All information technology (IT) purchased, built, maintained, or used by U.S. Federal agencies has to be accessible to people with disabilities. This is often called Section 508 compliance (referring to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act).48 The guidance in Section 508 helps us design websites that work for everyone.
Here are a few of the important considerations addressed under Section 508:
- Make sure screen readers and other assistive technologies can read your site. That way, people with disabilities who use these devices to navigate the internet will be able to access your content. Usually, this involves confirming a logical reading order and heading structure of webpages, providing multiple ways to navigate content, and checking that images have appropriate text descriptions. You can find other criteria in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.
- Write descriptive page titles and headings. This helps all users to easily identify the major content sections on the page.
- Check that users can navigate your site using only a keyboard. That way, your site will be accessible for users who have mobility or vision impairments or are unable to use a mouse or touch screen.
- Choose high-contrast color combinations. Many users with low vision or color blindness can find it difficult to tell the difference between similar colors, so low-contrast text may disappear.
- Test third-party content for accessibility. If you’re embedding content that takes users outside of your website or requires additional software (like YouTube videos, social media feeds, or plug-ins), review and test it to make sure content is still accessible to all users.49
Under a rule passed in April 2024, state and local agencies (or organizations receiving state or local funds) also have to make their websites, web content, mobile apps, and documents accessible to remain compliant with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Figure 3.1: This MyHealthfinder page has a clear page title: “Get Screened for Breast Cancer.” Descriptive headings and subheadings, like “Take Action,” “See Your Doctor,” and “Ask the doctor about your risk for breast cancer,” make it easy for readers to find the content they’re interested in.
Get more information about web accessibility from the Web Accessibility Initiative.
