Section 508 Compliance

Section 508 Compliance Services for Government and Public Sector Work

Section 508 sets accessibility requirements for federal agencies and many procurement workflows. We help teams meet Section 508 compliance expectations through structured testing, clear documentation, and practical next steps — so your digital products are usable for people with disabilities and easier to approve during review.

Section 508 Compliance That Holds Up in Procurement and Review

Federal agencies and public sector buyers do not treat Section 508 as an afterthought for digital teams. How your product will be evaluated, approved, and finally purchased by these agencies is significantly impacted by Section 508. Simply scanning the surface level to see if you meet all the necessary guidelines is simply not enough. Your product needs to have measurable accessibility results that can be tested and proven, easily and understandably documented, and defendable at both the time of purchase and during compliance reviews.

We focus on the practical application of compliance. ADACP tests how your product performs in real-world situations, identifies the gaps in performance that could prevent your product from being approved, and provides clear, organized documentation that your team can use in audit preparation, VPAT reporting, and procurement discussions. In the end, we provide Section 508 compliance that leads to approvals, protects contracts, and instills confidence in the ability of a buyer to work with your company.

A Practical Path to Section 508 Compliance

When you have Section 508 compliance as a standard practice in your delivery process, and not just something to do because someone has complained or there is an impending deadline, you will get the most out of your compliance efforts.

ADACP takes your team through a defined process: first, we work with you to determine the top impacting pages and workflow, next, we help you validate where users are actually experiencing barriers, then, we prioritize your remedial efforts based on how much those users will be impacted and the level of legal risk for non-compliance, finally, we test again to ensure measurable improvement.

For teams who deliver their products regularly, the long term benefit of working with ADACP is that we can help you create consistent accessible components, document your design standards and develop a tested procedure that fits into your normal development cycle.

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FAQ

Common Questions About Section 508

What is Section 508 compliance?
Section 508 is part of the Rehabilitation Act and requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. It applies to websites, software, hardware, and digital documents used or procured by federal entities.
Who needs to comply with Section 508?
Federal agencies are required to comply. Vendors, contractors, and technology providers who sell to federal agencies are also expected to meet Section 508 requirements as part of procurement and contract obligations.
How is Section 508 different from ADA?
The ADA is a broad civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Section 508 is more specific — it sets accessibility standards for federal electronic and information technology. In practice, both reference WCAG as the technical benchmark for evaluating digital accessibility.
What does Section 508 testing include?
Section 508 testing includes automated scanning, manual validation of keyboard navigation, assistive technology testing (screen readers, magnification), and evaluation of user flows against WCAG criteria. Results are mapped to specific success criteria with clear remediation guidance.
Is a VPAT required for Section 508 compliance?
A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is not technically required by law, but it is the standard format used to document accessibility conformance for federal procurement. Most agencies expect a completed VPAT or ACR as part of vendor review.
How long does Section 508 compliance take?
Timelines vary based on product complexity, the number of templates and user flows, and the volume of accessibility issues. Small websites may take weeks; enterprise platforms often require phased work over several months.

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A practical explainer covering who Section 508 applies to, how it maps to WCAG and the Revised 508 Standards, and what federal procurement teams expect to see.

Section 508 Compliance 101

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