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What is a Section 508 compliance checklist?

A Section 508 compliance checklist is a collection or list that provides the evaluation criteria that must be met to ensure an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. A product or service that is accessible from the standpoint of a Section 508 checklist is regarded as having met the Section 508 compliance standards.

What is Section 508 compliance?

Section 508 compliance, also simply referred to as 508 compliance, is a legal requirement that all federal organizations ensure that the ICT they create, acquire, maintain, or use allows people with disabilities to access and use information and data that is electronically accessible.

A Section 508 compliance checklist is something every organization or business needs to have for legal protection from possible Section 508-related lawsuits as well as revenue loss due to lost business opportunities.

It is always important to work with an updated and extensive Section 508 checklist so that you donÕt miss out on some areas you need to firm up in your ICT product or service. For example, those who want to have 508-compliant websites need to conform to the requirements in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA checklist for Section 508 compliance.

The WCAG 2.0 Level AA checklist for Section 508 compliance includes:

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content
• Providing alternatives to video-only and audio-only content
• Providing captions for videos with audio
• Ensuring a high contrast between text sections and their backgrounds
• Defining the language used on the web pages
• Ensuring that all website functionalities are operable via keyboard
• Ensuring that when visitors are met with time limitations within the website, the time limit can be adjusted.
• Minimizing distractions and allowing visitors to turn off or postpone interruptions
• Ensuring that websites donÕt have flashing content that could induce seizures
• Ensuring that any single-character key shortcuts are adjustable, providing a Ôskip to contentÕ link, and ensuring that if a website visitor commits an error, the error is identifiable and can be described in text and announced by screen readers.
• Ensuring that labels and instructions are descriptive and clear for all website visitors.
• Ensuring that the website has a clear and concise heading structure.
• Ensuring that content placement and functionality are predictable.
• Ensuring that page titles are clear and helpful.
• Ensuring that functionalities requiring gestures can be performed by website visitors with limited mobility.
• Ensuring that all links have text that accurately conveys the purpose of the link.
• Ensuring that electronic documents are accessible and can be read by assistive technologies.

The merits of using an updated or extensive 508-compliance checklist

The primary objective of using a Section 508 compliance checklist is to ensure that the electronic product or service whose compliance you are using the Section 508 checklist to establish is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

The advantages of using an extensive Section 508 compliance checklist include:

• Ensuring that your electronic product or service is accessible to as many users as possible.
• Avoiding discriminating against people with certain types of disabilities, given that using a checklist that is not extensive enough could make one risk the danger of not considering how a product or service is accessible to users with a certain type of disability,
• Limiting the chances of being vulnerable to non-compliance lawsuits
• Improving the quality of a product or service based on perspectives from different angles
• Distinguishing the best Section 508 compliance checker to use in testing compliance in the case of website 508 compliance

Get help identifying Section 508 checklists that are extensive

When embarking on Section 508 compliance for your electronic product or service, having a reliable checklist will help you avoid missing out on some key areas of consideration by compensating for the potential limits of human memory and attention.

You can get help identifying an extensive 508 compliance checklist for use in ensuring your electronic product or service attains the 508 compliance standard you desire by contacting ADACP at (626) 486-2201 to set up a free consultation or to request a quick Section 508 compliance testing quote.

What are Section 508 accessibility guidelines?

The United States Access Board is required under the Rehabilitation Act's Section 508 to create and publish Section 508 guidelines and to offer technical help on Section 508. As a result, to stay abreast of any modifications to the Section 508 accessibility standards and recommendations that the Access Board may release, you should always keep yourself informed.

To begin with, Section 508 mandates that all users, including those with disabilities, have access to information and communication technology (ICT) created, acquired, maintained, or used by federal entities. People with disabilities have access to electronic information and data thanks to the Section 508 accessibility guidelines, which are a component of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

An update on the Revised 508 Standards

In order to guarantee ICT is accessible and usable for people with disabilities, the Revised Section 508 accessibility requirements or standards are divided into 508 chapters. All federal organizations subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act must adhere to these guidelines.

The use of equivalent design or technology that results in substantially greater accessibility and usability for people with disabilities than would be offered by compliance with one or more requirements is authorized under the standards. In accordance with the guidelines, accessibility and usability for people with disabilities ought to be at least essentially similar and preferably greater.

Some of the major changes in the Revised Section 508 accessibility guidelines include focus on functionality in terms of their organization instead of product type so as to keep pace with advances in technology; industry alignment that incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 that clarifies the guidelines’ applicability to websites, electronic, and software; content accessibility that requires all public-facing official agency business content as well as specific categories of non-public-facing content that is official agency business to be accessible; synchronized tools and tech, which clarifies that software and operating systems must interoperate with assistive technology; and the expanded marketplace, which incorporates by reference, selected international standards like WCAG 2.0, and harmonizes with European Commission ICT Standards (EN 301 549), to create a larger marketplace of accessibility solutions.

Web accessibility standards 508

In comparison to the current Section 508 accessibility standards, the Section 508 WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria are more precise. The writing of the success criteria as objectively tested Section 508 accessibility requirements has received careful consideration. Additionally, WCAG 2.0 is written differently from the pre-existing 508 accessibility guidelines in that it is technology-neutral and hence immediately applicable to a variety of content kinds and formats.

There are 38 Level A and AA Success Criteria in the revised WCAG 2.0 Section 508 web accessibility requirements, 22 of which are worded differently but are conceptually identical to the original 508 accessibility standards. Content that complies with the most recent Section 508 requirements may not meet the sixteen new success criteria.

The WCAG success criteria and the Revised Section 508 standards both have the goal of making ICT accessible to individuals with impairments, which is interesting to note. The WCAG 2.0 Levels A and AA are mentioned in the Revised Section 508 web accessibility standards.

Get regular updates on Section 508 accessibility guidelines

Always keep in mind that whatever you add to your website or other ICT product or service must adhere to the most recent online accessibility requirements set out by the 508 guidelines. Since most firms and organizations are too busy with their primary operations to have time to investigate the revisions to the standards, this necessitates awareness of any updates that the Access Board has made to the standards.

Smart businesses and organizations entrust the task of keeping in touch with any Section 508 updates to experts like ADACP. This ensures that they don’t just focus on the core mandate of their businesses but stay ahead of their peers in terms of knowing up-to-date information about changes to the Section 508 guidelines.

Call ADACP at (626) 486-2201 to set up a free consultation or to request a quick quote for the latest Section 508 web accessibility requirements if you want them to inform you about changes in the section 508 accessibility environment while you concentrate on your organization's or business's primary goals.

What is digital inclusion?

Digital inclusion refers to the ecosystem of initiatives to guarantee that all people and communities, particularly people with disabilities, have access to and use the available information and communication technology (ICT).

It consists of five essential components: a cost-effective and reliable broadband Internet connection; connected devices that can be used by a variety of users; access to training in digital literacy; high-quality technical support; and programs and online content that promote independence, participation, and collaboration.

Digital inclusion leads to digital equity, which is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the ICT capacity needed for meaningful involvement in society, including in advancing the economy and democracy. It is necessary for access to basic services, earning a living, participating in civic and cultural activities, and lifelong learning.

How Section 508 supports digital inclusion

Section 508 is part of the 1998 amendment to the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires all federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain, and use ICT that is accessible to and navigable by everyone, including people with disabilities, regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.

The US Access Board created Section 508 compliance standards that make it easier to apply the law effectively and set the standards for accessibility across a range of ICT products and services.

Besides from the social obligation that comes with digital inclusion, there are a number of other reasons why Section 508's emphasis on digital inclusion is growing popular among many firms. The user experience when utilizing an ICT product or service is improved, and enterprises are helped to comply with the law.

An increasing number of businesses have opted not to simply pursue digital inclusion for the purpose of expanding their market reach but because it is a crucial trait of great ICT products and services. It is for that reason that many businesses are critically conscious of undertaking regular Section 508 testing for their ICT products and services to enable them to improve the quality of the products or services as a strategy for attracting more new customers.

In fact, it is premised on the understanding that if products and services that should enable access to ICT services and opportunities exclude people with disabilities, then a great deal of talent will be cut out of the development landscape, which is why the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) worked in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).

The VPAT provides vendors of ICT products and services with a checklist to use as they address the broader issue of matching the characteristics of their products to the defined accessibility standards. A checklist created from the Section 508 compliance criteria is used, for instance, in the Section 508 compliance VPAT to document the accessibility of an ICT product or service.

1. The Section 508 VPAT details how information technology (IT) products and services adhere to the Section 508 accessibilityIf the acquisition of a certain technology will place an unreasonable strain on the organization, the Section 508 Accessibility Standards take these conditions into account.

Section 508 VPAT also contains the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements for making web content accessible. This means that if you have an ICT product or service consisting of hardware and digital content, you donÕt have to fill out a separate VPAT Section 508 accessibility conformance report (ACR) and a WCAG VPAT ACR. Section 508 VPAT allows you to document the accessibility of your digital content in a single document.

If youÕre supplying or seeking to supply ICT products or services to the US federal government and any of its agencies, a VPAT Section 508 compliance statement or certification will be mandatory. This is acquired after a VPAT 508 test of your product or service.

Section 508 compliance testing for your ICT products or services

Regardless of whether you are a small and micro enterprise (SME) or a large corporation, your ICT products or services must be VPAT-compliant to participate in the procurement processes of the federal organizations and those of the entities receiving funding from the federal government.

VPAT 508 compliance testing can be achieved using the manual process, the automatic testing tools, or a hybrid of the two. You can perform the testing by yourself or choose to hire a VPAT 508 testing professional to do it for you. Hiring a professional to handle it for you adds impartiality to the entire process and guarantees you high quality work because of the experience the specialists you employ bring to the exercise.

Need help testing your ICT product or service for VPAT 508 compliance?

Learn more about Section 508 VPAT compliance or get assistance in testing the accessibility of your ICT product or service today. Talk to a Section 508 VPAT consultant at (626) 486-2201 to arrange a free consultation and a quick Section 508 VPAT completion quote.

What is Section 508 compliance?

Section 508 compliance is an ecosystem of initiatives or activities aimed at ensuring that federal agencies make sure that the information and communication technology (ICT) they create, acquire, maintain, or use allows people with disabilities to access and use information and data.

VPAT Section 508 compliance in EdTech

The use of ICT in the classroom to create more interactive, inclusive, and individualized learning experiences is known as "EdTech," or education technology. In order to facilitate and improve learning, EdTech products combine information technology (IT) tools and educational techniques.

The explosion of EdTech products is revolutionizing classrooms with EdTech robots, virtual reality courses, and gamified classroom activities that now permeate the learning environment and make it easier for students to stay involved through pleasant forms of learning.

Particularly for their capacity to give students access to virtual classrooms whether they are physically present in school or not, EdTech Internet of Things (IOT) gadgets have drawn considerable recognition. Blockchain and machine learning tools have also kept up since they have proved helpful in helping teachers grade tests and hold students accountable for their homework.

To ensure that they offer users with disabilities the same learning opportunities as users without disabilities, all of these EdTech products must be accredited as Section 508 compliant. All companies that offer EdTech products that their staff and students use to access and exchange learning resources must be certified as Section 508 compliant.

Can VPAT Section 508 compliance improve accessibility for EdTech products?

VPAT Section 508 compliance can significantly help address concerns about accessibility in EdTech products.

The fact that federal organizations procure and use an ICT product or service that scores highly in terms of acceptability with regard to 508 accessibility demonstrates how Section 508 compliance can help improve the accessibility of EdTech products.

Other ways through which Section 508 VPAT compliance can help improve EdTech products by addressing accessibility include the following:

1. Creation of a common framework for comparison of similar EdTech products

Buyers of EdTech can utilize Section 508 compliance VPATs to compare the compliance of comparable products and select the ones that best meet their desired accessibility standards as well as their functional and legal requirements. This makes it possible for EdTech products that potential customers would not have chosen to be assessed by their owners in order to remedy the accessibility problems that made their products unsuitable for selection.

1. Helping in the fixing of accessibility barriers in EdTech products

Vendors of EdTech products might be aware of accessibility problems with their products, but they might not be motivated to fix them. VPAT Section 508 compliance certification can be useful here. It encourages these companies to do more than simply acknowledge the accessibility issue with their product and take steps to make it more accessible.

The VPAT instills a sense of urgency in the vendor by making them aware of the opportunities they would miss if the non-compliance issues in their EdTech products were not resolved. This is because the VPAT clearly identifies areas where the product has to be made more accessible.

1. Helping to prioritize areas to be improved in EdTech products

With the use of a Section 508 VPAT, vendors of EdTech products can quickly establish a clear priority list for correcting the accessibility issues discovered in their products. This is frequently the situation when the vendor is overwhelmed and attempting to choose which improvements to deploy initially. The 508 compliant websites will help you understand what has to be done right away based on the levels of severity discovered during the VPAT Section 508 compliance audit stage.

1. Sets a clear matrix for accessibility conformance

Due to the EdTech sector's amazing growth and businesses' desire to capitalize quickly on it, there is intense competition in the sector. As a result, vendors that have created VPAT ACRs for their products demonstrate that they have made the decision to invest time and money in developing accessible products, which is a great selling point for them.

Users of these vendors' products become more trusting as a result, and as a result, they are more likely to be viewed as conscious of accessibility issues, sympathetic toward those who have disabilities, and proactive in guaranteeing equitable access to ICT products. This can ensure revenue and enhance customer adherence to the vendor's EdTech products.

1. Helps to provide insights about the EdTech product’s accessibility baseline

By creating a Section 508 VPAT, an organization can better understand how effectively its EdTech solutions adhere to Section 508 accessibility requirements. Understanding the baseline will continually motivate the company to improve accessibility while updating the product. This ongoing drive to address problems that raise the product's quality eventually aids in the product's increased accessibility over time.

Need help developing your VPAT Section 508 compliance statement?

Learn more about developing compelling VPAT Section 508 compliance statements for your EdTech products or get assistance in addressing the accessibility issues in your current products today. Talk to a Section 508 VPAT consultant at (626) 486-2201 to arrange a free consultation and a quick Section 508 VPAT completion quote. 

What are website 508 standards?

Website 508 standards are regulations that specify technical and scoping requirements for websites in order to guarantee their usability and accessibility for people with disabilities. The guidelines serve as the cornerstone for website accessibility, which is the process of enabling those with disabilities to use websites, web apps, and digital content.

Section 508-compliant websites are websites designed in a way that makes them easily navigated and understood by assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboard-only users.

Website 508 compliance also involves using clear and straightforward language, providing alternative text for images and videos, and designing forms that can be easily filled out for anyone with any disability.

Why insist on having a Section 508-compliant website?

Web designers may create a website, but if it has accessibility problems, you are the one who must bear the burden of the website not being in compliance with Section 508!

You should try to have a Section 508-compliant website for a number of reasons. First of all, it makes sure that everyone, regardless of ability, can access the digital data you provide on the website. This is significant given how integral the Internet has grown to be in contemporary life.

Therefore, it is crucial that you do your part to ensure that everyone has equal access to the Internet if you want to end prejudice against those with disabilities.

Making your website 508 compliant also contributes to the development of a more varied and inclusive online environment. This is crucial because it guarantees that everyone, irrespective of their (dis)abilities, may participate in the digital era and enjoy its advantages, such as the simplicity of online banking, socializing, and many other things.

Making your website Section 508 compliant is also a legal requirement, and failure to comply with the established Section 508 standards can result in penalties and legal consequences.

What are the legal consequences of a non-Section 508-compliant website?

Penalties for failing to adhere to the Section 508 website standards might vary depending on the specifics of the violation as well as the agency or entity in question.

If your organization is a federal agency, noncompliance with website 508 compliance criteria may result in funding being suspended or terminated, legal action being taken, and fines. The U.S. Access Board, the organization in charge of upholding Section 508, can also take enforcement actions like filing official complaints and requesting injunctive relief.

A non-Section 508-compliant website may result in the loss of funding or contracts for private organizations or entities that receive government assistance, as well as legal action. Individuals affected by your website's failure to adhere to 508-compliant website standards may potentially file lawsuits against your organization or another entity.

Website 508 non-compliance can result in fines, negative publicity, and reputational harm, in addition to the penalties that the business or entity is likely to incur as a result.

In fact, a lot of top corporations and organizations have realized how important it is morally and legally to have their websites comply with Section 508. This is due to the fact that it enables people with disabilities to have equal access to digital information and technology.

How to ensure website 508 compliance

Ensuring website 508 compliance involves a combination of technical and organizational measures, including understanding the website 508 standards, conducting a website accessibility audit, developing an accessibility plan, using accessibility testing tools, ensuring that your staff is trained on accessibility and how to ensure website 508 compliance, continuous accessibility monitoring and testing of your website, and mainstreaming accessibility in your organizational or business processes.

Need help with website Section 508 compliance?

The development and design of websites must take Section 508 compliance into account. As the owner of a website, you should strive to have websites that are accessible and usable for all users because that helps create a more inclusive digital environment.

Yes, website 508 compliance is a legal requirement, and failure to comply with it could land you in a lot of legal trouble. However, you should strive for website Section 508 compliance not just to avoid legal consequences but because it is the right thing to do because it eliminates discrimination against people with disabilities.

Don’t let website accessibility issues hold your organization or business back. Given their expert understanding of the significance of producing universally accessible digital material, ADACP can assist you in establishing and resolving any website 508 non-compliance issues. They provide a range of accessibility solutions that are intended to assist businesses and organizations in adhering to Section 508 criteria and other accessibility specifications.

Contact ADACP today at (626) 486-2201 and find out how they can help you make your website and digital content accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities.

What are automation tools?

Virtually every industry uses automation tools, which are software programs that reduce the need for human input. Automation tools are made to automate repeatable, routine processes at their most basic level.

With the prediction that by 2025, 60% of firms will use cyber security risk as their key determinant in undertaking third-party transactions and business engagements, there are ongoing seismic developments in the digital economy with regard to Section 508 compliance testing. What does this indicate for your business’s future? It means that in order to maintain your competitiveness in the online market, you must obtain the necessary compliance certificates.

Testing Section 508 compliance is not a simple undertaking, especially if you want accessibility certification that can be trusted by organizations that want to buy your digital products and services. Most Section 508 compliance audits demand significant financial investments.

Employing a third-party accessibility auditor usually makes this achievable. Independent accessibility auditors like ADACP are aware of how time-consuming methods, such as a thorough examination of internal procedures and paperwork, are necessary for an effective accessibility audit.

Many businesses have begun integrating automation tools into their Section 508 compliance processes to reduce the strain on internal employees and the amount of time spent making sure a digital product or service is Section 508 compliant.

Why the rise in the use of automation tools in testing 508-compliance?

Reviewing compliance benchmark reports demonstrates a constant rise in the use of automation technologies for streaming Section 508 compliance testing.

For instance, according to a survey carried out by some accessibility industry experts, the percentage of businesses and organizations using automated tools to verify the 508-compliance of their digital products and services increased from 25% in 2021 to 72% in 2022.

The significant rise in popularity of automation tools among businesses and organizations in the digital space has mainly been attributed to increased awareness of automation tools.

Why businesses and organizations are embracing automated 508 testing

Businesses and organizations are increasingly embracing automated Section 508 compliance testing because of the reported host of benefits it provides businesses and organizations that choose to adopt automation tools. A good Section 508 compliance tester will deliver the following benefits to an organization’s Section 508 compliance testing:

1. Streamlining the 508 compliance testing processes

A lot of companies have been manually entering all the data necessary to assess 508-compliance for digital products and services. The result of this has been that it puts more pressure on businesses and organizations that have many digital products and services that require Section 508 compliance certification.

Businesses and organizations in the digital sector are gradually realizing that, while a qualified Section 508 compliance auditor is required to provide a human perspective on 508 compliance testing, automation tools can help to streamline and provide support in the various areas of compliance testing, including evidence gathering and ongoing accessibility monitoring.

Automation tools are useful in circumstances where gathering numerous pieces of evidence is necessary. Because the tools are able to compile the necessary proof on their own, they can skip several steps of the compliance testing process. Additionally, the tools can upload the data where it is required, saving time that would have been required if this had to be done manually by a human.

Certain automation tools are also able to store a digital product’s or service’s accessibility information for future Section 508 compliance testing needs. This is particularly helpful when the time for the renewal of accessibility certification approaches. The automation tools ensure that you don’t have to start the compliance process from the beginning.

1. Inspires enhanced Section 508 compliance efforts

Automation tools also assist organizations and businesses in raising their certification level for Section 508 compliance. Because the information you need to supply in a Section 508-certification process is already recorded by the tool, you can use the information that the tool stores to see how close you are to a higher level of certification anytime you wish to renew your accessibility certification. Therefore, it is considered possible to put in extra work to raise your certification level.

1. Helps businesses and organizations achieve more with less resources

Every company strives to reduce expenses in order to increase earnings. Having a lean staff is one of the things they prioritize. Businesses can accomplish more with fewer resources by using automation solutions when staff resources are restricted. This is true for keeping Section 508 certification costs low as well.

By incorporating automation tools into your Section 508 compliance procedures, you can cut down on the time it takes a company or organization to physically evaluate a digital product or service for accessibility. Additionally, automation techniques enable businesses to complete Section 508 certification considerably more quickly, freeing up resources for other crucial objectives.

Get help implementing 508 compliance automation tools

Section 508 compliance automation tools can provide you with an incredible opportunity to take major leaps in streamlining your Section 508 compliance. ADACP can help you implement Section 508 compliance automation tools so that you can more efficiently obtain and maintain your Section 508 compliance certification.

Automation solutions will continue to be one of the simplest ways to achieve Section 508 compliance certification more quickly as the standards for compliance with the law grow and more businesses and organizations pursue accessibility certification. For more information on how ADACP may assist you in adopting Section 508 compliance automation technologies, call (626) 486–2201.

What is a Section 508 compliant website?

A website is considered to be Section 508-compliant if it complies with the revised Section 508 of the Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires that all federal agencies make their electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities, whether or not they work for the federal government.

Why is Section 508 compliance important for websites?

Section 508 compliance is important for websites because it makes them more accessible to people with disabilities and, as a result, helps them gain more traffic and conversions.

If you fail to comply with Section 508 requirements for your website, not only will you be ignoring the accessibility requirements of a wide range of your audience, but you will also be putting your website at an unavoidable danger of having less visitors, fewer website statistics, and a smaller target market.

How to ensure Section 508 compliance for your website

The 2017 revision of Section 508 in particular makes it possible to assess compliance with the international standards known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA.

Similar to the original Section 508, WCAG 2.0 AA does not specify any particular website 508-compliant tasks that must be completed in order to comply with Section 508 and achieve accessibility.

Instead, the governing regulations merely specify what functional requirements accessible websites must meet. Making your website Section 508-compliant, therefore, requires adherence to WCAG 2.0 AA standards, which include the following:

• Making it easy to navigate and access a website using a keyboard

Websites that comply with Section 508 enable keyboard navigation for their users. The owners of these websites are aware that many people who use digital resources either have a variety of motor limitations or use screen readers, and these users rely primarily on visual cues that can only be accessed with a keyboard to navigate and access page content.

Keyboards increase accessibility because their buttons, links, and input fields can be easily controlled with the arrow, tab, or other available keys. They also make it possible for users to navigate a website by simply jumping through page sections, headers, paragraphs, and other page elements.

Because they permit user interactions with the website using assistive technology, websites that can be accessed and navigated using a keyboard have higher levels of Section 508 compliance.

• Ensure alternative text (ALT) is provided for all images and videos

Website Section 508 compliance also requires the use of alternative text whenever images and videos are used on the site. Alternative text (ALT) refers to a description of what is depicted in the image or video.

ALT enhances the 508 compliance of a website because screen readers are able to read the text, which helps people with disabilities know what the image or video is all about. It gives context to the images that people with visual impairments are not able to see.

For a website to be Website 508 compliant, all ALT descriptions must be accurate, descriptive, and beneficial to individuals with visual impairments. Should the picture or video have any links, including the potential for a new webpage to open if the image or video is clicked, the ALT should appropriately reflect the link’s destination.

• Make sure that the website has screen reader capability

The ability of the website to be accessed by screen readers is one of the crucial elements in the Section 508 compliance checklist to utilize when developing a website. With the use of a screen reader, site visitors with visual impairments are able to access the website’s content. Typically, screen readers turn digital text into synthetic speech.

Websites with screen reader features assist users with visual impairments as well as people who use screen readers to hear the information read out on the site.

• Transcription and captioning of videos and audios

Transcripts and captions are used on websites that adhere to Section 508 standards to portray spoken content from videos and audios in written form. People with hearing impairments can understand the content of the video or audio owing to the closed captioning.

Get help with making your website Section 508 compliant today

In addition to the stages listed above for Section 508 compliance, there are other significant items on the Section 508 compliance checklist you should be aware of while creating a Section 508 compliant website. These include avoiding flickering objects on the screen, making sure there are no time restrictions, and using the right color and contrast.

ADACP can assist you in creating a website that satisfies every need on the Section 508 compliance checklist. Call them at (626) 486–2201 if you have any questions about the requirements for Section 508 compliance for your website.

What is a VPAT report?

A VPAT report, also known as a VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR), is a duly filled out voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) explaining how an information and communication technology (ICT) product or service such as software, hardware, electronic content, or support documentation conform to the established standards and guidelines for ICT accessibility.

As can be seen by reviewing a VPAT report example, beyond addressing the accessibility of an ICT product or service, an ACR contains the pertinent information about a product or service such as the name of the product, product description, applicable standards, and the evaluation methods used, among others.

In the marketplace, the term "VPAT" dominates questions about a VPAT ACR. Because a VPAT is simply a blank document, using the term "VPAT" instead of VPAR ACR or report is technically incorrect.

According to the information provided on the Section508.gov website, there are other possible methods to complete an ACR, but the most common way an ACR is compiled is by using the VPAT.

How do you adjudge that a VPAT ACR has attained the requisite passing score?

It is noteworthy to stress that VPAT certification is not a pass-or-fail undertaking. However, it is critical to ensure that the accessibility VPAT you use to complete your VPAT certification is completely filled out with quality information that allows you and your buyers to have easy conversations.

Every edition of the VPAT document has provisions that require complete filling out with relevant information obtained from a credible, comprehensive VPAT assessment.  Whereas the people who review VPAT reports do not have a particular VPAT passing score with which they rate the reports, every edition of the VPAT form asks questions that help provide the VPAT scoring framework for ICT products and services whose VPAT compliance is secured using that particular form.

The minimum VPAT passing score

The minimum VPAT passing score or the minimum essential information that a VPAT ACR must contain includes the following:

• The VPAT ACR title
• The version of the VPAT used to create the VPAT report as well as the applicable standards: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 or 2.1, the Revised Section 508, or the European Union’s EN 301 549.
• The name of the product or service and their versions, where applicable
• The description of the product or service
• The date of publication
• The contact information of the vendor or manufacturer
• The methods used in carrying out the attendant VPAT assessment

Using a VPAT report example to understand the dynamics of how the VPAT scoring is done by establishing how the various provisions of the VPAT document are accurately and completely filled out will enable you to appreciate the importance of carefully following the instructions in the VPAT form as you complete the document.

From the VPAT report example, you will be able to single out how the important VPAT scoring best practices that the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) recommend be adhered to in creating a VPAT ACR.

Best practice toward achieving a high VPAT passing score

According to ITI, a VPAT ACR will have a higher passing score if it encompasses the following best practices:

• Inclusion of a branded header with a logo or the organization’s information
• Legal disclaimers
• Important notes that are applicable to the product, service, or report, including useful links and product or service descriptions
• If the VPAT ACR is a revision of an earlier version, the date changes.

Overall, the most important part of a VPAT ACR is usually the filled-out table, which addresses the conformance of the VPAT-certified product or service with the applicable accessibility standards. It is essentially the hallmark of attaining favorable VPAT scoring.

For each criterion under the applicable accessibility standards, a vendor or manufacturer needs to state whether the product or service supports, partially supports, does not support, or is not applicable.  That is how the levels of conformance are described in the VPAT ACR.

It is important to keep in mind that a VPAT ACR is not an audit verdict.  An audit usually delves deeper into greater detail than what entails the creation of a VPAT report.  But if you conduct your VPAT ACR writing after undertaking a comprehensive VPAT accessibility audit, getting your ACR will be at a much lower cost, if not included with the price of the audit.

It is advisable to seek third-party help with VPAT report creation

It is always considered optimal to have an independent VPAT accessibility expert to issue your VPAT ACR as opposed to creating your ACR in-house.  If you want to remain competitive in 2023, you can't afford for the VPAT ACRs you send to procurement departments to be viewed as lacking credibility and objectivity.

Unless you have an in-house team consisting of technical specialists in accessibility, you won’t be able to produce good VPAT ACRs that can secure you contracts and win you big businesses as well as protect you from possible accessibility non-compliance risks.

Get help creating your VPAT ACR from a reputable third-party specialist

There are reputable third-party consultancies that can help you issue accurate VPAR ACRs for your business's or organization’s ICT products or services. Given that many agencies are nowadays offering VPAT ACR services, you need to vet the providers so that you get one that will provide credible VPAT certification services.

Talk to us at (626) 486-2201 to arrange a free consultation and assistance with a VPAT report example to learn from or a Quick VPAT Certification Quote.

Working toward accessibility with the wearer of the shoe!

As a person with disabilities, always keep in mind that your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, but merely where you can start. Don’t let your mind limit what your able heart encourages you to do. That is the essence of ADA compliance!

What is ADA compliance for a person with disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) forbids discrimination against people with disabilities in a variety of settings, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government programs and services.

As a person with disabilities, this means that all electronic information and technology (EIT) products and services must be accessible to you. The amendment of Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act has strengthened ADA compliance.

The change, popularly known as "Revised Section 508," requires federal agencies' EIT goods and services to be accessible to people with disabilities, including their employees and members of the public who have disabilities.

Section 508 compliance

Section 508 compliance vpat refers to the ecosystem of practices designed to ensure that the federal government and its agencies acquire, create, utilize, and maintain EIT that is accessible to people with disabilities, regardless of whether they work for the federal government or its agencies.

The foregoing are the tenets of 508 compliance,which should inspire every person who has disabilities to establish their role in ensuring the federal government and its agencies promote accessibility by purchasing and deploying EIT products that do not obscure people with disabilities from accessing electronic communication and technology. That is the purpose of this article: to encourage people with disabilities to deploy their exquisite capabilities toward helping to improve the accessibility of EIT products or services!

If you’re a person with a disability, there are many ways you can contribute to the goal of enhanced accessibility of EIT products and services. As the wearer of the shoe, no one can better tell the extent to which an EIT product or service is for people with a disability similar to yours than you.

You can, therefore, choose to not let manufacturers and vendors grope in the darkness over whether their EIT products and services are accessible to people with a disability similar to yours. You can do this by providing unsolicited feedback upon testing their EIT product or service, participating in the VPAT certification of the products or services, or seeking to join their product or service development teams. In this article, we provide you with information about how you can help with VPAT certification.

VPAT certification

To assist with VPAT testing for EIT products and services, you must first understand the VPAT ecosystem, which includes words like as "VPAT certification," "VPAT accessibility," "VPAT compliance," "VPAT accessibility conformance report (ACR")," and "accessibility VPAT," among others.

Keep in mind that, contrary to what the title implies, VPAT certification does not include the presentation of a certificate. There is no certification document, certification process, or certification authority. It simply refers to the development of a VPAT report in accordance with the applicable accessibility standard. This includes doing a thorough VPAT exam before to accurately, precisely, and completely filling out the appropriate VPAT version.

As a person with disability, your insights during the VPAT testing can help the EIT product or service assessment team flag the accessibility flaws in the product or service. This will help them to improve the product or service before making it available in the market or to indicate the flaws in the product's or service’s VPAT ACR so that potential buyers can make informed decisions when considering it for procurement alongside similar products or services.

VPAT accessibility

VPAT accessibility is another term within the VPAT ecosystem of terms that you will need to master. Many people confuse “VPAT accessibility” with “accessibility VPAT.”

VPAT accessibility could refer to the process of making a properly completed VPAT available to potential buyers by posting it on an accessible website, providing it to any potential buyer who requests it, or simply using the checklist or criteria provided in the appropriate VPAT edition to test the accessibility of an EIT product or service and documenting the results in an ACR.

In contrast, accessibility VPAT refers to using the right VPAT edition to test an EIT product or service and generate a VPAT report. If, for example, you want your EIT product or service to be purchased by federal agencies, the VPAT Section 508 edition is the one to utilize. If you want your product or service to enter the European Union market, the VPAT EU (EN 301 549) edition is the rightaccessibility VPAT to use.

Aside from the VPAT Section 508 and VPAT EU editions, two further VPAT editions exist: the VPAT web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) and the VPAT international (INT). The accessibility VPAT WCAG is used to document the accessibility of EIT products or services based on the WCAG standard, whereas the accessibility VPAT INT is used to document the accessibility of EIT products and services intended for the international market.

Needto learn more about VPAT testing in disability?

You can learn more about“VPAT testing in disability” by reviewing a professionally completed VPAT certification or by calling ADA Compliance Pros at (626) 486-220 for expert assistance.

Don’t ignore this article!  You’ll meet the VPAT 2.4 template ahead!

You may believe that information regarding the voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT) is irrelevant to you because you are not in the technology sector. You could be correct, but not entirely. I had similar views until I realized I lacked confidence in comparison to my peers in terms of staying on top of my job.

I became frustrated while waiting for Windows to boot up and had to continue reading printed newspapers. My peers were always one step ahead of me. They had tailored email subscription lists, numerous newspapers on their display devices, and rarely used real diaries!

I concluded that the younger generation's better comfort with electronic information technology (EIT) was owing to their constant, split-second immersion in cutting-edge digital innovations. This enabled them to be more successful in reviewing digital products and services and selecting the best to keep them ahead of the competition.

As a learner, you need to know how VPAT compliance helps

"I can self-curate my education by increasing access to content offered by the top educators, as well as remotely experience holidays through high-resolution videos on massive high-definition screens," quipped one of the youngsters as I marveled at his ability to stay up with innovations targeted at enhancing the lives of elderly people with disabilities, such as the capacity to physically monitor their well-being using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors based on motion or voice-controlled calls!

"VPAT accessibility rocks!" he exclaimed to me as he zoomed away from my presence one day. This prompted me to begin studying VPAT accessibility! That is when I determined to keep up with technology advances, and as a learner, understanding how VPAT compliance affects your life is critical.

What is VPAT accessibility?

VPAT accessibility is simply the practice of applying the right version of the VPAT to make EIT products and services understandable, relevant, and useable for the greatest number of people, including people with disabilities.

The VPAT web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), VPAT Section 508, VPAT European Union (EU), and VPAT International (INT) are the four VPAT versions that underlie VPAT compliance. The VPAT WCAG version supports the creation of VPAT reports that adhere to the WCAG standard. Section 508 VPAT assists in the preparation of ACRs, which are supported by the Revised Section 508 of the United States Rehabilitation Act accessibility criteria.

The VPAT INT supports the creation of ACRs for the worldwide market, whereas the VPAT EU guides the development of ACRs for the European market.

What is VPAT compliance?

VPAT compliance is the precise documentation, using the relevant version of the VPAT that supports businesses and organizations in measuring and demonstrating the conformance of their EIT products or services to the set accessibility criteria.

Its primary goal is to ensure that EIT goods and services comply with established accessibility requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Revised Section 508, WCAG, and the EU's EN 301 549.

If you develop or sell physical devices or hardware, such as copiers, cellphones, tablets, and telephone systems, or if you provide services that require access to EIT products, you should learn about the VPAT 2.4 template.

If you work with digital documents, apps and software programs used by public-facing mechanisms and agencies, software and apps designed for use by federal government employees, agencies, and federally-funded organizations, public-facing websites or websites used by employees of the federal government and its agencies, or interactive voice response programs, you should also be familiar with the VPAT 2.4 template.

What is the VPAT 2.4 template and what is new in it?

The VPAT 2022 ACRs are based on the VPAT 2.4 template, which is the most recent version of the VPAT. In February 2020, VPAT 2.4 was launched, and it included the EN 301 549 EU Accessibility Standard.

The VPAT 2.4 template, like the original VPAT, has a column for recording conformity to each provision of the standard or guideline that applies to an EIT product or service. It asks EIT product or service producers or vendors to declare the level of accessibility conformance of their products or services by simply choosing one of four available options: "supports," "partially supports," "does not support," or "not applicable."

The conformance level "partially supports" substituted the previous VPAT edition's conformance level "supports with exceptions." This substitution was made at the request of representatives from the US Access Board. The VPAT 2.4 template additionally includes a column for further clarifying each reported conformance level.

In addition, unlike the previous VPAT version, the VPAT 2.4 template does not include a date. The date was removed from the document to avoid any confusion with the VPAT report date. With this new feature, the date is now included in the file name, while the version information is included in the document itself.

VPAT 2.4 also includes version-specific instructions, which is a new feature. It also includes a new table heading and revisions in the EN 301-549 edition. The VPAT EU and INT versions' links and tables have also been updated to suit the amended EN 301 549 standard.

Ideally, the most significant new additions in VPAT 2.4 are related with the EN 301 549 standard from the European Union. Other alterations were done, but they are minor. So, if your EIT product or service seeks to target the EU and/or international markets, ensure you update your VPAT ACRs using the VPAT 2.4 template.

Need help with updating your VPAT ACR using the VPAT 2.4 template?

You can learn how to update your VPAT ACR to the VPAT 2.4 template criteria by reviewing a professionally filled VPAT 2.4 example, or you can call ADA Compliance Pros at (626) 486-220 for expert assistance.