Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised)
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (as revised in 2017 incorporating WCAG 2.0 Level AA) requires federal agencies to make their information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. The revised standards (36 CFR Part 1194) incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria for web, software, and electronic documents, and provide functional performance criteria for hardware. Applies to all federal ICT including websites, software, hardware, and electronic documents.
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Framework Domains (16)
Authoring Tools
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 504.2 | Authoring Tools Content Creation |
Chapter 2 - Scoping Requirements
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 508-E205 | Electronic Content |
| 508-E206 | Hardware Requirements Scoping |
| 508-E207 | Software Requirements Scoping |
Chapter 3 - Functional Performance Criteria
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 508-302.1 | Without Vision |
| 508-302.2 | With Limited Vision |
| 508-302.3 | Without Perception of Color |
| 508-302.4 | Without Hearing |
| 508-302.8 | With Limited Manipulation |
Chapter 4 - Hardware
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 508-402 | Closed Functionality |
| 508-407 | Operable Parts |
| 508-412 | ICT with Two-Way Voice Communication |
Chapter 5 - Software
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 508-501 | General Software Requirements |
| 508-502 | Interoperability with Assistive Technology |
| 508-504 | Authoring Tools |
Documentation and Support
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 602.2 | Information About Support Services |
| 602.3 | Electronic Support Documentation |
| 603.2 | Support Services Information About Accommodations |
Electronic Content
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| E205.4 | Electronic Content Accessibility |
Functional Performance Criteria
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 302.1 | Functional Performance Without Vision |
| 302.2 | Functional Performance with Limited Vision |
| 302.3 | Functional Performance Without Perception of Color |
| 302.4 | Functional Performance Without Hearing |
| 302.5 | Functional Performance with Limited Hearing |
| 302.6 | Functional Performance Without Speech |
| 302.7 | Functional Performance with Limited Manipulation |
| 302.8 | Functional Performance with Limited Reach and Strength |
| 302.9 | Functional Performance with Limited Language Cognitive and Learning Abilities |
Hardware
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 403.1 | Biometrics |
| 407.2 | Contrast Operable Parts |
| 501.1 | Scope of Hardware |
Hardware Closed Functionality
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 402.2 | Speech Output Enabled |
Software
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 501.0 | Scope of Software |
Software Applications
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 503.2 | User Preferences |
Software Interoperability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 502.2.1 | User Control of Accessibility Features |
WCAG 2.0 Level AA Integration
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 508-WCAG-1 | Perceivable |
| 508-WCAG-2 | Operable |
| 508-WCAG-3 | Understandable |
| 508-WCAG-4 | Robust |
Web Content
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| E207.2 | WCAG Conformance |
Web and Software Accessibility
Accessibility requirements for web content and software
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised), you already cover:
US Section 508 - ICT Accessibility Standards (Revised 2017)
3%
1 controls mapped
Compare →Qatar DPL
3%
1 controls mapped
Compare →Switzerland FADP
3%
1 controls mapped
Compare →+ 131 more: UK Concordat on Open Research Data (UKRI) (3%), COSO Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) (3%)
See all 134 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 134 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised)?
Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) is a compliance framework from United States with 16 domains and 40 controls. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (as revised in 2017 incorporating WCAG 2.0 Level AA) requires federal agencies to make their information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. The revised standards (36 CFR Part 1194) incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria for web, software, and electronic documents, and provide functional performance criteria for hardware. Applies to all federal ICT including websites, software, hardware, and electronic documents. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) have?
Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) has 40 controls organised across 16 domains. The largest domains are Functional Performance Criteria (9 controls), Chapter 3 - Functional Performance Criteria (5 controls), WCAG 2.0 Level AA Integration (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) map to?
Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) maps to 134 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are US Section 508 - ICT Accessibility Standards (Revised 2017) (3% coverage), Qatar DPL (3% coverage), Switzerland FADP (3% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Section 508 - ICT Accessibility (Revised) compliance?
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