Achieve 508 Compliance With Software Accessibility Testing

In 1998, President Clinton signed an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which “requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities.” Today, this amendment is commonly referred to as Section 508.

The accessibility guidelines established by Section 508 don’t just apply to federal agencies; any private organization that does business with federal agencies must ensure their products are 508 compliant as well. Furthermore, many state governments have adopted similar accessibility standards since Section 508 was first signed into law 20 years ago. It’s also important to note that these accessibility requirements were updated in January of 2017 to better reflect recent innovations in information technology.

For software developers, achieving 508 compliance can open up a whole new world of market opportunities.

By making products that are accessible to people with disabilities, software companies can begin pursuing lucrative contracts with government agencies at both the state and federal level. Once 508 compliance is achieved, it can make software products more valuable to government contractors as well. If your products don’t adhere to these accessibility standards, you could be missing out on an opportunity to expand your user base and generate new sources of revenue.

At Beta Breakers, our talented team of QA engineers can help you achieve and maintain 508 compliance by providing thorough and up-to-date accessibility testing services. We can evaluate your current product, identify accessibility standards violations and offer suggestions on how to achieve full compliance with today’s Section 508 requirements. To get started, give us a call or contact us online today!