The Legal Implications of Non-Compliance with Website 508 Standards

 What are website 508 standards?

Website 508 standards are regulations that specify technical and scoping requirements for websites in order to guarantee their usability and accessibility for people with disabilities. The guidelines serve as the cornerstone for website accessibility, which is the process of enabling those with disabilities to use websites, web apps, and digital content.

Section 508-compliant websites are websites designed in a way that makes them easily navigated and understood by assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboard-only users.

 
Website 508 compliance also involves using clear and straightforward language, providing alternative text for images and videos, and designing forms that can be easily filled out for anyone with any disability.

Why insist on having a Section 508-compliant website?

Web designers may create a website, but if it has accessibility problems, you are the one who must bear the burden of the website not being in compliance with Section 508!

You should try to have a Section 508-compliant website for a number of reasons. First of all, it makes sure that everyone, regardless of ability, can access the digital data you provide on the website. This is significant given how integral the Internet has grown to be in contemporary life.

Therefore, it is crucial that you do your part to ensure that everyone has equal access to the Internet if you want to end prejudice against those with disabilities.

Making your website 508 compliant also contributes to the development of a more varied and inclusive online environment. This is crucial because it guarantees that everyone, irrespective of their (dis)abilities, may participate in the digital era and enjoy its advantages, such as the simplicity of online banking, socializing, and many other things.

Making your website Section 508 compliant is also a legal requirement, and failure to comply with the established Section 508 standards can result in penalties and legal consequences.

What are the legal consequences of a non-Section 508-compliant website?

Penalties for failing to adhere to the Section 508 website standards might vary depending on the specifics of the violation as well as the agency or entity in question.

If your organization is a federal agency, noncompliance with website 508 compliance criteria may result in funding being suspended or terminated, legal action being taken, and fines. The U.S. Access Board, the organization in charge of upholding Section 508, can also take enforcement actions like filing official complaints and requesting injunctive relief.

A non-Section 508-compliant website may result in the loss of funding or contracts for private organizations or entities that receive government assistance, as well as legal action. Individuals affected by your website's failure to adhere to 508-compliant website standards may potentially file lawsuits against your organization or another entity.

Website 508 non-compliance can result in fines, negative publicity, and reputational harm, in addition to the penalties that the business or entity is likely to incur as a result.

In fact, a lot of top corporations and organizations have realized how important it is morally and legally to have their websites comply with Section 508. This is due to the fact that it enables people with disabilities to have equal access to digital information and technology.

How to ensure website 508 compliance

Ensuring website 508 compliance involves a combination of technical and organizational measures, including understanding the website 508 standards, conducting a website accessibility audit, developing an accessibility plan, using accessibility testing tools, ensuring that your staff is trained on accessibility and how to ensure website 508 compliance, continuous accessibility monitoring and testing of your website, and mainstreaming accessibility in your organizational or business processes.

Need help with website Section 508 compliance?

The development and design of websites must take Section 508 compliance into account. As the owner of a website, you should strive to have websites that are accessible and usable for all users because that helps create a more inclusive digital environment.

Yes, website 508 compliance is a legal requirement, and failure to comply with it could land you in a lot of legal trouble. However, you should strive for website Section 508 compliance not just to avoid legal consequences but because it is the right thing to do because it eliminates discrimination against people with disabilities.

Don’t let website accessibility issues hold your organization or business back. Given their expert understanding of the significance of producing universally accessible digital material, ADACP can assist you in establishing and resolving any website 508 non-compliance issues. They provide a range of accessibility solutions that are intended to assist businesses and organizations in adhering to Section 508 criteria and other accessibility specifications.

Contact ADACP today at (626) 486-2201 and find out how they can help you make your website and digital content accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities.