TestPros understands that in order to follow Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, government contractors’ IT systems must be accessible for people with disabilities. This encompasses features on websites and applications, software, and hardware being usable for those who are blind or have low vision, deafness or hearing loss, among others.
Every organization has different compliance risks, which is why we offer tailored testing and consulting services. We can help you identify any problems so that we can work together to develop a remediation plan to fix them.
What is Section 508 compliance?
Section 508 compliance requires that information and communications technology (ICT), covered by each statute, be accessible to people with impairments. This includes website content, applications, software, hardware, and any other technology used by employees or the public. Any organization that accepts federal funding – including private contractors – is held to this law.
"Section 508 Refresh" of Accessibility Requirements
On January 9th, 2017, the United States Access Board released an update commonly known as the “Section 508 Refresh”. The ruling updated accessibility requirements to keep up with technology changes. This included guidelines for telecommunications equipment subject to Section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934.
For a more detailed description of Section 508, read our article.
What is Section 508 compliance testing?
Section 508 compliance testing is a thorough inspection of products to guarantee they meet accessibility standards and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All federal government organizations, as well as firms carrying out business deals with them must adhere to ADA guidelines–and that’s where 508 compliance testing comes into play.
What is Section 508 remediation?
Section 508 remediation is the process of making your website or application compliant with the Section 508 accessibility guidelines. Remediation follows accessibility testing and can involve making changes to your code and using assistive technologies to make sure your website or application accessible meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Benefits of complying with Section 508
- Everyone has equal opportunity to access your organization’s information and services.
- Win and retain more government contracts
- Avoid costly lawsuits, penalties, and fines
- Reach more customers
How much does Section 508 compliance cost?
Costs for Section 508 compliance vary depending on the size and complexity of the website or application. Some common expenses include hiring a consultant, purchasing specific software, and making required changes to the website’s design and code.
Our accessibility consultants help organizations identify all barriers to accessibility and develop a remediation plan. We also offer training on how to design and develop accessible technology. Our pricing is the most competitive on the market.
Learn more about our services below.
Need help complying with Section 508?
testing, remediation & CONSULTING
Section 508 Compliance Services
1. Project Assessment
Let’s evaluate your needs for accessibility, create goals to achieve, and draw out a pathway to get there. Starting with an audit is a smart choice early on.
2. Testing (Includes compliance documentation, certification, and support)
Validation testing with only assistive technologies does not provide a complete evaluation. Even the best tools cannot address all the requirements – and are hard-pressed to keep pace with evolving assistive technologies. To bridge the gap, we test to the standard using a combination of automated and manual methods.
Our certified testers focus on issues including:
Usability
- Identify accessibility compliance issues with web pages and PDF files
- Assessments conducted via trained Accessibility and Usability Engineers
- e.g., MS Word, PDFs, and others
- Completed test results are provided along with a VPAT (2.4) certification
Products
- e.g., software applications, web content
- Completed test results reports and a VPAT (2.1) certification
Mobile Devices
- e.g., software applications, web content
- Completed test results reports and a VPAT (2.1) certification
3. Remediation
(Custom and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software source code)
We can directly apply the fixes for your application to be brought into conformity with desired standards.
4. Training
We offer training courses on accessibility, taught by our experts at TestPros. These courses can help you make accessibility more of a priority for your staff. Checklists, handouts and other materials are also provided for your team’s reference.
5. Ongoing Maintenance
It is important to remember that content and applications are subject to constant changes. For example, some websites have multiple content editors. This increases the risk of inadvertent accessibility issues creeping back into the software. Therefore, it’s important to monitor for continued accessibility compliance at specific intervals.
TestPros can assist with this ongoing monitoring by implementing monitoring tools and processes to help check on accessibility at certain intervals. This can be a valuable resource in ensuring the accessibility of your content, finding broken links, and other quality-related issues.
We are DHS 508 Trusted Testers
To meet Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements, we employ certified DHS Trusted Testers to perform Section 508 testing.
The DHS Trusted Tester Certification requires testers to pass an initial screening test to demonstrate experience with the standard. Testers must also attend classes and pass a rigorous exam to demonstrate their competence.
Our detailed process includes guidance from other federal agencies for both application and document compliance reviews.
DHS OAST recommends free, open-source tools for their “Trusted Tester” program. You can check them out at no cost here.
Ensure Your ICT Meets Accessibility Requirements
TestPros can help your business assess its compliance risks and develop a remediation strategy. Our team of accessibility experts has over 30 years of experience testing and evaluating products for compliance with Section 508 standards. Contact our consulting team to learn how we can help your organization comply with Section 508 guidelines.
