Category: Standards and Guidelines

Revised Section 508 Standards

Also known as: Revised 508 Standards, Section 508 Standards, Revised 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines

Simply put

The Revised Section 508 Standards are the updated federal requirements for making information and communication technology (ICT) accessible and usable by people with disabilities. They apply to federal agencies under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and are intended to make accessibility requirements easier to understand while enhancing access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. This entry is general information and not legal advice; consult qualified counsel or current agency guidance for specific obligations.

Formal definition

The Revised Section 508 Standards are technical and functional accessibility standards issued by the U.S. Access Board that govern information and communication technology (ICT) in covered federal contexts under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Published together with the Section 255 Guidelines as the 'Revised 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines,' the standards are incorporated into the Federal Acquisition Regulation and address access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. The 2017 revision (commonly referred to as the 'refresh') was intended to enhance ICT accessibility and clarify requirements. Conformance is often documented through an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), which describes the extent to which a product conforms to standards such as WCAG or the Section 508 Technical Standards. Note that Section 508 governs federal agencies and is distinct from Title II (state and local government) and Title III (public accommodations) of the ADA; requirements evolve through regulation and agency guidance, and this definition is not legal advice.

Why it matters

The Revised Section 508 Standards establish the federal government's baseline expectations for accessible information and communication technology (ICT). Because these standards are incorporated into the Federal Acquisition Regulation, they shape not only how federal agencies build and maintain their own systems but also what vendors must deliver when selling technology to the government. For any organization that contracts with federal agencies, understanding these standards is often a practical prerequisite to doing business.

The standards matter because they translate the civil-rights aim of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act into concrete technical and functional expectations intended to enhance access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. The 2017 revision (commonly called the 'refresh') was designed to make requirements easier to understand and to enhance ICT accessibility. This clarity helps procurement teams, developers, and accessibility specialists align around a shared reference point rather than interpreting obligations in isolation.

It is important to keep the scope of Section 508 distinct. Section 508 governs federal agencies and covered federal contexts, and is separate from Title II of the ADA (state and local government) and Title III (public accommodations). Documenting conformance, often through an Accessibility Conformance Report, can support procurement and accountability, but conformance to a technical standard does not by itself guarantee a fully accessible experience for every user or immunity from legal claims. Requirements evolve through regulation and agency guidance, and this entry is general information rather than legal advice; consult qualified counsel or current agency guidance for specific obligations.

Who it's relevant to

Federal agencies

Federal agencies subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act rely on the Revised Section 508 Standards to guide how they develop, procure, maintain, and use ICT so that it is accessible and usable by people with disabilities.

Vendors and federal contractors

Because the standards are part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, technology vendors selling to federal agencies often need to demonstrate the extent to which their products conform, commonly through an Accessibility Conformance Report referencing WCAG or the Section 508 Technical Standards.

Accessibility engineers and developers

Technical teams building or remediating ICT use the Revised 508 Standards as a reference point for functional and technical accessibility, supplementing conformance documentation with manual and assistive technology testing to evaluate real-world usability.

Procurement and acquisition professionals

Those responsible for buying ICT for federal contexts use the standards and conformance reports to assess whether products meet accessibility expectations before acquisition.

Compliance officers and legal counsel

Compliance and legal professionals reference the standards when assessing federal obligations, while recognizing that Section 508 is distinct from ADA Title II and Title III and that requirements evolve through regulation and agency guidance; they should consult current authoritative sources for specific obligations.

Inside Revised Section 508 Standards

Incorporation of WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA

The Revised Section 508 Standards, updated by the U.S. Access Board in its 2017 refresh, adopted WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA success criteria by reference for web content, and extended those requirements to certain non-web documents and software. This aligned federal accessibility requirements with an internationally recognized technical standard.

Scope tied to federal agencies

Section 508 applies to information and communication technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. It is distinct from the ADA, which governs public accommodations (Title III) and state and local government (Title II), and from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which addresses non-discrimination in federally funded programs.

ICT-focused coverage

The revised standards use the broader term 'information and communication technology' to cover web content, electronic documents, software, hardware, and telecommunications, reflecting an intent to address a wider range of technology than earlier product-category-based rules.

Functional performance criteria

The standards include functional performance criteria intended to address situations where technical requirements alone may not ensure accessibility, providing outcome-based expectations for users with various disabilities.

Harmonization with other standards

The 2017 refresh was intended, in part, to harmonize U.S. federal requirements with WCAG and with certain international ICT accessibility efforts, reducing divergence between separate standards.

Common questions

Answers to the questions practitioners most commonly ask about Revised Section 508 Standards.

Do the Revised Section 508 Standards apply to private businesses and commercial websites?

No. Section 508 applies to federal agencies and, in practice, reaches vendors and contractors through federal procurement requirements when they supply information and communication technology (ICT) to the government. It does not directly regulate private commercial websites. Private businesses that are places of public accommodation are generally addressed under Title III of the ADA, which is a separate legal framework. Because Section 508's reach can extend to organizations doing business with the federal government, entities uncertain about their obligations should consult qualified legal counsel. This overview is not legal advice.

Does meeting the Revised Section 508 Standards mean my ICT is fully accessible and legally compliant?

Not necessarily. Conformance with the standards is distinct from real-world usability and from broader legal compliance. The Revised Section 508 Standards incorporate WCAG success criteria by reference, and meeting those criteria addresses a defined set of requirements, but conformance does not guarantee an accessible experience for every user or immunity from claims. Automated testing detects only a portion of potential issues; manual review and testing with assistive technology are generally required to assess accessibility meaningfully. Requirements and interpretations also evolve through regulation and case law.

Which WCAG version and conformance level do the Revised Section 508 Standards reference?

The Revised Section 508 Standards, published by the U.S. Access Board, incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level A and Level AA success criteria by reference for covered web content and, in specified cases, electronic documents and software. The A and AA levels are the referenced conformance targets; Level AAA is generally not required. Readers should verify the current text of the standards and any subsequent updates or agency guidance directly with the Access Board, as referenced technical requirements can change over time.

How do the Revised Section 508 Standards affect procurement of ICT?

Federal agencies are generally expected to consider accessibility when procuring, developing, maintaining, or using ICT covered by the standards. In practice, this often means requiring vendors to document how their products conform to the applicable requirements, commonly through an accessibility conformance report such as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). Documentation should be verified rather than accepted at face value, since vendor claims may not reflect independent testing. Specific procurement obligations depend on agency policy and applicable federal acquisition rules.

What testing approach is appropriate for evaluating conformance with the standards?

A combination of methods is generally recommended. Automated tools can efficiently surface certain categories of issues but cover only a subset of the referenced success criteria. Manual evaluation and testing with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard-only navigation, are typically necessary to assess criteria that automated checks cannot reliably detect. Combining automated, manual, and assistive technology testing provides a more complete picture than any single method alone.

Does Section 508 cover electronic documents and software, or only websites?

The Revised Section 508 Standards address ICT broadly, which can include web content, electronic documents, software applications, and certain hardware, rather than websites alone. Different provisions apply to different categories of technology, and some requirements reference WCAG success criteria while others address functional performance or hardware characteristics. Organizations should map their specific deliverables to the relevant provisions and consult the current standards and agency guidance to confirm what applies.

Common misconceptions

Section 508 applies to all private businesses and their websites.

Section 508 governs ICT associated with federal agencies. Private businesses are more commonly addressed under Title III of the ADA, and state and local governments under Title II. A private company may encounter Section 508 requirements chiefly when selling ICT to, or working under contract with, the federal government. This entry is general information, not legal advice; consult qualified counsel for your specific situation.

Meeting the Revised Section 508 Standards guarantees a fully accessible experience and immunity from complaints.

Conformance to WCAG 2.0 A and AA as incorporated by Section 508 addresses defined success criteria but does not by itself guarantee usability for every user or immunity from claims. Automated testing detects only a portion of issues, so manual and assistive technology testing are generally needed to evaluate real-world accessibility.

Section 508 requires the latest version of WCAG, such as 2.1 or 2.2.

The Revised Section 508 Standards incorporated WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA by reference. WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 are later versions published by the W3C that added additional success criteria, but incorporating a newer version into federal requirements would depend on further Access Board rulemaking. Check current Access Board guidance rather than assuming a specific version applies.

Best practices

Confirm whether your project actually falls under Section 508 (federal agency ICT or federal procurement) versus ADA Title II or III, and document which authority applies before setting requirements.

Target WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA as the baseline incorporated by the Revised Section 508 Standards, while monitoring Access Board rulemaking for any updates to newer WCAG versions.

Combine automated scanning with manual review and assistive technology testing, since automated tools detect only a portion of accessibility issues.

Address functional performance criteria and real user outcomes, not just technical success criteria, when evaluating documents, software, and hardware.

Maintain accessibility documentation such as conformance reports to support federal procurement and internal accountability.

Consult qualified legal counsel and current agency guidance for compliance decisions, as requirements evolve through regulation and case law and this material is not legal advice.