Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) applies when Federal Agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Information and Communication Technology (ICT), including kiosks. Its primary purpose is to ensure federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data comparable to non-disabled employees. Furthermore, Section 508 guarantees that individuals with disabilities seeking information or services from a Federal agency receive comparable access to that provided to the public without disabilities. This regulation is implemented through Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements for ICT.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) applies when Federal Agencies Develop, Procure, Maintain or Use Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Section 508 has two primary purposes:
Ensure Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.
Ensure individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities.
Section 508 and the Federal Acquisition Process
Section 508 is implemented through FAR requirements on the Federal acquisition of ICT. Section 508 impacts the Federal acquisition process in each of the following steps:
Key Section 508 and ADA compliance resource links include official government sites like section508.gov, specifications, guides on assistive technology use, website testing tools, and updates on standards. Additionally, resources cover ADA Kiosk rule-making, revised Section 508 standards for hardware, and best practices webinars. Consulting member firms also offer accessibility solution consulting for ADA and Section 508 compliance.
What are the key Section 508 and ADA compliance resource links?
Consulting member firms help guide you thru the often complex laws which provides Accessibility solution consulting for ADA and Section 508 compliance.
Section 508
buyaccessible.gov used to be the site but that changed in 2025. Try https://www.section508.gov/art/#/
1What is Section 508 and to whom does it apply regarding kiosk accessibility?
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies when Federal Agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Its primary purpose is to ensure federal employees and the public with disabilities have comparable access to information and data from federal agencies.
2Does Section 508 apply to private sector kiosks, such as those used by restaurants or retail?
The page explicitly states Section 508 applies to "Federal Agencies." It does not mention applicability to private sector entities like restaurants or retail. The regulation focuses on ensuring accessibility for federal employees and the public interacting with federal agencies.
3What is the main purpose of Section 508 in relation to accessible kiosks?
The main purpose of Section 508 is to ensure federal employees and the public with disabilities have comparable access to and use of information and data from federal agencies. This includes ensuring kiosks used by federal agencies or for federal services are accessible.
4Where can I find resources or assistance for Section 508 compliance for kiosks?
The page provides resource links, including section508.gov for full specifications and testing guides. It also notes that consulting member firms can provide accessibility solution consulting for Section 508 compliance.
