Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is an important federal regulation that helps ensure access and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Section 508 mandates that everyone, including people with disabilities, must have “equivalent access” to information and communication technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. While compliance with Section 508 standards is an essential aspect of federal equity and inclusion efforts, recent reports indicate that federal agencies are not always able to effectively and efficiently ensure they are meeting these standards.
The Challenge
Every federal agency is responsible for enforcing Section 508 internally, but digital accessibility still remains challenging for many agencies. A 2021 report from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) evaluating the accessibility of the most popular federal websites found that 30% of them did not have a homepage that was compliant with Section 508’s web accessibility standards and 48% of the sites’ most popular interior pages were not accessible.
Findings from the General Services Administration (GSA) FY 23 Governmentwide Section 508 Assessment also indicate that federal agencies are facing challenges with Section 508 compliance. The report found that less than 30% of the top 10 most viewed federal intranet and internet pages, electronic documents, and videos were fully compliant with Section 508 standards. There are a variety of reason for this, and according to the GSA report, a lack of staff resources and expertise to support Section 508 compliance is among them. More than a third of the agencies (37.3%) reported that they have less than one full-time employee devoted to Section 508 compliance.
Recommendations for Improvement
The GSA report outlined several recommendations for federal agencies to enhance Section 508 compliance, including:
- Enhancing Training Programs: Developing comprehensive training programs that cover the technical and practical aspects of Section 508 compliance can help bridge the knowledge gap among federal employees.
- Conducting Regular Audits: Implementing regular audits and monitoring processes can help agencies identify and address accessibility issues promptly. Continuous assessment ensures that accessibility remains a priority.
- Collaborating and Sharing Best Practices: Encouraging collaboration and the sharing of best practices among agencies can foster a culture of accessibility. Learning from the successes and challenges of others can accelerate the overall progress towards compliance.
- Investing in Accessible Technology: Investing in accessible technology solutions and tools can help agencies meet Section 508 standards more effectively. This includes procuring software and systems designed with accessibility in mind.
While federal agencies have made significant progress when it comes to Section 508 compliance, the GSA report indicates that there is still work to be done. Applied Development’s Section 508 Compliance Services can help your agency ensure accessibility for all. Our services include document review and remediation, website accessibility testing, accessibility training, program evaluation and analysis, and policy development. Contact us for a free comprehensive consultation to learn how we can support your agency’s Section 508 compliance efforts!