Section 508
Section 508 is a US federal law requiring that all information and communication technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. It amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and was updated in 2017 to adopt WCAG 2.0 Level AA as the technical standard.
§ 1 Definition
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires federal agencies to ensure that their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. The law covers websites, software, hardware, multimedia, kiosks, telecommunications equipment, and any digital product the government procures. In 2017, the US Access Board updated the Section 508 standards to harmonise with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, bringing US federal requirements in line with international standards. This update also aligned with EN 301 549, the European accessibility standard. While Section 508 directly applies only to federal agencies and their contractors, its influence extends broadly because any company that sells digital products or services to the US government must comply.
§ 2 Who must comply with Section 508
Section 508 applies directly to all US federal agencies and indirectly to any organisation that receives federal funding or sells ICT to the federal government. This includes software vendors, web development agencies, hardware manufacturers, and content providers. State governments that receive federal funding through programs such as Medicaid may also be subject. While the law does not cover private businesses in general, the Department of Justice has increasingly interpreted Title II and Title III of the ADA in ways that align with WCAG standards, creating effective overlap.
§ 3 Technical requirements under the 2017 refresh
The 2017 Section 508 refresh replaced agency-specific standards with a harmonised framework based on WCAG 2.0 Level AA. This covers all web content, software, electronic documents, and multimedia. Key requirements include providing text alternatives for non-text content, captions and audio descriptions for multimedia, keyboard accessibility, sufficient colour contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies. The refresh also introduced requirements for functional performance criteria (ensuring people can locate, identify, and operate ICT functions) and for supporting documentation and services.
§ 4 Common questions
- Q. Does Section 508 apply to my private business?
- A. Not directly, unless you sell ICT to the federal government or receive federal funding. However, ADA lawsuits often cite WCAG standards, and the practical result is that any US business with a website should aim for WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.
- Q. Is Section 508 the same as ADA compliance?
- A. No. Section 508 covers federal ICT procurement and use. The ADA covers public accommodations and state/local government services (Title II) and places of public accommodation (Title III). They are separate laws but overlap significantly in their accessibility requirements, and both effectively point toward WCAG.
- Section 508 requires US federal ICT to be accessible to people with disabilities.
- Updated in 2017 to reference WCAG 2.0 Level AA as the technical standard.
- Applies to federal agencies and any contractor selling ICT to the government.
- Separate from the ADA, but both point toward WCAG-based accessibility.
Atomic Glue builds digital products that meet Section 508 requirements as part of our standard development process. If you sell to the federal government, we can ensure your web application, portal, or SaaS product passes Section 508 compliance review. See our Trust & Security page for more on our compliance approach.
Get in touchSection 508 is a US federal law requiring that all information and communication technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. It amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and was updated in 2017 to adopt WCAG 2.0 Level AA as the technical standard.
Category: Accessibility (also: Privacy)
Author: Atomic Glue Team
## Definition
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires federal agencies to ensure that their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. The law covers websites, software, hardware, multimedia, kiosks, telecommunications equipment, and any digital product the government procures. In 2017, the US Access Board updated the Section 508 standards to harmonise with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, bringing US federal requirements in line with international standards. This update also aligned with EN 301 549, the European accessibility standard. While Section 508 directly applies only to federal agencies and their contractors, its influence extends broadly because any company that sells digital products or services to the US government must comply.
## Who must comply with Section 508
Section 508 applies directly to all US federal agencies and indirectly to any organisation that receives federal funding or sells ICT to the federal government. This includes software vendors, web development agencies, hardware manufacturers, and content providers. State governments that receive federal funding through programs such as Medicaid may also be subject. While the law does not cover private businesses in general, the Department of Justice has increasingly interpreted Title II and Title III of the ADA in ways that align with WCAG standards, creating effective overlap.
## Technical requirements under the 2017 refresh
The 2017 Section 508 refresh replaced agency-specific standards with a harmonised framework based on WCAG 2.0 Level AA. This covers all web content, software, electronic documents, and multimedia. Key requirements include providing text alternatives for non-text content, captions and audio descriptions for multimedia, keyboard accessibility, sufficient colour contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies. The refresh also introduced requirements for functional performance criteria (ensuring people can locate, identify, and operate ICT functions) and for supporting documentation and services.
## Common questions
Q: Does Section 508 apply to my private business?
A: Not directly, unless you sell ICT to the federal government or receive federal funding. However, ADA lawsuits often cite WCAG standards, and the practical result is that any US business with a website should aim for WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.
Q: Is Section 508 the same as ADA compliance?
A: No. Section 508 covers federal ICT procurement and use. The ADA covers public accommodations and state/local government services (Title II) and places of public accommodation (Title III). They are separate laws but overlap significantly in their accessibility requirements, and both effectively point toward WCAG.
## Key takeaways
- Section 508 requires US federal ICT to be accessible to people with disabilities.
- Updated in 2017 to reference WCAG 2.0 Level AA as the technical standard.
- Applies to federal agencies and any contractor selling ICT to the government.
- Separate from the ADA, but both point toward WCAG-based accessibility.
## Related entries
- [WCAG (2.1, 2.2)](atomicglue.co/glossary/wcag)
- [ADA Compliance](atomicglue.co/glossary/ada-compliance)
- [Accessibility (a11y)](atomicglue.co/glossary/accessibility)
Last updated July 2026. Permalink: atomicglue.co/glossary/section-508