Section 508 Compliance
Section 508 is a U.S. law. It says federal agencies and their contractors must make their tech accessible. The rules line up with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Here is what Section 508 asks for and how NeuroText helps.
Last updated: April 20, 2026
- Law name: Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act (1973)
- Tech rules: Revised 508 Standards (2018), based on WCAG 2.0 Level AA
- Covers: U.S. federal agencies and companies that sell to them
- Report: VPAT / Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)
- Who enforces it: federal agencies, complaints, and lawsuits
What is Section 508?
Section 508 is a U.S. law from 1973. It says federal agencies must make their tech easy to use for people with disabilities. That covers the tech they build, buy, and use. It helps both federal workers and the public.
A group called the U.S. Access Board writes the tech rules. The current version is the Revised 508 Standards. It took effect on January 18, 2018. The big change in 2018: the rules now line up with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. This matches the rest of the world.
Who has to follow it?
- U.S. federal agencies - their websites, apps, documents, videos, kiosks, and software.
- Companies that sell tech to the government - you must show your product meets Section 508. You do this with a VPAT or ACR.
- State and local governments - many use Section 508 rules in their own contracts and laws.
- Universities that take federal money often use Section 508 rules too.
What does Section 508 cover?
Section 508 covers many kinds of tech:
- Websites and web apps
- Software and mobile apps
- Digital documents (PDF, Word, HTML)
- Video and audio (captions and audio descriptions)
- Phones and phone systems
- Kiosks and copiers
- Computer hardware
The Revised 508 Standards
The Revised 508 Standards are split into chapters:
- Chapter 1: how the rules work
- Chapter 2: what counts as covered tech
- Chapter 3: what people need to be able to do (like use the site without vision or hearing)
- Chapter 4: hardware
- Chapter 5: software
- Chapter 6: help docs and support
- Chapter 7: other standards it points to - including WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA for web content
Here is the short version. For a website or web app, your real target is WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Add the user rules and help docs, and you are set.
VPAT and the ACR
If you sell tech to a federal agency, you need to fill out a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template). When you sign it for a real product, the signed form is called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
A good ACR has:
- Product name, version, and date
- A rating for each rule: "Supports", "Partially Supports", "Does Not Support", or "Not Applicable"
- Notes that explain each answer
- How you tested
Federal buyers often ask for a fresh ACR before they buy.
How NeuroText helps with Section 508
NeuroText is a widget for your site. It gives every visitor controls for how they read and move through a page. Section 508 uses WCAG 2.0 AA. So the same features help here too.
- Contrast: users can turn up contrast and pick color tints.
- Text size and spacing: users can change font size, line height, and spacing.
- Dyslexia fonts: easy-to-read fonts keep text as text, not pictures.
- Motion: users can pause animations and turn off movement.
- Page outline: a list of sections to help users jump around.
- Text to speech: more than 20 voices read the page out loud.
Section 508 looks at your code. NeuroText helps but does not replace that work. For federal sales, you still need a product-level ACR and proof that accessibility is part of how you build things. Need help? We also offer Section 508 consulting and VPAT/ACR support. Tell us about your product and we will build a plan with you.
Your Section 508 checklist
- List what the law covers: which sites, apps, docs, and services.
- Test against WCAG 2.0 AA with both tools and real people.
- Fix the code and keep proof of your fixes.
- Make a current VPAT / ACR for each product.
- Build accessibility into your daily work (design, build, and test).
- Add a tool like NeuroText so users can adjust the page.
- Post an accessibility statement with a contact email.
Common questions
What is Section 508?
Section 508 is a U.S. law from 1973. It says federal agencies must build or buy tech that people with disabilities can use. A group called the U.S. Access Board writes the tech rules. The current rules are called the Revised 508 Standards. They match WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Who has to follow Section 508?
Federal agencies must follow it. Companies that sell tech to the government must follow it too. Many states, cities, and universities use the same rules in their own contracts.
What is a VPAT or ACR?
A VPAT is a form vendors use to show how their product meets Section 508. When a vendor fills it out and signs it, the form is called an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). Federal buyers often ask for a current ACR before they buy.
Does Section 508 use WCAG 2.1 or 2.0?
The Revised 508 Standards use WCAG 2.0 Level AA. They do not ask for 2.1 yet. But many agencies ask vendors to report on WCAG 2.1 AA too. Federal sites are told to aim higher when they can.
Does NeuroText make my site Section 508 compliant?
Section 508 looks at your code, not a widget. But NeuroText adds controls that help with many WCAG 2.0 AA rules that Section 508 points to. It works well with your regular accessibility work and adds detail to your ACR.
This page is for general info only. It is not legal advice. For your own product or contract, talk to a lawyer or an accessibility expert.
Step 1: Add reading tools to your site in 2 minutes
One line of code gives every visitor a customizable accessibility toolbar - supporting your Section 508 obligations and making your site easier for everyone to use.