ADA Section 508 refers to a specific set of regulations as part of the Rehabilitation Act. If your website fails to comply with applicable ADA Section 508 regulations, you leave your organization vulnerable to costly lawsuits that have been described in business publications as "arguably the fastest growing type of litigation in New York state."
Is your website compliant with ADA Section 508?
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What is ADA Section 508?
ADA Section 508 refers to regulations detailed in the Rehabilitation Act, a federal law regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Specifically, ADA Section 508 mandates that federal agencies "electronic and information technology," such as an agency website or app, must be accessible for individuals with disabilities.
A federal agency website must be made in a way that the site's information and features are equally accessible for people with disabilities as this content is for people without disabilities. For example, a blind person must be able to fully use all features and access all information on a federal agency website, such as structuring the website in a way that's compatible with screen readers and similar assistive technology.
Do ADA Section 508 Compliance Requirements Apply to Your Organization?
While ADA Section 508 requirements only apply to federal agencies, similar website accessibility standards do apply for businesses and other organizations.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that any organization that receives federal funding must have their website be equally accessible for individuals with disabilities as the website is for people who do not have disabilities.
Some organizations that must comply with website accessibility standards include, but are not limited to:
- Educational institutions, such as schools and universities,
- Credit unions, banks and other financial organizations that receive federal funding,
- and more
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Even If ADA Section 508 Does Not Apply For Your Business, You Could Still Be Sued for Website Accessibility
Federal regulations regarding website accessibility still may apply outside of ADA Section 508.
There is a legal precedent for businesses that do not receive federal funding being sued for a lack of website accessibility features.
About 5,000 ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed within just the first 6 months of 2018.
These website accessibility lawsuits are only expected to increase.
Don't Wait Until You Have to Deal with Costly Lawsuits. Contact Us Now to Make Your Website Compliant with Accessibility Regulations.
While ADA Section 508 applies to federal agencies, businesses have faced lawsuits for failing to comply with other applicable website accessibility standards.
It is urgent that you make your business website comply with website accessibility regulations, or risk potentially costly lawsuits.
For years, ACS Web Design and SEO has been the trusted web design experts for website accessibility.