The Impact of Section 508 on Federal Agencies and Contractors

 Any department, independent organization, public corporation, or other agency of the executive branch of the US federal government, including the US Postal Service, is considered a US federal agency.

A federal contractor, on the other hand, is a person who signs a contract with any agency or department of the US government or submits a bid for one and receives payment from money appropriated by Congress for the provision of services, goods, equipment, supplies, land, or structures.

What is Section 508 in the context of US federal agencies and contractors?

Except in limited circumstances, all federal agencies are required by Section 508 of the US Workforce Rehabilitation Act to make sure that their information and communication technology (ICT) is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Federal agencies are required to provide individuals with disabilities who work for them access to ICT that is comparable to that provided to other people under Section 508. This calls for compliance from specific federal government contractors.

What does this mean for federal contractors, then? Keep in mind that you’re regarded as an ICT vendor if you produce ICT goods or services through manufacturing, construction, design, creation, education, or resale.

By virtue of Section 508, you must prove that your ICT product or service is accessible and complies with the updated Section 508 criteria in order to do business with the federal government. Software, electronic content, support materials, and services are all included.

The public-facing websites of all federal agencies and federal contractors that manufacture, build, design, create, teach, or resell ICT products and services must also be Section 508 compliant.

A Section 508-compliant website should have its navigation and accessibility made possible using the keyboard, have alternative text for images and videos, include transcripts or captions for videos and audios, have screen reader capabilities, have no time limits for users accessing any content on the site, have the right color and contrast, and lack flickering objects on the screen.

The following are some of the impacts of Section 508 on federal contractors as well as federal agencies:

Balance between ADA and Section 508 compliance

Given that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to government contractors because they are commercial entities, Section 508 increases their obligations in the arena of accessibility.

While the contractors must ensure that their ICT products and services comply with Section 508 in order to win federal contracts, they are also bound by the ADA, which forbids discrimination against people with disabilities in all spheres of public life. This means that they risk legal action if their products and services do not conform to the ADA requirements. Therefore, it is required of federal contractors that their websites comply with Section 508 and the ADA.

Avoidance of accessibility lawsuits

The ADA-related litigation costs and fines associated with accessibility cases have decreased because to Section 508, which has also significantly assisted federal agencies and contractors in expanding their market reach. In addition to these, Section 508 has helped government agencies and contractors focus more intently on delivering seamless experiences for everyone.

Enhancement of brand image

Additionally, Section 508 has improved the reputation of federal contractors and agencies. That is because their customers now view them more favorably due to Section 508's inspiration for more accessible products and services. Many federal contractors are enhancing their brand image and gaining more market recognition with the aid of good ADA Section 508 accessibility practices. This helps them stand out and attract more business opportunities.

Improved SEO

The user experience of websites is typically taken into account by search engine crawlers used by search engines like Google to rank the website appropriately.

The key to creating a fantastic website user experience is accessibility. Federal agencies and contractors have been working hard to improve their accessibility levels in the wake of Section 508 and the ADA in order to be rated higher. Their search engine optimization (SEO) activities are boosted as a result, which raises their rating.

Need help improving the positive impacts of Section 508 for your agency?

There are various things to think about and work on if you are a government agency or contractor wishing to increase your Section 508 accessibility. Working with an ADA Section 508 industry specialist to assess the accessibility level of your organization and identify the gaps to fill has many positive impacts.

The ADACP has a wealth of experience assisting federal contractors and agencies to create inclusive and accessible digital products and services, including websites that adhere to Section 508. Call their Section 508 ADA specialists at (626) 486-2201 to help them comprehend your Section 508 ADA accessibility requirements and assist you in putting in place a dependable, accessible system that will better serve your clients.