Section 508 Compliance and Its Meaning

Section 508 is a well-known phrase in the field of making information and communication technology products and services accessible to people with disabilities. It is a section of the United States Rehabilitation Act as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. It requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain, and use accessible ICT for people with disabilities, whether or not they work for the federal government. The US Access Board established standards to implement the law and provide the requirements for Section 508 compliance in order to improve Section 508 compliance. These standards serve as the foundation for Section 508 compliance testing.

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Section 508, therefore, means that federal employees with disabilities can do their jobs more effectively because of the ICT tools available in their offices, such as computers, phones, and other ICT equipment. They can also take online training or visit the internal websites of their respective federal agencies to find the information they require. 

Section 508 also means that a person with a disability who applies for a job with the federal government or uses a federal agency's website to learn more about a program or fill out an online form has access to the same information and resources as everyone else.

It also implies that no one is discriminated against in terms of information, resources, online working and training, and job opportunities with the federal government and federal government agencies.

Why ADA 508 Compliance is Important

Section 508 is an accessibility standard that encourages the creation of websites, custom software solutions, and applications that meet the needs of all users. Its indirect effects appear to extend beyond the federal arena, which appears to be one of the law's intentions.

While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was written and adopted prior to the Internet becoming a common feature in modern life, the US Department of Justice interpreted it as holding sway on the Web as well as in brick and mortar places of accommodation as early as 1996. Under the ADA 508 compliance, covered entities must provide effective communication, regardless of whether they communicate primarily through print media, audio media, or computerized media such as the Internet. Covered entities that use the Internet for communications about their programs, goods, or services must also be prepared to provide those communications in accessible ways.

The bottom line is that, whether in 508 ADA compliance in finance, 508 compliant websites, or other forms of 508 compliance, discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited, and the importance of considering people with disabilities as potential customers or users of ICT products and services has been established.

Get 508 Compliance Help For Your Website and Financial Enterprise

508 ADA compliance in finance and 508 compliant websites are two areas that are attracting significant volumes of litigation due to non-compliance. Clients and customers are increasingly finding lawyers and other service providers through online searches, reviewing websites of multiple firms and businesses until they find the best fit for their specific needs. This has been fueled by the rise of e-commerce.

You can get help with 508 compliance for your website and 508 ADA compliance in finance by calling (626) 486-220 to speak with an expert in the website as well as finance and banking accessibility, or by clicking here for further information about the same.