Last Updated: 13 January 2025 – Added reference to Rule revising ADA Title II.
Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
Official law/policy page
Details
Date enacted: 1998
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
Type: Procurement law, Accessibility law
Scope: Government
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: WCAG 2.0
Relevant Standard:
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
Revised Section 508 Standards, 18 Jan. 2017. Enforced on U.S. Agencies as of 18 Jan. 2018. Procurement regulations have not been completed yet by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council. Given the impending updates to the FAR by the FAR Council and the current applicability of the Revised 508 Standards to all other 508-covered applications (i.e., development, maintenance, and use of ICT by Federal agencies), Federal agencies are encouraged to start proactively incorporating the Revised 508 Standards now into their procurement planning and execution.
Relevant Documents:
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended
Official law/policy page
Details
Date enacted: 2009
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
Type: Non-discrimination law
Scope: Public sector, Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Documents:
Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Official law/policy page
Details
Date enacted: 1996
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
Type: Accessibility law
Scope: Public sector, Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Standard:
Relevant Documents:
Air Carrier Access Act of 1986
Official law/policy page
Details
Date enacted: 2013
Responsible Entity (Agency, Ministry, etc.):
Type: Non-discrimination law
Scope: Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: WCAG 2.0
Relevant Standard:
Relevant Documents:
21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)
Official law/policy page
Details
Date enacted: 2010
Responsible Entity (Agency, Ministry, etc.):
Type: Accessibility law
Scope: Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Standards:
WCAG 2.0 Level AA
W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
Revised Section 508 standards published in the U.S. Federal Register 21 Jan. 2017. Incorporates WCAG 2.0 Level AA by reference without modifications for Web content as well as WCAG 2.0 Level AA for non-Web documentation and software with the exception of 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks, 2.4.5 Multiple Ways, 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation, and 3.2.4 Consistent Identification.
Relevant Documents: