Magento Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Magento 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.

A Magento store is rarely a federal site, but vendors on GSA schedules or selling to agencies may be asked for an ACR covering their ordering portal. Scan the catalog, cart and checkout, and record the results for the report.

Who Should Run the Magento Section 508 Checker

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

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

• Swatch options. Configurable product swatches are often built from elements that cannot be reached with Tab, or that have no text describing the color or size they represent.
• Layered navigation. Filter links and sliders on category pages can lack names and state, and the product list that changes after a filter is applied is not announced.
• Checkout step forms. The multi-step checkout is drawn by script, and field errors or step changes can appear without any announcement to assistive technology.
• Product images and content. Catalog imports and bulk uploads often leave image alt text blank or fill it with file names, and CMS blocks use styled text instead of real headings.
• Extension modals and popups. Newsletter popups, cookie banners, review and wishlist extensions each add their own dialogs, and each can trap or lose keyboard focus.

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

What to Test by Hand on Magento

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 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) explained simply: the 4.5:1 and 3:1 ratios, what counts as large text, the exceptions, fixes and how to test your colors.
• 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.
• 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 Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Magento Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions