We’ve assisted numerous US Federal, State, and Local Government agencies in crafting Accessibility Compliant PDFs that adhere to section 508 and WCAG standards. Whether you need to update existing PDFs or create new ones, we ensure they meet the necessary accessibility guidelines. Additionally, we offer solutions for posting non-compliant PDFs on your website while meeting regulatory requirements. Ensuring 508 compliance for PDFs is crucial, as Adobe PDFs are widely used, but compliance extends to other formats like Microsoft Word, Excel, ePUB, Mobi, XML, and PowerPoint.
What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
In 1998, Congress changed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, mandating that Federal agencies ensure their electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This law, found in 29 U.S.C § 794 (d), applies to all Federal agencies in their development, procurement, maintenance, and use of electronic and information technology. According to Section 508, agencies are required to provide disabled employees and the public with access to information that is comparable to what is available to others.
The U.S. Access Board is tasked with developing accessibility standards for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to be integrated into Federal procurement regulations. On January 18, 2017, the Access Board issued a final rule updating accessibility requirements covered by Section 508 and revising guidelines for telecommunications equipment regulated by Section 255 of the Communications Act. This final rule became effective on January 18, 2018.
What are WCAG 2.0 and 2.1?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are crafted through the W3C process in collaboration with individuals and organizations worldwide. They aim to establish a universal standard for web content accessibility that caters to the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments globally.
These guidelines delineate methods for enhancing web content accessibility for people with disabilities.
- “Content” here encompasses the textual, visual, and auditory elements of a web page or application
- as well as the underlying code or markup governing its structure and presentation.
WCAG 2.0 was first released on December 11, 2008, followed by WCAG 2.1 on June 5, 2018.
The primary audience for WCAG includes:
- Web content developers (such as page authors and site designers)
- Developers of web authoring tools
- Developers of web accessibility evaluation tools
- Anyone seeking or requiring a standard for web accessibility, including considerations for mobile accessibility
Additionally, related resources cater to a diverse range of individuals, including policymakers, managers, researchers, and others interested in web accessibility.
How can we help you with Section 508 ADA PDF Creation and Remediation Services?
With extensive experience, we are at the forefront of document accessibility and compliance, specializing in Section 508 Compliant Conversion.
- Our fully in-house process guarantees the security of your confidential documents.
- To ensure thorough compliance, we have ADA, Section 504, and 508 compliances and WCAG specialists on staff.
- Stringent quality control measures are in place to uphold the security, accuracy, and confidentiality of your data.
- We conduct validation for Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 standards.
- We provide cost-effective solutions with quick and accurate remediation options.
- Additionally, we offer alternative solutions to enable your non-conformant PDFs to go live on your website. Contact us to learn how we can assist with your current PDF files.
PDF Accessibility Validators
Common Look PDF Validator thoroughly examines a document to ensure compliance with Section 508, WCAG 2.0 AA, PDF/UA, and HHS (U.S. Health and Human Services) standards.
Adobe Acrobat offers an automated accessibility checking feature called Full Check. This feature assesses a PDF for various accessibility attributes. Users can select specific accessibility issues to be examined and specify their preferred reporting format.
Manual testing or specialized tools can verify file compliance with Section 508 standards.
Feel free to contact Bob Mehta at 515-865-4591 or email him at Bob@ebookconversion.com to discuss creating 508-compliant PDFs or to discuss your end goals. We’re here to provide a cost-effective and compliant solution for Section WCAG 2.0 and 508-compliant PDF creation.