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Section 508 and equitable online experiences

Delivering information and communication technology (ICT) products, services, and documentation that are accessible is key to making sure that everyone has equitable access to information. For equitable online experiences with your ICT products, services, and documentation, you should ensure that they conform to Section 508 compliance requirements.

What are Section 508 compliance requirements?

Section 508 compliance requirements are a necessary condition for conforming to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires all electronic and information technology (EIT) developed, procured, used, owned, or maintained by federal agencies to be safe and accessible to people with disabilities.

Although the criteria for Section 508 compliance encompass a wide range of topics, they typically offer compliance recommendations designed to make it easier for individuals with different types of impairments to access the documents, websites, and applications utilized and created by or for federal agencies. When made available for public use, papers, presentations, websites, hardware, software, and training materials must all adhere to the criteria of Section 508 compliance.

Whether you are working for the federal government, in the private sector, running a non-governmental organization, or a not-for-profit entity, it is very important to ensure that all your websites, documents, content, and applications are compliant with the guidelines provided in Section 508 as a best practice. This helps you create equitable online experiences for all the users of your products and services, regardless of their state of disability.

Creating equitable online experiences through 508 compliance websites

A successful website aids in establishing a solid online presence and providing clients with useful information. In today's world, a company's or entity's validity may even be questioned if they don't have a website. Customers anticipate that reputable companies will have social media accounts and a website.

However, having a website is one thing; ensuring an equitable user experience for all visitors is quite another. Websites must be usable by everyone, including those with all types of disabilities. Users can access the same information and services that are accessible to everyone on websites that provide equitable online experiences, including things like news articles, online shopping, online banking, government services, and much more.

For federal employees with disabilities, a website that complies with Section 508 and provides fair online experiences ensures that they can fully perform their duties using both the online resources at their disposal and the accessible computers, phones, and office equipment. Additionally, they ought to have full access to any online training courses or information on the internal website of their organization.

A website that complies with Section 508 will guarantee that non-federal workers can access all the information and carry out the procedures required to submit an online application for employment with the federal government. Basically, people should be able to access information and resources equally without having to put in more time or effort.

But contrary to popular belief, website 508 compliance is not limited to only federal agencies. It also applies to contractors who provide ICT products and services to the federal government and non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding.

Tips for creating equitable online experiences with Section 508

What are some of the ways you can create equitable online experiences with website 508 compliance? Some of the tips for achieving this include the following:

Providing text alternatives for images and multimedia

Ensuring screen reader and keyboard accessibility

Using sufficient color contrast

Enabling text resizing

Making time limits adjustable

Need help creating equitable online experiences with Section 508?

Over 40 million Americans live with a disability. This segment of the population deserves equitable online experiences. That is why everyone should view accessibility not just as a legal requirement but also as an intrinsic way of improving the user experience for all web users.

To achieve a fully inclusive society, all of us should strive to make our websites accessible, regardless of whether it is a legal requirement for them to be so or not. You can get help creating equitable user experiences with your website by talking to a website 508 compliance expert at (626) 486-2201 to arrange a free consultation and a quick Section 508 compliant website quote.