Bluehost Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Bluehost Sites

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make the information and communication technology they develop, buy, maintain or use accessible. The Revised 508 Standards, in effect since January 2018, incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA for web content, electronic documents and software.

Private businesses are not directly covered, but agencies must buy accessible technology, so vendors are often asked for an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on the VPAT. This checker runs the scan with the WCAG 2.0 AA preset that Section 508 uses.

Hosting does not affect Section 508 conformance. For an agency or vendor site on Bluehost, test the site you run there and keep dated results for your ACR.

Who Should Run the Bluehost Section 508 Checker

• Federal agencies running a site or microsite on Bluehost.
• Contractors and vendors whose Bluehost site or portal is part of a federal contract.
• Agencies and vendors preparing a VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report.
• State bodies and universities whose policies adopt Section 508.

Section 508 Checks That Matter for Bluehost Sites

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content

  Every image, icon and chart needs a text alternative, or must be marked as decorative.

• 1.3.1 Info and Relationships

  Headings, lists, tables and form labels must be marked up so assistive technology can read the structure.

• 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

  Text needs a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, or 3:1 for large text.

• 2.1.1 Keyboard

  Every function must work with a keyboard alone.

• 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

  Provide a way to skip repeated navigation, such as a skip link.

• 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  Custom controls need a name, role and state that assistive technology can read.

Where Bluehost Sites Usually Fail Section 508

These problems come up again and again on Bluehost sites, and each one fails Section 508. The Bluehost accessibility checker explains how to fix them in Bluehost.

• Starter themes and demo content. Placeholder images without alt text, sample pages and demo sections can stay live long after launch.
• Low-contrast colors. Theme color settings often produce light text or buttons that fail WCAG contrast minimums.
• Unlabeled form fields. Contact and signup forms that use placeholder text instead of labels are hard to use with a screen reader.
• Empty links and buttons. Social icons, cart icons and search buttons without text alternatives are announced as just "link" or "button".
• Sliders and pop-ups. Auto-rotating sliders without a pause button and pop-ups that trap keyboard focus are common in WordPress themes.

Worried about ADA claims as well? The Bluehost ADA compliance checker covers the Bluehost risks behind most complaints.

What to Test by Hand on Bluehost

Automated testing finds many, but not all, Section 508 failures. Check these yourself after the scan:

1. Test every page with a keyboard only, including menus and dialogs (2.1.1).
2. Check documents and PDFs separately, since Section 508 covers them too.
3. Record results per criterion if you need to complete a VPAT or ACR.
4. Rescan after each fix. Continuous monitoring rescans up to 500 URLs per domain daily and keeps a dated record in the Compliance Vault.

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Related Guides

• Section 508 CheckerThe Section 508 standard in full, for any website.
• WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content explained simply: how to write alt text for every kind of image, icon, chart and CAPTCHA, with code examples and a test routine.
• WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions explained simply: visible labels, format hints, grouped fields and required markers, with code examples and a test routine.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Bluehost Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions