Web Accessibility Comparison: WCAG, Section 508, and ADA - Instruments for Digital Inclusion
The internet as a global platform must cater to everyone, regardless of geographic location, language, or nationality. This principle extends to web accessibility, a policy that ensures people with disabilities—such as low vision, partial blindness, or color blindness—have equal access to digital services as their abled counterparts.
This involves taking into account the needs of these individuals during web and digital platform development. To achieve this goal, one should familiarize themselves with the common acronyms in digital publishing, namely WCAG, Section 508, and ADA.
For instance, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a collection of accessibility guidelines for websites created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This standard, divided into three compliance levels—A, AA, and AAA—envisions a more accessible digital world for people with disabilities.
Section 508, on the other hand, is a federal law mandating electronic and information technology, including websites, to be accessible to people with disabilities. Its reach extends beyond federal employees to the general public.
Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law in the U.S. that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Though not specific to digital accessibility, its interpretation and enforcement have incorporated web accessibility requirements across businesses, state and local governments, and more.
A Closer Look: WCAG, Section 508, and ADA
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
Launched in 2008, WCAG provides actionable guidelines for website owners and companies to create an accessible digital world for people with disabilities. Its three tiers of compliance—Level A, AA, and AAA—cover basic accessibility features, common barriers, and comprehensive web accessibility respectively.
Section 508
Part of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 508 mandates electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities. According to this law, technology must be usable by those with disabilities as efficiently and easily as by those without.
ADA
Passed in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities across various aspects of life, including education, employment, transportation, and electronic and information technology. This broad legislation incorporates websites under its scope.
WCAG, Section 508, and ADA Priorities and Differences
Each standard prioritizes different aspects of web accessibility, ensuring a more inclusive digital space for all. While WCAG offers formal guidelines for digital content accessibility, primarily focusing on HTML accessibility, Section 508 concentrates on digital accessibility within the U.S. federal sector. Conversely, ADA focuses on guaranteeing equal access to the disabled in all sectors, including state and local governments, businesses, and digital media.
Making Your Website Accessible: A Necessity in the Modern Digital Landscape
While non-adherence to WCAG does not result in penalties, ignoring these guidelines may lead to violations of the Section 508 and ADA laws. Failing to address these issues may lead to formal complaints and civil lawsuits or fines reaching up to $75,000 for first-time violations and $150,000 for repeated violations under the ADA [6]. Therefore, partnering with a reliable web development partner is crucial to ensure a more accessible online presence.
Further Reading
- The Future of Digital Media and Content in Education
- Fixed Layout vs Reflowable Layout
- How to Create Interactive Employee Training Modules
- What are Interactive eBooks and How to Create Them?
- What is Digital Reading?
- 10 Reasons Why Online Learning is Better than Classroom Learning
- eBook Digital Rights Management
- Digitization of Books
- Best eBook Readers: Enhance Your Digital Reading Experience
- K12 Publishers
- Associations & Societies
- Trade Publishers
- Training Companies
- Content Aggregators
[1] U.S. General Services Administration, (2021), Section 508.[2] U.S. Department of Justice, (2010), Nondiscrimination on theBasis of Disability by PublicAccommodations and in CommercialFacilities.[3] World Wide Web Consortium, (2021), WCAG Overview.[4] European Commission, (2022), Web Accessibility.[5] U.S. Department of Justice, (2020), Title III Technical AssistanceManual.[6] The Verge, (2017), Lawsuit Alleges That Winn-Dixie Website ViolatesADA.
Technology plays a crucial role in ensuring web accessibility, as evidenced by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These standards serve as guidelines for website owners and companies to create an accessible digital world for people with disabilities, each focusing on different aspects of web accessibility to ensure a more inclusive digital space for all.
