ADA Section 508 Level AA Accessibility Standards
Are you looking for the actual (Level AA) ADA Section 508 Accessibility Standards?
We will show you exactly what the Level AA Section 508 Accessibility Standards are on this page.
When we got our first ADA Section 508 compliance job for a client, we were not 100% certain on what it would take to bring this website into compliance. This is when our journey down the rabbit hole began. It seemed as much as they wanted us to use these recommendations for people with disabilities. They did not make it very easy for web developers like us to find this information. Then, what information we did find was like reading tax code from the IRS.
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Basically, the actual information you need to be successful was hard to find and harder to understand. This is why we not only tell you what the exact recommendation is. We also include a summarization to try and help you understand the basics that are important to you so you can become Section Compliant.
Check out our other post if you want to see all of the Level A Compliance for Websites.
There are 3 levels of the ADA Section 508 Accessibility Standards:
- Level A: This is the lowest possible set of standards for ADA Section 508 Accessibility. Although this will make you mostly compliant. It does not, in my opinion, elevate the user experience for the person who needs it most.
- Level AA: This set of standards is the level that you want to achieve to make sure you are completely compliant. This set of standards makes a huge difference in the user experience for the end user.
- Level AAA: This is the highest set of ADA Section 508 Accessibility Standards. If you can implement the Level AAA standards in your website or software. Then you will be exceeding the requirements and have created an amazing user experience for people with disabilities.
Level AAA is the level you want to shoot for, but by accepting nothing less than Level AA you will create a 100% compliant website and great user experience. You will create a true ADA section 508 Compliant website.
ADA Section 508 (WCAG 2.0) compliance recommendations [Level AA]
- 1.2.4 (Captions) Provides for creating captions for live video and multimedia.
- 1.2.5 (Audio Description Prerecorded) You have to provide an audio description of live video and multimedia.
- 1.4.3 (Contrast) You must meet the minimum specified contrast between the background and the foreground of text and images. [4.5 to 1is the actual ratio]
- 1.4.4 (Resize Text) The text must be readable and functional when the font is doubled in size.
- 1.4.5 (Images of Text) You must use actual text and not use images of text.
- 2.4.5 (Multiple Ways) You must include at least 2 or more ways to locate content.
- 2.4.6 (Headlines and Labels) You must make the headings and labels descriptive.
- 2.4.7 (Focus Visible) You must make sure the keyboard focus is visually apparent when somebody uses the keyboard to navigate the website or software.
ADA Section 508 Accessibility Standards
- 3.1.2 (Language of Parts) This makes sure that all the changes in language are exposed to assistive technology.
- 3.2.3 (Consistent Navigation) This means that repeated navigational components happen in the relative order each time they are encountered.
- 3.2.4 (Consistent Identification) This means that the components having the same functionality are identified consistently.
- 3.3.3 (Error Suggestion) This states that the system makes suggestions for correction when input errors are automatically detected and suggestions are available.
- 3.3.4 (Error Prevention- Legal, Financial, Data) This states that when legal, financial, or test data can be changed or deleted the changes or deletions can be reversed, verified, or confirmed.
ADA Section 508 Accessibility Standards in 7 simple steps.
We understand how difficult it is to understand these ADA Section 508 Standards. This is why we try to sum up ADA Section 508 Compliance in 7 steps.
- Make sure you have Alternative Text for all of your non-text media.
- You must make sure that all videos you upload include a manuscript of that audio. You have to also include an audio description for non-audio animations.
- Make sure the color of any given content is not the only indicator of what it is.
- The whole website or software you create must be able to be navigated with just the Tab button on the keyboard.
- Make sure there are no time limits on your site for any reason.
- Always include a skip navigation link or something equivalent, so the user can bypass repetitive content.
- If there is an input error by the user, it must be identified and described in the text to the user.
If you can follow these 7 simple steps your website or software will almost be totally ADA Section 508 Compliant. I hope this has helped you.
