Squarespace Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Squarespace 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.

If a federal program or contractor runs a site on Squarespace, the builder’s templates and widgets must meet WCAG 2.0 AA. Check that you can edit the parts that fail; if you cannot, document them in your ACR.

Who Should Run the Squarespace Section 508 Checker

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

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

• Low-contrast default styling. Several default template styles use light, low-contrast text that fails WCAG’s minimum contrast ratio, especially for secondary text and buttons.
• Missing image alt text. Gallery and summary blocks make it easy to add images quickly, and just as easy to skip the alt text field while doing it.
• Heading levels skipped. Editors often size text visually to "look like a heading" rather than choosing the correct heading level, which breaks the page structure screen readers rely on.
• Vague link text. "Read more" and "Click here" links, common in Squarespace’s blog and summary blocks, are not descriptive out of context for screen reader users scanning a page’s links.
• Custom code injections. Code blocks and embedded third-party widgets bypass Squarespace’s own markup and can introduce issues the platform has no control over.

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

What to Test by Hand on Squarespace

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.
• What Is a Website Accessibility Checker? How Automated Testing WorksA plain-English guide to website accessibility checkers: what they test, how they map results to WCAG, what they miss, and how to choose one.
• WCAG 2.2 Checklist: What Changed and How to Test Each CriterionA practical WCAG 2.2 AA checklist: the nine new success criteria, the one that was removed, and how to test your website against each requirement.
• Free Tools to Check Website Accessibility: 6 Best Options ComparedCompare the best free tools to check website accessibility: AccessBell, WAVE, axe DevTools, Accessibility Insights, Lighthouse and ANDI, and when to use each.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Squarespace Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions