Overlay Facts About Section 508-Compliant Retail Sector

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What is Section 508 compliant retail sector?

“Section 508-compliant retail sector” is a term used in reference to a retail sector that conforms to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 508 is primarily a law requiring all federal government digital resources to be completely safe and accessible for people with disabilities.

Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act Amendment in 1998 with the intention of removing obstacles in the field of information technology, providing new possibilities for individuals with disabilities, and promoting the advancement of technologies that will aid in the accomplishment of these objectives. Information and communication technology (ICT) that is accessible to individuals with disabilities must be developed, acquired, maintained, and used by all federal agencies and departments, according to the legislation.

While private businesses are not required by the law, which focuses on federal organizations, it is advisable for any private business hoping to obtain funding or a contract to provide goods and services to any federal agency to make sure the goods and services they intend to offer comply with the Section 508 accessibility requirements.

People with disabilities who use federal government facility resources are also subject to Section 508 compliance, not just federal employees with disabilities. Access to information for disabled employees and members of the public must be provided by federal agencies in a manner that is equivalent to that which is provided for individuals without disabilities.

What Section 508 covers and is vital for the retail sector

Any digital device that discriminates against people based on their abilities cannot be purchased or supported by the federal government or those who fund it without complying with Section 508. Websites, electronic papers, kiosks, and software are all affected. Since the retail industry offers all of these, it is crucial to have a conversation about a sector that complies with Section 508.

Following the enactment of Section 508, the U.S. Access Board was tasked with approving the standards and requirements for determining the accessibility of digital resources. The standards were first released as the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards in 2000 and are applicable to a number of industries, including the retail industry. The guidelines featured a number of procedures for enforceability, and they have been reviewed and updated over the years to reflect the always-changing accessibility realities. For instance, the Access Board accepted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA compliance criteria from the World Wide Consortium (W3C) in 2017 as the official Section 508 compliance standards or requirements.

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Why Section 508 compliance is important for the retail sector

Despite having limited jurisdiction, Section 508 is a major advancement for the retail industry, particularly in terms of its position on the standards for web-accessible design. This is significant because, in the retail setting, websites are not the primary means of informing prospective customers about goods and services.

Section 508 primarily affects the federal government's ability to provide benefits, services, and goods through physical and digital resources that might otherwise be inaccessible to those with disabilities. In actuality, it established the foundation for the first web accessibility standard to be implemented in the United States, aside from Section 508 giving the Rehabilitation Act some teeth.

Due to its direct impact on the online digital realm that serves as the foundation of the retail industry, the aforementioned had a huge influence on how the sector conducts business. Although WCAG 1.0 guidelines had been out for a few years, the federal government's digital access laws were first enforced through the initial Section 508 compliance standards.

Considering the complexity and high cost of accessible website design for players in the retail industry as well as other industries, many companies and organizations have a tendency to ignore web accessibility and put off bringing their resources into compliance. Enforcing Section 508 compliance has become more crucial in guaranteeing that companies doing business with federal agencies and those agencies themselves are held responsible for granting equitable access.

Technical standards for Section 508 accessibility in the retail sector

The Section 508 technical standards, which summarized as follows, serve as the foundation for compliance in the retail sector, just as they do for other industries.

• Videos or Multimedia Products: Contains specifications for audio description and captioning of multimedia products, such as instructional or multimedia projects.
• Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications: Ensures that web material is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities who use assistive technology like screen readers and refreshable Braille displays, or who simply want to read written descriptions.
• Self-Contained, Closed Products: Items like copiers, fax machines, and information kiosks that end users normally cannot connect or add assistive devices to. This standard connects to the others and typically necessitates the inclusion of access features in these systems.
• Operating systems and Software Applications: Contains a web browser that provides software accessibility features like focus and keyboard navigation.
• Desktop and Portable Computers: covers accessibility in relation to mechanical controls, like keyboards touch screens, and standard ports.
• Telecommunications Products address accessibility for products like cell phones and voice mail systems. It includes managing technology compatibility with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and telecommunications devices for the deaf (TTYs).
• Telecommunications products: These include voice mail systems and cell phones, among other goods that are accessible. It involves overseeing the technological compatibility of assistive listening devices, hearing aids, and telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTYs).

Section 508 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the retail sector

In the retail industry, people frequently mix up the criteria for Section 508 with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This isn't the case because the ADA was a civil rights law implemented in 1990 that forbids discrimination against people with disabilities in all spheres of society, including the electronic and information technology industries (which include, among other things, websites, software, phones, and contact centers).

Local and state governments, nonprofit organizations, and commercial companies are all covered by the ADA. It is crucial to remember that the ADA forbids discrimination against people with disabilities in other areas of businesses as well, such as hiring practices and physical entrances and exits. As a result, all organizations, including those in the retail sector, are required to make sure that these policies do not apply to websites.

Retail industry participants should be aware that while there are no penalties for violating WCAG requirements, WCAG is an important tool that companies and organizations should use to stay out of trouble. Violations of Section ADA may result in fines, complaints, and legal action.

Let ADACP help you with Section 508 compliance

ADACP is here to assist you if you require support with Section 508 compliance for any material or websites in the retail sector! We have a great deal of experience helping retail sector businesses with services like remediation, closed captioning, and others targeted at making retail sector products and services accessible to people with disabilities, having served a variety of needs of compliance-driven retail businesses for decades. By calling (626) 486-2201, you can get in touch with us, and we'll put you in contact with the right Section 508 testing and compliance experts on our team.