of their disabilities and when parents of children with disabilities started fighting against the exclusion of their children. As a ground-breaking civil rights law, the ADA sets rules to help guarantee that people with disabilities enjoy the same guarantees as everyone else in terms of employee rights, but also establishes rules regarding the responsibilities of employers.

Section 508 applies to federal agencies and any organization that receives funding from the federal government, including suppliers and contractors. It mandates organizations to ensure that all of their digital communications meet Section 508’s compliance levels, which in practice means that they must conform to Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

While the ADA and Section 508 exist to ensure equal rights for people with disabilities, they are not the same legislation. The most important distinction between the ADA and Section 508 is that the ADA applies to businesses open to the public as well as state and local governments, whereas Section 508 applies to federal organizations.

Though both pieces of legislation apply to accessibility, being Section 508-compliant does not automatically mean your product or service is ADA-compliant, and vice versa. That is why, as a business owner or leader of a federal organization or entity that receives federal funding, you need to know about meeting compliance requirements for both the ADA and Section 508.

How to achieve Section 508 compliance

Unlike the ADA, Section 508 has a clear standard for compliance. For example, if you want your business or organization to comply with Section 508, you should ensure that your ICT products or services conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA. It is noteworthy to point out that under Section 508, organizations are required to document their ICT products or services’ level of conformance by completing a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).

Many businesses and organizations strive to achieve ADA compliance as well as conform to Section 508 accessibility requirements. ADA compliance 508 consciousness ensures an organization or business does not get caught up with the risks associated with a lack of compliance with any of the legislation.

Working with accessibility consultants who understand how to deliver the Americans with Disabilities Act Section 508 compliance intricacies can help you avoid the legal consequences of not conforming to the ADA while enhancing your opportunities for working with federal organizations because of conformance with Section 508.

Do we have ADA Section 508 web accessibility requirements?

While the ADA does not have its own web accessibility guidelines outlined in law, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has suggested that the WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the gold standard websites should reach in order to be considered accessible. Unlike the ADA, which uses the most recent WCAG 2.1 standards, Section 508 requires websites to meet Level AA from the earlier WCAG 2.0 version.

With the exception of federal government websites or websites of government contractors, most organizations do not have to meet Section 508 web accessibility requirements. However, the good news is that if your website is meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards as recommended by the ADA, you are already meeting Section 508 standards as well. That is because the WCAG 2.1 standards are built upon the WCAG 2.0 standards.

Need help testing your product or service for ADA compliance 508?

You can test your website or any of your ICT products or services for ADA compliance or for Section 508 compliance using appropriate approaches drawn from three categories: manual, automated, or hybrid.

If your product or service is online, you can use an ADA Section 508 compliance checker that your peers have favorably rated and by relying on expert service providers, like ADACP.  Begin the discussion about ADA Section 508 compliance needs by calling ADACP at (626) 486-2201 today so as to schedule a free consultation on the same.

508 certification is a term used in reference to the assessment by a Section 508 compliance consultant of how an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service is based on the accessibility hardware standards. It involves auditing and documenting how the various aspects of an ICT product or service conform to Section 508 compliance requirements.

Contrary to the norm where a certificate is issued in testimony of a certain certification and the entity receiving the certification is charged by the body issuing the certification, 508 certification does not involve the issuance of certification, and neither is there any awarding entity or organization.

Section 508 certification essentially summarizes an ICT product or service’s level of compliance with the revised Section 508 compliance requirements. A 508 certification could take the form of a Statement of Accessibility, a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) Statement, or a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Conformance Claim, which are all underpinned by the established and ever-dynamic 508 accessibility standards.

What are Section 508 accessibility standards?

Section 508 accessibility standards are part of the Federal Acquisition Regulations aimed at ensuring access for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. The revised 508 standards became effective in 2018 and incorporate WCAG 2.0, which is an international standard.

The standards address cognitive, language, and learning disabilities; are organized by functionality and not product type; include operating systems and authoring systems; and require software and operating systems to interoperate with assistive technologies, such as screen magnification and refreshable Braille displays. The standards adopt WCAG 2.0 at Levels A and AA for websites, electronic content, tools, and apps.

How to get 508 certified

Getting 508 certified begins with ensuring that you meet all the requirements of ADA Section 508 compliance and conducting regular accessibility assessments that enable you to make necessary accessibility adjustments. It is also advisable that you have a clear and well-documented accessibility policy in place and provide accessibility training for your employees, including designers and developers of your products and services. 

Here are the trusted ways you can get your ICT product or service certified for ADA Section 508 compliance:

• Use of Section 508 compliance testing tools

Section 508 compliance testing tools can help you get 508 certified. The tools can be used to scan your product or service, e.g., website or app, for free, identify the present accessibility issues, and provide you with specific, easy-to-understand instructions on how to fix the identified issues. All you need to do is insert the page URL of the product or service you want to scan, and the tool will do the rest for you.

While it is advisable to take advantage of the existing high-volume ADA Section 508 compliance testing tools, you should be aware of their limitations. The tools cannot apply human subjectivity to Hardware accessibility testing and therefore either produce excessive false positives or, when configured to eliminate false positives, test for only a small portion of the Section 508 compliance requirements.

When using 508 compliance-testing tools, ensure that you select tools that test using the document’s native format. That is because a number of these tools often convert files into HTML before testing, which often reduces the fidelity and accuracy of the conformance testing. It may therefore be helpful that you deploy multiple scanning tools to cover multiple content types to enhance the quality of your 508 certification.

• Perform a manual evaluation of your products or services

You can get 508 certified by contracting an ADA Section 508 compliance expert to perform a manual evaluation of your ICT product or service. That involves looking for potential accessibility barriers in your product or service and making the necessary adjustments.

Professional 508 certification consultants usually document the 508 assessments they perform on products and services and use them to inform any necessary updates to the product or service as well as their development processes, so as to ensure continued compliance with Section 508. 508 certification professionals may decide to conduct user testing with individuals who have disabilities so as to obtain feedback on the accessibility of the product or service.

A quick guide to conforming to 508 accessibility standards

Here is a quick guide to enable you to easily conform to the Section 508 accessibility standards and get 508 certified:

Create a consistent 508-compliance design concept

Ensure that the concept you create as the basis for your ICT product or service is clean, concise, and remains uncluttered. Asking yourself key 508 accessibility questions, such as whether a section of an ICT product or service’s intended customers may struggle to access the product or service described in the concept, can help create or develop products or services that are accessible.

Choose the right colours

Be mindful of the colour contrast you use in your product or service. That is because many of the intended users of the product or service who are colour-blind can see clearly, but colours appear different from what you may see.

Be mindful of font sizes

For 508-compliant products and services, pay attention to the font size of your design. Don’t go too small. You could either add the option for users to change the font size or use a minimum font size of 12pt or above.

Provide easy navigation with keystrokes

Keep in mind that for some users or your product or service, it could be difficult to navigate with a mouse. To achieve 508 compliance, ensure that your product or service can be accessed using a keyboard only.

Need help getting your product or service 508 certified?

Don’t let 508 certification be an afterthought in your business or operations. Embrace the ideas in this article to make a difference for all users of your ICT products or services while fulfilling your ADA Section 508 compliance obligations. You can get help to make your products and services accessible and inclusive right from the start.

If you have any questions or would like to see a demo of how to get 508 certified, please feel free to reach out to ADACP by calling (626) 486-2201 today to schedule a free consultation on how to get 508 certified.

Within the context of accessibility testing, hardware includes any part of a product that can be physically touched, moved around in a room, held, or picked up. Hardware information and communication technology (ICT), or accessibility hardware, usually refers to any physical parts that comprise the device. (Here the term “device” includes a computer, printer, virtual reality headset, display, etc.)

In the scope of accessibility testing, accessibility hardware may be as simple as a monitor with no physical controls or as complicated as a multifunction printer with an integrated screen and keyboard, multiple paper trays, or accessories that are added to hardware.

Key factors to consider in accessibility hardware testing

As a tester for accessibility hardware, you’re responsible for taking careful notes of the hardware’s accessibility testing as well as writing detailed remarks and explanations of your findings. Here are some important insights to help you deliver effective hardware accessibility testing:

• Working from the perspective of the hardware’s end user

It is therefore insightful that you look at your accessibility testing work from the perspective of the hardware’s end user. That involves keeping in mind that individual user experiences vary.

• Disability is diverse and individual

In accessibility hardware testing, you need to know that disability is diverse and individual. It may be temporary, acquitted, or lifelong. Therefore, two individuals with the same type of disability have different needs and preferences. This is an insight that every hardware accessibility testing professional should always keep in mind.

• It is not a must that you have a comprehensive understanding of the hardware

Quality accessibility testing does not necessitate a comprehensive understanding of the hardware ICT targeted for accessibility testing, and nor does it require a complete understanding of the hardware’s total functionality. It rather requires one to have a consultative attitude so that if specific questions arise during the testing process, a technical person in the area can be consulted. This consultation may involve going over and over the user manual supplied with the hardware being tested.

• Interaction of people with disabilities in the accessibility testing

A quality hardware accessibility test will paint a picture of how people with disabilities interacted with the targeted hardware during the test. That will include an account of any insights that convey useful information about the accessibility defects, workarounds, or limitations that people with disabilities will find useful when reading the test results.

• Common everyday experiences with the hardware

Hardware ICT accessibility testing should be cognizant of the common and everyday experiences that real people in real situations usually have with the hardware. That entails asking questions like whether the hardware can be positioned and configured such that someone with a mobility limitation has a frictionless user experience when using it. It may also require establishing whether the tactile indicators on the hardware buttons enable an individual with low vision to effortlessly turn on the product.

• Clarity in all testing protocols

The end goals for undertaking the hardware accessibility test should be to remediate the defects found and to document the incremental progress of making the hardware fully accessible through the audit and across the product lifecycles. To achieve that, clarity in all the testing protocols should be prioritized. This may require having a hardware accessibility audit template to serve as a guide for the evaluation process. 

A hardware accessibility audit template will help in accurately recording what is tested, including the hardware’s official name, code name, version, date tested, technical leads providing key information, any firmware associated with the product, available documentation, supporting software, etc.

• Reproducibility of the test results 

Clear hardware ICT testing is crucial in ensuring the availability of communication to facilitate reproducible testing. When undertaking the testing, ensure you articulate the limitations and consistent rules that dictated what you included in the hardware accessibility test. This involves determining the parts of the hardware being tested and carefully recording in the test protocol the information so that the results correspond with the success criteria.

Need help with hardware accessibility testing?

Do you have hardware ICT that you want tested for accessibility or require a hardware accessibility audit template to guide you in testing the accessibility of your hardware? ADACP can assist you on achieving your accessibility testing goals. Reach out to them at (626) 486-2201 to schedule a free consultation.

A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document that explains how information and communication technology (ICT) products and services, such as software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation, conform to the Revised 508 Standards for IT accessibility. Hardware VPAT is a document used during Section 508 certification to document how hardware meets the Revised 508 Standards for IT accessibility.

This article serves to increase your awareness and demystify the process of Section 508 testing using hardware VPAT, regardless of your experience level with Section 508 compliance requirements.

Guide to completing hardware VPAT after Section 508 audit

Hardware VPAT is a representation of how a given piece of hardware meets the applicable 508 compliance requirements. The hardware owner must first undertake Section 508 testing of the product against the 508 compliance requirements in order to complete the VPAT. Here are the steps to guide you on how to go about this:

Step 1: Download the hardware VPAT

The hardware VPAT is a free template that may be downloaded by going to the ITI website. At the bottom of the webpage, you will find four editions of the document: VPAT 2.x Rev, EU, INT, 508, and WCAG. You will choose the edition that is relevant to the market in which you want your hardware sold.

Step 2: Complete the VPAT title page

The hardware VPAT begins with several pages of instructions. Read the instructions carefully and remove the instruction pages when submitting the completed hardware VPAT. The following information must be provided: Name of the hardware and version number, if applicable; report date; description of the hardware; contact information; additional notes (if any); and evaluation methods.

For the hardware description category or categories that encompass the hardware, you must use one of four phrases—supports, partially supports, does not support, or is not applicable—to describe the hardware’s level of conformance.

Step 3: Determine the applicability of the Revised Section 508 Technical Standards

There are four Revised Section 508 tables labelled as Chapters 3, 4, and 6. Complete the applicable ones. If there are functions in the hardware not addressed by Chapters 4 or 5, then your hardware needs to conform to the criteria in Chapter 3: Functional Performance Criteria. But for all hardware products, you must complete Chapter 4: Hardware.

Step 4: Final Checklist 

Make sure that you perform a final check to make sure you have completely filled out the hardware VPAT. That includes checking whether you have used the correct version of the VPAT, ensuring that you have excluded the first several pages of instructions and have deleted the instruction pages from the completed VPAT; the information fields at the top of the VPAT are duly completed; and, if applicable, you have completed the Success Criteria, Level A, and Level AA tables. Also check whether you have used the correct phrases to describe the conformance levels for the accessibility hardware, and make sure you have completed the applicable Revised Section 508 table.

You should also countercheck whether you have completed the remarks column, and in areas where you have indicated the conformance level as either “Partially Supports” or “Does Not Support,” you should have explained further in the respective remarks column. Also check whether your final filled-out VPAT is accessible and remediate as necessary.

Need a Section 508 consultant to help you with your hardware VPAT?

Completing your hardware VPAT could be intimidating if you have never done VPAT completion before. You don’t have to struggle alone in silence because you can be assisted in filling out the VPAT by a trusted Section 508 consultant. Call ADACP at (626) 486-2201 to be assisted with getting a Section 508 consultant to assist you in filling out your hardware VPAT.

Section 508 compliance is conformance to Section 508, which is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and requires all federal organizations to give their employees with disabilities as well as members of the public who have disabilities access to information comparable to the others.

Examples of information and communication technology (ICT) covered under Section 508 include computers, telecommunication equipment, multifunction office machines such as copiers that operate as printers, software, websites, information kiosks and transaction machines, and electronic documents.

Why you should care about Section 508 compliance

Apart from federal organizations, many private businesses are increasingly striving to have their ICT, including online content, ADA Section 508 compliant. Any business dealing with digital products and services must adhere to 508 accessibility standards for the content they share on their website and the final product they share with their clients.

Section 508 compliance is now not only helpful for target audiences but also holds many benefits for businesses, which is why if you have a business, you need to care about it. Some of the benefits of 508 compliance include the following:

• Avoidance of costly lawsuits

Section 508 focuses only on the federal agencies. It is recommended that businesses that receive funding or associate with government agencies adhere to the accessibility standards for 508 compliance. It will assist in lowering the possibility of a lawsuit and the costs or penalties connected with it for your company.

• Building your brand

Businesses that strive to raise their accessibility standards demonstrate that they value their customers more than just their bottom line. It cultivates a reputation for social responsibility and fosters user trust in your brand. It adds to a favorable and approachable brand image and represents the moral principles of the company.

• More customers

In America, one in four adults has a disability of some kind. A large portion of your target audience is probably being missed if your material does not adhere to accessibility guidelines. Making sure that all of your consumers with disabilities choose your brand over competitors' will require completing 508 compliance testing before releasing any content, technology, or product onto the market.

• Saving costs

In the event that a sizable portion of your intended market is unable to obtain the product or service details, you can have to invest a lot of time, energy, and financial resources in responding to their inquiries. To educate this segment of your audience, you might need to commit additional resources. Customers can access the information independently with the use of material that complies with 508, saving time, money, and effort.

• Improved search engine optimization

It's imperative that your company optimize its Internet presence. Enhancing ADA compliance through work on 508 compliance makes your material more search engine-friendly. You must include heading tags, alt text for images, transcripts for audio and video content, and a consistent content structure for improved 508 compliance. Enhancing accessibility increases the likelihood that your website's organic search rankings will raise.

• Improved overall user experience

Following Section 508 accessibility guidelines can help elevate your customers' experience, much like it can benefit your content's SEO. Having a well-designed and consistent content structure will make it easier for consumers to locate the information they need. By providing inclusivity and clarity to all users who access your website, services, or products, it will improve the user experience.

• Opportunities for partnerships with federal organizations

In the US, no company would want to pass up the chance to collaborate with a federal agency. Typically, national organizations enter into long-term contracts with private businesses and buy goods or services in bulk. You must start immediately adhering to Section 508 if you want to set up your company to be eligible for commercial prospects with the US government.

• Enhanced innovation

Performing ongoing accessibility audits of your products, services, and content could yield some insightful findings. Your product designers may be able to innovate and enhance your offering to better cater to all segments of the market with the help of these data.

Need help with Section 508 accessibility?

If you need help with Section 508 accessibility, including the development of 508-compliant websites, call ADACP at (626) 486-2201, and you will be matched with a Section 508 consultant who will assist you in all your ADA Section 508 compliance issues.