Section 508 Checklist for HTML

As of January 2018, the technical requirements of Section 508 have changed to incorporate WCAG 2.0 A and AA success criteria. The checklist below is out-of-date and should not be used. You can instead refer to WebAIM's WCAG 2 checklist (webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist).

Note: The pass/fail criteria in this document represent an interpretation of Section 508 web standards. This checklist is NOT official Section 508 documentation.

508 STANDARD PASS FAIL

(a) A text equivalent for every non- Every image, applet, embedded A non-text element has no alt or text element shall be provided (e.g., media, plug-in, etc. that conveys text description or the description via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content has equivalent is not equivalent, or is not content). alternative text (alt, described in the adjacent text. longdesc, or in the element context).

The alt text succinctly describes Alt texts are verbose ("picture the content conveyed by the of…", "image of…", etc.), vague, element, without being too misleading, inaccurate, or verbose (for simple objects) or redundant to the context (the alt too vague (for complex objects). text is the same as adjacent text).

Complex graphics (graphs, Complex graphics have no charts, etc.) are accompanied by alternative text or the alternative equivalent text, either through a does not fully convey the content of description in the body of the the graphic. page, a link to a description on a separate page, and/or the longdesc attribute [See Note 1] Images that have a function Alternative texts for linked images, (images within links, image image buttons, or hot spots are not buttons, and image map areas) descriptive of the function. have alternative text which describes the associated function.

Decorative graphics are CSS Decorative graphics have background images or have alternative text of "spacer", null/empty alt values "decorative graphic," or other (alt=""). Images with text extraneous text. Graphics have alt alternatives in element content text that is redundant with are given empty alt text to avoid adjacent text. redundancy.

Transcripts are provided for Audio does not have transcripts. audio content.

© 2018 WebAIM, all rights reserved (b) Equivalent alternatives for any Video files and live audio Video files or live audio broadcasts multimedia presentation shall be broadcasts have synchronized do not have captions or captions synchronized with the presentation. captions. are not synchronized.

Content presented through Audio descriptions are not video, but not through audio is provided for visual-only content in provided via audio descriptions. multimedia.

(c) Web pages shall be designed so Color is not used solely to convey Color is the sole means of that all information conveyed with important content. conveying content. color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. Sufficient contrast is provided. Contrast is poor.

(d) Documents shall be organized so Style sheets may be used for The document is confusing or they are readable without requiring layout, but the document is still information is missing when the an associated style sheet. readable and understandable style sheet is turned off. (even if less visually appealing) when the style sheet is turned off.

(e) Redundant text links shall be Client-side image maps are used Server side image maps or provided for each active region of a instead of server-side image inaccessible client-side image server-side image map. maps. Appropriate alternative maps are present. text is provided for the image as (f) Client-side image maps shall be well as each hot spot area. provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.

(g) Row and column headers shall be Data tables have column and/or Data tables have no header rows or identified for data tables. row headers appropriately columns. identified (using the element).

Tables used strictly for layout Tables used for layout have purposes do NOT use the headers identified when there are element. no true headers.

(h) Markup shall be used to associate Data table cells are associated Data table cells are not associated data cells and header cells for data with the appropriate headers with column and/or row headers tables that have two or more logical using the scope or id/headers or they are associated incorrectly. levels of row or column headers. attributes.

(i) Frames shall be titled with text that Each frame is given a title that Frames have no title or a title facilitates frame identification and describes the frame’s purpose or that is not descriptive of the navigation. content. frame’s purpose or content.

(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid No element on the page flashes at One or more elements on the page causing the screen to flicker with a a rate of 2 to 55 cycles per flash at a rate of 2 to 55 cycles per frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower second, thus reducing the risk of second, increasing the risk of than 55 Hz. optically-induced seizures. optically-induced seizures.

© 2018 WebAIM, all rights reserved (k) A text-only page, with equivalent A text-only version is created A text-only version is provided information or functionality, shall be only when there is no other way when the main version is not provided to make a web site comply to make the content accessible or accessible, but could be made fully with the provisions of this part, when when it offers significant accessible. compliance cannot be accomplished advantages over the "main" in any other way. The content of the version for certain disability text-only page shall be updated types. whenever the primary page changes. The text-only version provides The text-only version is not equivalent content and is up-to- equivalent to or up-to-date with date with the main version. the main version.

(l) When pages utilize scripting Content and functionality Content and functionality provided languages to display content, or to provided by scripting is directly by scripts only work with a mouse create interface elements, the accessible to assistive or cannot be accessed by assistive information provided by the script technologies and the keyboard. technologies. shall be identified with functional text