Mobile Apps and Section 508: Adapting to the New Accessibility Guidelines

Are mobile applications subject to Section 508 certification?

Let's first clarify what Section 508 compliance certification is all about before determining whether or not mobile apps need to be certified. Based on the Revised Section 508 Standards, it refers to the evaluation of how accessible information and communication technology (ICT) products or services are. It entails demonstrating how your ICT product or service conforms to each of the defined 508 compliance accessibility criteria and guidelines.

Awareness of Section 508 compliance in the mobile application sector

Nowadays, a lot of people are aware of Section 508 compliance and Internet accessibility. That is due to the growing documentation surrounding it, especially the deluge of information on the Internet about how websites without Section 508 certification cost both small and large firms astronomical sums of money in legal fees and compensation. Although there is currently a lack of understanding regarding the accessibility of mobile applications, this does not exempt proprietors of mobile apps from the requirements of Section 508.

Mobile apps do in fact fall under the category of places of public accommodation because they have become such a significant part of daily life, which makes their Section 508 compliance accessible a crucial factor.

It is best to take a step back and try to better understand the topic if you are one of the people who owns mobile apps but isn't familiar with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for mobile apps.

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) forbids discrimination based on ability, which should give you a head start. Since this legislation has served as the foundation for a resounding majority of lawsuits that have resulted in rulings in favor of claimants and petitioners, mobile app developers and owners need to pay close attention to it. It will be crucial for developers and owners to become familiar with the new rules governing Section 508 compliance and accessibility for mobile apps in order to adapt to them after knowing what the ADA demands of mobile apps.

The new guidelines on Section 508 accessibility for mobile apps

 certification is essential for mobile apps if their owners wish them to be made available for public use, as they will be public-facing ICT properties that should be equally available to people with and without disabilities to avoid making them discriminate against particular groups of people. The new Section 508 accessibility guidelines can help you realize this goal. In this article, we will briefly but carefully unpack key things you need to know about WCAG 2.x for mobile apps so that they can help you adapt and avoid unnecessary lawsuits and damages to your brand.

The new WCAG 2.x mobile app accessibility guidelines

All accessibility requirements for websites and mobile apps are based on the WCAG 2.x criteria. The recommendations include comprehensive guidance on how mobile app developers can make their apps usable by people with a variety of disabilities, preventing discrimination against them in daily life.

The 508 accessibility guidelines for mobile apps might be legally mandated in a number of situations. These circumstances include, among others, if the app is connected to a physical location or store, clients can only visit a company's website, federal personnel utilize the app, and the app provides sophisticated communications. It is still in your best interest to make your app accessible even if it does not fit into the categories that are legally required to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The WCAG 2.x guidelines for making a mobile app Section 508 compliant are: making the content Perceivable, including by providing text alternatives for all non-text content; making the interfaces Operable, including making all the functionalities operable via a keyboard; making the content and controls Understandable; and making the content Robust.

Get help adapting your mobile app to Section 508 accessibility guidelines 

You can reach out to organizations like ADACP, which are recognized leaders and trusted authorities in Section 508 mobile app accessibility, for assistance in identifying solutions that are easily accessible to make the process much simpler for you, whether or not you lack the time or technical know-how to make your app accessible.

Contact a mobile app accessibility specialist at (626) 486-2201 to set up a free consultation or to request a quick quote for testing your mobile app for Section 508 compliance to learn more about how you can modify your app to meet the defined Section 508 compliance certification standards. The ADACP's website checker for Section 508 compliance is another tool you can use to assess your 

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