Hosting.com Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Hosting.com 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 Hosting.com, test the site you run there and keep dated results for your ACR.

Who Should Run the Hosting.com Section 508 Checker

• Federal agencies running a site or microsite on Hosting.com.
• Contractors and vendors whose Hosting.com 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 Hosting.com 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 Hosting.com Sites Usually Fail Section 508

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

• Missing text alternatives. Images, icons and image links published without alt text or accessible names.
• Color contrast. Text and buttons with too little contrast against their background, often from theme or brand colors.
• Form accessibility. Fields without visible labels, and errors that are shown only in color or never announced.
• Keyboard access. Menus, dialogs and custom widgets that cannot be reached or closed with a keyboard.
• Page structure. Missing page language, skipped heading levels and missing landmarks that make pages hard to navigate with a screen reader.

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

What to Test by Hand on Hosting.com

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.
• Automated vs Manual Accessibility Testing: Where Each FitsWhat automated accessibility testing catches, what needs a human, and how to combine both into a repeatable process for finding and fixing WCAG issues.
• Keyboard Accessibility TestingA practical guide to keyboard accessibility testing: what to check, the exact keys to use, and a component-by-component reference table mapped to WCAG.
• 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 Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Hosting.com Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions