What is Section 508 and ADA Compliance?
ADA COMPLIANCE: IT’S NOT JUST THE LAW, IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO
Understand Digital Accessibility, what applies to you, and where to start.
508 Compliance
Remediation
508 and ADA compliance mean that your online documents and website have undergone a procedure to make them accessible to people with limited sight. This means that when a person with limited vision accesses your documents with a screen reader, the reader makes the page come alive for them and gives them the same information a sighted person has access to, in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.
Screen readers have empowered the visually impaired to access and use online material. Our team provides reliable, cost-effective remediation solutions to make sure you can reach this valuable group
Intro to accessibility
WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADA COMPLIANCE, 508 REMEDIATION, AND ACCESSIBILITY?
Intro to accessibility
What does accessibility mean?
Accessibility, in the context of digital content design (documents, websites, apps), means providing content in a way that people with disabilities can perceive, navigate, and interact with it using whatever assistive technology they rely on (screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice control, switch devices, captions, etc.). It’s not just about blind or low-vision users; it also covers people with hearing loss, motor impairments, and cognitive or learning disabilities.
What is the difference between ADA, Section 508, and WCAG?
ADA is a civil rights law that affects accessibility obligations more broadly. Section 508 applies to federal agencies and organizations working with federal requirements. WCAG is a technical standard used to evaluate and improve digital accessibility for websites and documents.
Laws & standards
What is ADA Title II?
The Americans with Disabilities Act itself doesn’t spell out technical web standards. Courts and regulators have interpreted its two relevant titles to apply to digital content. Title II covers state and local government entities. The DOJ’s April 2024 rule made this explicit, requiring public-sector websites and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Cities, counties, and school districts with a population of 50,000 or more must comply by April 26, 2027, while smaller local governments have until April 26, 2028. The DOJ extended these deadlines by about a year in an April 2026 interim rule.
The Cost of Getting Accessibility Wrong: Legal, Financial, and Operational Impacts and Solutions
What is Section 508?
Section 508 refers to a section in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and was strengthened in 1998 by Congress in the Workforce Investment Act. Its primary goal is to help provide access to and use of electronic and information technology (EIT) by individuals with disabilities.
What is PDF/UA?
PDF/UA stands for PDF/Universal Accessibility. It’s the formal ISO standard. ISO 14289, approved in 2012, defines how to represent PDF documents so they’re actually accessible, specifying which PDF components and properties matter for accessibility and the rules for using them.
What are the HHS requirements?
The HHS accessibility rule comes from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR), under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (and it overlaps with obligations under Title II of the ADA and Section 1557 of the ACA). HHS published the final rule on May 9, 2024, creating digital accessibility requirements for recipients of HHS federal financial assistance. This goes beyond just the main website. Patient portals, mobile apps, online appointment scheduling tools, and other digital touchpoints all have to be accessible.
Who it applies to:
Any organization receiving federal financial assistance from HHS – including anyone working with Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP. In practice, that includes hospitals, community health centers, physician practices, Head Start programs, and most other healthcare and social service providers that receive federal health funding.
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The Cost of Getting Accessibility Wrong: Legal, Financial, and Operational Impacts and Solutions
Document accessibility
What is Section 508 document remediation?
Section 508 document remediation is the process of making digital documents accessible to people with disabilities. This includes improving PDFs, Word files, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations so they work better with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technology.
Who must have 508-compliant documents?
Since 2001, the law has required that all web content created using federal money must be 508-compliant. This includes government- and contractor-hosted websites and intranet sites, as well as content hosted by services like YouTube. Examples of companies that must comply include U.S. federal websites, health care companies, banks, and universities, to name a few.
Why should a company comply?
Creating 508-compliant documents helps those who are hard of sight access important information. So, providing a 508-compliant website is the best business practice to help these individuals. If a website is found not to be compliant, a person with disabilities can file a complaint or bring a civil action in federal court. A company can face costly fines for not following the law. 13.2 million people in the United States have at least one disability that Section 508 is meant to help. Being compliant means you are helping a lot of people.
Can't you just click a button and make a document compliant?
No. All documents require manual manipulation of the document structure to pass 508 checkpoints and accessibility standards. Many programs have a selection to tag a document when saving to a PDF, but this does not create documents that are properly tagged, in logical reading order, with all the necessary elements to pass accessibility checkers.
How do you make a PDF 508 compliant?
Making a PDF 508 compliant usually includes reviewing reading order, heading structure, alt text, table formatting, link clarity, color contrast, form fields, and document tags. The goal is to make the document understandable and usable for people using assistive technology.
If I have an Accessibility Report, does this guarantee the document is tagged correctly?
No, it doesn’t. There are a couple of areas where someone can “fake” passing on the Accessibility Report. A person can do the minimum requirement to make it pass, but the document is not 100% compliant. One of these areas is bookmarks. Any document with over 9 pages must contain bookmarks. These bookmarks must exist throughout the entire document. A document can pass with just one bookmark added. This would not meet the standard for a compliant document.
How can I tell if a document is 508 compliant?
The person who provides you with a 508-compliant document must also provide you with an Accessibility Report. This report will tell you if the document has passed 32 inspection points. An accessible document should be structured clearly and work well with assistive technology. Common checks include document tags, heading levels, table structure, image descriptions, reading order, and keyboard usability. A formal accessibility review can identify issues and recommended fixes.
How do I check if a PDF is accessible?
Do a quick check of your document in Adobe Acrobat after it is remediated. Does the bookmark navigation area open automatically when you open the document? Does it have bookmarks throughout the document? Adobe Acrobat will read the document to you. Go to a page with images. Are there words added that describe the pertinent images or icons when you listen to the reader? Go to a page with a table; does the reader read you the table in a logical manner that you could understand if you can’t see it?
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Why Make PDFs Accessible?
Testing / VPAT / ACR
What are VPATs and ACRs?
VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) are closely related but not quite the same thing.
The VPAT is the template. It is a standardized format for documenting how a technology product or service supports accessibility, published by the Information and Technology Industry Council (ITI).
The ACR is what you get once that template is filled out for a specific product. It’s a structured document with tables mapping directly to accessibility success criteria. People often say “VPAT” when they mean the completed report, but technically the VPAT is the blank form, and the ACR is the finished output.
What is accessibility testing and validation?
Testing and validation are how you verify a site, app, or document meets WCAG/Section 508 standards, rather than just claiming it does. It’s a layered process. Automated testing alone is not sufficient. Manual/expert testing is where a human reviewer checks the things automation can’t judge, such as logical reading order, whether alt text accurately describes the images on the page, keyboard-only navigation, focus order, whether ARIA is used correctly, and semantic structure.
How do testing and validation connect to the VPAT/ACR?
The testing/validation process is what an ACR is documenting. A credible ACR isn’t someone’s opinion. It’s the output of running this same automated plus manual testing process against each WCAG success criterion, then recording the result.
Splash Box Remediation Capabilities
How will Splash Box Marketing help my company meet 508 requirements?
Since 2012, Splash Box Marketing has been meeting the 508 remediation needs for a national list of clients. We have a team of trained individuals whose only job is making documents compliant. We will provide your company with properly remediated documents and Accessibility Reports using software recommended by HHS. We are proud to offer this valuable service to our clients at cost-effective prices. We charge the same price regardless of document language or difficulty.
What types of documents can Splash Box remediate?
Splash Box remediates PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. We also support large document libraries and high-volume projects for organizations that need accessible content across many file types.
Can Splash Box remediate documents in multiple languages?
Yes. Splash Box supports document remediation in all languages. Our highest-demand languages are English and Spanish, but we can support multilingual accessibility projects based on your needs.
Do you offer rush 508 remediation services?
Yes. Rush services may be available when timelines can be met. Rush fees may apply depending on the project size, complexity, and deadline.
Can Splash Box handle high-volume accessibility projects?
Yes. Splash Box supports high-volume remediation projects and ongoing accessibility needs. Our team has experience serving organizations with large document libraries and recurring compliance requirements.
Alt Text and Accessible Content
What is alt text and why is it important?
Alt text is a short description of an image that helps people using screen readers understand visual content. Good alt text improves accessibility by communicating the purpose or meaning of an image when the image cannot be seen
Can Splash Box help with alt text for complex visuals?
Yes. Splash Box can support alt text for photos, graphics, charts, and other visual content. For complex visuals, the best approach may include concise alt text plus additional surrounding text that explains the full meaning.
Industries and Capabilities
Does Splash Box work with government agencies and health plans?
Yes. Splash Box supports government agencies, health plans, and other organizations with accessibility and marketing needs. Health plans are one of our top revenue sectors, and we also support public sector accessibility work.
Does Splash Box also provide creative marketing services?
Yes. In addition to accessibility services, Splash Box provides graphic design, brochures, reports, directories, direct mail, social media support, billboards, vehicle wraps, promotional products, and logo design.
Can Splash Box create accessible marketing materials?
Yes. Splash Box helps organizations create marketing materials that are both visually strong and more accessible. This includes combining design support with accessibility best practices for digital communications.
About Splash Box Marketing
What does Splash Box Marketing do?
Splash Box Marketing is a creative marketing and accessibility compliance agency. We help organizations with Section 508 document remediation, website accessibility reviews, graphic design, direct mail, reports, brochures, and other marketing support.
What is Splash Box Marketing known for?
Splash Box is known for combining accessibility expertise with creative services. Our team supports organizations that need compliant digital documents, accessible communications, and high-quality marketing materials.
With whom does Splash Box Marketing work?
We work with government agencies, health plans, enterprise teams, and organizations that need accessible documents and marketing support. We also support clients that need large-scale remediation and ongoing creative services.
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