On this page
What it Covers
- Federal websites and web apps
- Software the government buys or builds
- PDF documents the government publishes
- Multimedia content (videos, podcasts)
- Hardware like phones and kiosks
The rules are maintained by the US Access Board.
The 2018 Refresh — what changed
The Section 508 Refresh was published January 18, 2017 and became enforceable January 18, 2018.
The big changes:
- Adopted WCAG 2.0 Level AA by reference — so federal accessibility now matches the international standard.
- Restructured around content types instead of technology types — covers any electronic content regardless of format.
- Referenced PDF/UA-1 as the standard for PDF authoring tools.
- Aligned with EN 301 549, the European Union's accessibility standard.
"Section 508 compliance" now means the refreshed 2018 standard.
What Section 508 requires for PDFs
For PDF files specifically, Section 508 requires:
- Tagged content — every meaningful piece of text and every image is tagged so screen readers can interpret it.
- Logical reading order — content flows in the same order a sighted reader would follow.
- Alt text on images — meaningful images have descriptions; decorative ones are marked as decoration.
- Properly tagged tables — header cells identified, scope attributes set.
- Document metadata — title, language, and author specified.
- Accessible forms — fields labeled, with clear instructions and error handling.
- No accessibility-hostile features — no flashing content, no security settings that block screen readers.
The clearest technical target is PDF/UA-1 (ISO 14289-1:2014), which Section 508 references directly. See our PDF/UA guide.
VPATs and Accessibility Conformance Reports
If you sell electronic content or technology to the federal government, you'll usually need a VPAT — Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. The completed version is an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
For PDF documents, the VPAT typically asks:
- Does the PDF conform to PDF/UA-1?
- Is the PDF remediated to WCAG 2.0 Level AA?
- What known accessibility issues exist, if any?
- What's the remediation plan for issues that aren't fixed?
Federal agencies often require a credible VPAT/ACR and may require third-party testing.
Section 508 vs ADA — they're not the same
They use similar standards but apply to different organizations:
Section 508
Federal procurement law. Applies to US federal agencies and their vendors. Effective for current rules: January 18, 2018.
ADA Title II
Civil rights law for state and local governments. PDF deadlines: April 26, 2027 for 50,000+ entities and April 26, 2028 for smaller entities and special districts. See our ADA Title II guide.
ADA Title III
Civil rights law for private businesses. WCAG 2.1 AA is the de facto digital accessibility target.
A well-remediated PDF/UA-1 file usually supports all three conversations.
Primary sources to verify
Use these official references when you review Section 508, VPAT/ACR, and procurement requirements.
How ADAComply handles Section 508
ADAComply is designed to remediate PDFs to PDF/UA-1, WCAG 2.1 AA, PDF/UA-2, and WTPDF, including machine-testable rules. Reports are stored in the dashboard.
Send your site for a free dashboard audit of public PDFs.
Get a Free PDF AuditFrequently asked questions
What is Section 508?
A US federal law that requires federal agencies to make their electronic content — websites, software, PDFs — accessible to people with disabilities. Current rules effective January 18, 2018.
Who has to comply?
All US federal agencies. Plus any vendor selling electronic content or technology to the government, since procurement rules require Section 508 conformance.
What does Section 508 require for PDFs?
PDFs need to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA. For PDF files specifically, the law references PDF/UA-1 (ISO 14289-1:2014). Remediating and testing toward PDF/UA-1 is the clearest technical path for Section 508 PDF work.
What's a VPAT?
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template — a standardized form vendors use to document how their product meets Section 508. The completed version is an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). Federal agencies usually require one before purchasing.
Is Section 508 the same as ADA?
No. Section 508 is federal procurement law. The ADA is broader civil rights law. They use similar standards but apply to different organizations.
Does Section 508 apply to state and local governments?
Not directly — that's ADA Title II. But many state laws and grants reference Section 508, and some states adopt it as their own standard.