The term “508 compliance” is shorthand referring to requiring federal government websites to be safe and accessible for people with disabilities. Section 508 is an amendment to the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandating that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government must be accessible to people with disabilities.
To meet 508 standards, any audio or video files your website uses must include closed captioning, a text transcript, or other accommodations. Additionally, your website must be compatible with screen readers, and keyboard-only navigable. To learn more about testing your website for compliance, check out our article “Best Ways to Test Website Accessibility; Easy, yet Comprehensive!”.
